European Union

Politico Europe reports: Portugal ruled out replacing its U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets with more modern F-35s because of Donald Trump — in one of the first examples of the U.S. president killing a potential lucrative arms deal. The country’s air force has recommended buying Lockheed Martin F-35s, but when outgoing Defense Minister Nuno Melo was asked by Portugese media Público …

NewsNation reports: The CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Wednesday warned that a European whiskey tariff would be “very, very devastating.” “We’ve just gotten the news early, early this morning, that the [European Union (EU)] is poised to put a 50 percent tariff on American whiskey. That will be very, very devastating,” Chris Swonger told …

ABC News reports: The European Union responded on Wednesday to the Trump administration’s metals tariffs, saying member states would place countermeasures on some 26 billion euros, or about $28 billion, worth of U.S. goods. The U.S. at midnight began imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from all trading partners, with no exceptions or exemptions, the White House …

The LBC reports: German chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do. Therefore we are working on a common path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you.” President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: …

The Kyiv Independent reports: French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Russia is the aggressor in its war against Ukraine following a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 28. “There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine,” Macron told reporters in Portugal. He …

France 24 reports: The European Union on Thursday pushed back hard against allegations by US President Donald Trump that the 27-nation bloc was out to get the United States, and warned that it would vigorously fight any wholesale tariff of 25 percent on all EU products. Thursday’s EU pushback came after Trump told reporters that “the European Union was formed …

Politico Europe reports: The European Union said on Thursday it was ready to deploy its strongest trade weapon against the U.S. after President Donald Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs and scorned the EU as having been created to “screw” America. “We have an Anti-Coercion Instrument, and we will have to use it,” Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen said in Paris …

The Washington Post reports: Hungary’s government said Thursday that it would ban a Pride march through central Budapest this summer, as Viktor Orban and his ruling Fidesz party escalate their long-standing push to enact anti-LGBTQ+ policies ahead of elections next year. “The country does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest,” Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said …

The Independent reports: Exit polls published in Germany’s election suggest Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party has come out well in front, as the far-right AfD make large gains. In polling being watched closely across Europe and in the US, the CDU/CSU bloc was on course to win first place with 28.5 per cent of the vote, followed …

The BBC reports: Germans are going to the polls after an intense election campaign dominated by their country’s faltering economy and a succession of deadly attacks that have made migration and security a focal issue.  Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old conservative leader, is in pole position to become Germany’s next chancellor, in a vote closely watched in Europe and the US. He …

Politico Europe reports: “It is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelenskyy’s democratic legitimacy,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday night. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Zelenskyy on Wednesday night and, according to a readout released by Downing Street, told the Ukrainian president that he supports him “as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader and said that it was …

The Associated Press reports: European leaders gathered in Paris Monday for emergency talks on how to react to the U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine, which has thrown a once-solid alliance into turmoil and left the Europeans questioning the reliability of their key transatlantic partner. Shortly before the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, but Macron’s …

Politico reports: European allies are bracing this week for the answer to a question they’ve been dreading to ask: Can they really count on the United States? The continent’s officials will have their first face-to-face encounter with the new Trump administration Friday at a gathering of defense leaders known as the Munich Security Conference. The annual event is usually reserved …

Politico Europe reports: Bird flu poses an increasing pandemic threat as it becomes more adaptive, jumping to humans, pets and zoo animals, Europe’s disease and food agencies warned on Wednesday. They are urging countries to step up their surveillance and containment measures to prevent the virus from continuing to evolve and become more dangerous to people. “In 2024, avian influenza …

The New York Times reports: Andrew F. Puzder, the former chief executive of the corporation that owns the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast-food chains, is President Trump’s pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Mr. Puzder, a frequent commentator on economic and business issues on networks like Fox Business, would not bring foreign policy experience to …

Reuters reports: The European Union will not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, responding to comments by US President-elect Donald Trump on taking over Greenland. Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the US take control of Greenland, as well as …

Politico Europe reports: What are you waiting for, Brussels? Elon Musk’s decision to host German far-right leader Alice Weidel in a livestream on X is sparking fury from European Union leaders and lawmakers, who on Monday urged Brussels to deploy its full legal might to rein in the billionaire tech magnate. In response, the European Commission said the SpaceX founder …

CNBC reports: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday said he told the European Union it must reduce its trade gap with the U.S. through oil and gas purchases or face tariffs. “I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it …

Politico Europe reports: The Georgian government’s decision to suspend its efforts to join the EU has sparked a political crisis in the South Caucasus country, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to demand new elections even as police launched a violent crackdown on protesters. An estimated 100,000 protesters formed barricades around the parliament on Saturday night, …

Politico Europe reports: Social media giant X “strives to be the town square of the internet by promoting and protecting freedom of expression,” the Elon Musk-owned company told the European Commission in a legally mandated risk assessment made public on Wednesday. Under the Digital Services Act, very large online platforms (VLOPs) must evaluate and report on how they crack down …