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Ukraine 'Coalition of the Willing' to get headquarters in Paris - Euractiv

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

Story via @alexowski.bsky.social

The HQ led jointly by France and the UK, will rotate to London after 12 months and enable flexible military contributions from partner nations.

New Coalition of the Willing headquarters as leaders step up support for Ukraine's immediate flight

Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

Macron and Starmer launch 'permanent' HQ in Paris for the coalition of 31 countries looking to provide post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine

A step towards formalising a body that today met via videocall

But how 'permanent' is an HQ that will 'rotate to London after the first 12 months'?

The Coalition of the Willing will have a new permanent headquarters in Paris, with plans in place for a future coordination cell in Kyiv, as command structures for the future reassurance force are fin...

www.gov.uk

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer @nkurmayer.bsky.social · Jul 10

Add it to the list of Labour oofs

www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...

UK drops zonal electricity pricing plan - Euractiv

Opting against the split “just cost Labour 100 seats at the next election,” energy analyst Michael Liebreich reacted.

Von der Leyen easily survives far-right-led censure vote - Euractiv

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

And here’s the roll call.

Striking are the 🇮🇪 breaking ranks. Ciaran Mullooly the sole Renew group member to vote to bring down von der Leyen.

Two big names abstaining. Development committee chair Barry Andrews, and the only Irish socialist Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Both are fierce VdL critics on Gaza.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

Snap take here from @euractiv.com 👇

Most centrist groups opposed the motion primarily because it came from the far right, even as they criticised von der Leyen’s EPP for its own shift in that direction.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

The motion was signed by 77 MEPs initially - so they've generated more support, almost entirely from the two large far-right groups.

553 votes in total, out of 720 MEPs. So quite a few no-shows

Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 10

CENSURE: As expected, vote on censure of von der Leyen Commission fails:

For: 175
Against: 360
Abstain: 18

Interesting to see where those 18 came from...

The lively debate on von der Leyen’s doomed censure lit up a Parliament languishing on the EU’s sidelines. Pro-EU MEPs should now reclaim the political theatre.

Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 9

VdL’s censure has been (rightly) dismissed as political theatre. So let’s talk about how the show looked and sounded.

It was exciting. My most head-in-the-sand mates texted me about it. People noticed this happened.

So, what can pro-EU MEPs learn from their dalliance with drama?

For @euractiv.com

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 9

The Brief – How the far right just spiced up European politics

Four decades on, the Schengen area no longer feels quite so free.

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 9

Schengen at 40: Border checks become the new normal

Von der Leyen moves to merge green, defence, space funds in new EU budget law - Euractiv

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 8

Sneak peak at the much-anticipated European Competitiveness Fund via @wulffwold.bsky.social and @nicolettaionta.bsky.social

Jacob Wulff Wold @wulffwold.bsky.social · Jul 8

It’s here! Von der Leyen’s new industrial superfund will merge activities from up to 14 existing budget lines into one cash pot to free up private capital.

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

The consolidated cash pot aims to plug some of Europe's investment gap by deploying public funds to free up private capital.

Media reports allege €4.3 million in EU funds was misused by the far-right Identity and Democracy group from 2019-2024.

Reposted by Owen Morgan

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 8

EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about a censure storm in Strasbourg, the latest on tariffs, Sánchez battling on, and Poland's Kaczyński latest tête-à-tête.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 7

“Ursula von der Leyen is being hauled to the podium today to answer to a far-right MEP whose boss can't get over having lost the Romanian election.

You could get 72 MEPs to agree on just about anything”

Clarity ahead of the absurdity set to unfold in Stras in an hour - via @eddywax.bsky.social

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 7

Much ado about censure

Patience is wearing thin in Europe’s most powerful political family over its president‘s attempts to remote control national leaders at EU summits.

Reposted by Owen Morgan

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Jul 4

Sorry Brussels Playbook but the US and China are not "Europe's two biggest trade partners" if that means the EU, not even close. Bit closer to home you'll find an EU trade relationship €200bn larger than that with China.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jul 3

Given their dominance around the Council table, the EPP's pre-summit meetings – where they align and strategise – are arguably as consequential as the main summit.

But there's a familiar figure exerting himself there – and not everybody's thrilled.

Via our Berlin head honcho Nick Alipour 👇

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 3

Inside Manfred Weber’s paper wars that are dividing Europe’s centre right

EU’s longest-serving commissioner faces arguably his sternest test with the clock ticking before 9 July deadline

Reposted by Owen Morgan

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jul 2

He was the EU’s great Brexit survivor. Can Maroš Šefčovič now pull off a trade deal with Trump?

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Stefano Porciello @steporciello.bsky.social · Jul 2

The EU’s 2040 #climate goal is likely to affect Europeans’ wallets – and those of the companies they work for. But whether a 90% cut in Europe's greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 will bring net costs or benefits depends on how #EU leaders choose to implement the target.

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jul 2

What a 90% emissions cut could mean for EU citizens

A web of policy signals, investment choices, and support measures will ultimately determine the final cost for households and industry.

Five fights that will shape the EU’s next €1.2 trillion budget - Euractiv

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Jacob Wulff Wold @wulffwold.bsky.social · Jul 1

Struggling to follow the MFF debate? Here’s how the EU's current €1.2 trillion budget is spent, and how it may (radically) change for 2028-2034

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

There is a broad consensus that the EU needs a more agile budget but the bloc is a heavy machine – and always at risk of taking the path of least friction.

The trilogue process doesn't have the benefit of being codified in law. It is a custom that has arisen because the alternative would probably drag on for years. But lately, several governments haven't quite been playing the game.

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jun 30

The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart

Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jun 29

Bonding over the fact they both still have to explain on foreign trips that their name isn't 'Michael'

Canada was "obviously copying the European Union" in taxing US Big Tech firms, Trump said – despite the fact the EU does not have a digital services tax.

Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jun 27

Leaked by the WSJ last week, denied by the EU's top US trade official earlier this week, not really brought up by EU leaders yesterday.

Then, Trump suggests today DMA/DSA enforcement could be on the table as EU-US trade talks tick towards 9 July deadline.

w/ @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jun 27

Trump suggests EU’s digital rules are on the table in trade talks

Can anyone stop Manfred Weber? - Euractiv

Reposted by Owen Morgan

Josh Posaner @joshposaner.bsky.social · Jun 26

@euractiv.com EUCO liveblog www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

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Reposted by Owen Morgan

Eddy Wax @eddywax.bsky.social · Jun 26

Blockbuster edition of the Capitals today

- Huawei-gate scoop
- Interview with EU rightwing chief Manfred Weber
- An ECR attempt to bring down the Commission
- and we tee up the EUCO summit today

@nicolettaionta.bsky.social

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about France calling to rethink the 2040 climate target, Hungary threatening Pride-goers, and a bid to bring down the Commission rattling the ECR.

EU leaders meet in Brussels for talks on the Middle East, Ukraine, migration and more. Follow along live.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jun 26

Blogging all day from the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels

Migration, Middle East, and Merz on debut

Tune in 👇

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jun 26

EU summit LIVE: Leaders gather for talks on Middle East, Ukraine and migration

Documents seen by Euractiv expose key claims in one of the most significant EU corruption probes ever.

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Owen Morgan @owenmorganeu.bsky.social · Jun 26

NEW: An investigation by @euractiv.com (with De Standaard & Le Vif) unveils the testimony given to police by the lobbyist at the centre of Huawei’s cash-for-influence scandal in the EU Parliament.

Via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social and our new Chief Brussels Correspondent @elisabraun.bsky.social

Euractiv @euractiv.com · Jun 26

Confessions of a Huawei lobbyist