EU enlargement

Why admitting the Western Balkan states would be financially advantageous for the European Union

A study by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation finds that the cost of admitting the Western Balkan states to the European Union would be negligible for the Union’s budget. At the same time, accession would deliver a substantial economic boost to the six candidate countries.

By Stephan Israel

Elections

Bulgaria: Former president aims to become head of government

As president, Bulgaria’s head of state Rumen Radev had accused his country’s political class of oligarchy. Now Radev hopes to become the elected head of government. But the opposition calls him a “servant of the Kremlin.”

By Frank Stier

India

India: What concessions the EU Commission is making for the trade deal

Given India’s sheer size, the European Commission was willing to make concessions it would not have accepted in other negotiations. Even so, most reactions to the free trade agreement have been positive.

By János Allenbach-Ammann, Markus Grabitz, Lukas Knigge and Julia Dahm

Wind power

North Sea Summit: Signal to Trump and success for Bornholm

At the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, the countries bordering the North Sea held out the prospect of closer cooperation in the financing of offshore wind farms. The industry responded with an investment pact.

By Manuel Berkel

India

Trade: European Union and India conclude free trade agreement

The European Commission informed member states on Monday that negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and India have been successfully concluded.

By János Allenbach-Ammann

Wind power

Wind power: What to expect from the third North Sea Summit

Representatives from ten countries are meeting in Hamburg to announce plans for the expansion of offshore wind energy. With more cooperation and better financing, they want to get the sector’s faltering growth back on track.

By Manuel Berkel

UTP Directive

European Commissioner Christophe Hansen: “If you live in uncertainty, you do not invest”

In an interview with Table.Briefings, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, argues in favor of a contractual obligation and a revision to the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and to Common Organization of Agricultural Markets (CMO) legislation. Farmers need a reliable framework to cope with structural change.

By Frederik Bombosch

Greenland

Greenland: EU heads of government extol unity in confrontation with Trump

By János Allenbach-Ammann and Stephan Israel

European policy

European Council: Why Merz prefers Meloni to Macron

Whether in response to Trump, the Mercosur agreement or the ban on combustion engines: The German chancellor often seeks to close ranks with Italy’s prime minister. His relationship with the French president, on the other hand, has cooled

By Till Hoppe and Almut Siefert

Mercosur

Mercosur: Why provisional application is now being discussed

By a narrow majority, the European Parliament has referred the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is now calling for its provisional application. Bernd Lange believes that there would be a majority for this in Parliament.

By Markus Grabitz and János Allenbach-Ammann