Gabriel Gavin

Russia targeting voters across EU, Moldova warns Moscow is hoping pro-European Moldovans living abroad don’t go out to vote in September’s elections, the country’s national security chief told POLITICO.

Russia is ramping up efforts to influence Moldovans living abroad across Europe to try to sway critical elections next month, the EU candidate country’s security chief has warned.

Europe learned to love American LNG. This is how Trump wrecks it. Backroom deals, embassy contacts and brown liquor built a booming export trade. Now, the lobbyist who saw it all says the U.S. president’s dalliances with Vladimir Putin are an incoming “aste…

There's a widening fear on the EU’s eastern fringe that Donald Trump will offer Vladimir Putin huge concessions and economic deals to end his war.

It’s the sledgehammer that could smash the West’s economic firewall around Russia — and take American energy with it.

Von der Leyen’s hole-in-one? Presented by MedReAct By GABRIEL GAVIN with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @TimRoss_1 | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOOD …

After a nail-biting weekend of high diplomacy on the sidelines of Trump’s golfing trip to Scotland, the EU and the US finally managed to agree on a landmark trade deal.

But the bloc has a busy week ahead as it scrambles to lock in the agreement.

Brussels Playbook explains 👇

Europe hardens on Israel Presented by ExxonMobil By GABRIEL GAVIN with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @TimRoss_1 | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOO…

British PM Keir Starmer said he would convene an "emergency call" with France and Germany today to discuss the situation in Gaza, after Emmanuel Macron announced last night he would recognize Palestine as a state.

More in Brussels Playbook 👇

France to recognize Palestinian statehood French President Emmanuel Macron announced the move ahead of a call with European partners on Thursday.

France will establish formal diplomatic relations with Palestine, President Emmanuel Macron said today.

Lobbying plays its Trump card A weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. By GABRIEL GAVIN Tips, tales, traumas to ggavin@politico.eu or influence@politico.eu | View in your browser GOOD…

For years, lobbying in the EU has played second fiddle to that done in national capitals.

But now businesses are realizing they have to be seen and heard in Brussels — and consultants are staking their claim to the spoils.

Read more in EU Influence 👇

EU eyes 3rd retaliatory strike against Trump that would hit services As the EU runs out of goods to target, it’s looking at broadening its response to Washington’s tariff punishment.

NEW: The European Commission is looking at a third retaliation package against U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, four diplomats told us.

This time, it's looking at services.

More, with @koenverhelst.bsky.social and @gabrielgavin.bsky.social:

www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

Commission in late-night haggling over €1.717 trillion EU budget plan Figure, for seven years from 2028, would represent increase from €1.2 trillion, but could be changed before announcement Wednesday.

EXCLUSIVE: The European Commission is zeroing in on a proposal for a centralized budget of €1.717 trillion for the seven-year period from 2028, as arguments over the final number went to the wire tonight.

EU suspends US trade war countermeasures while pushing for tariff deal European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is negotiating for the best, but preparing for the worst.

Hard-hitting penalties on American exports to to the EU won’t come into force next week as planned, and instead will only be imposed if US President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to apply a 30 percent tariff on the bloc.

US President Donald Trump has declared a full-scale trade war with the European Union, imposing 30 percent tariffs on the bloc.

Read more: www.politico.eu/article/dona...

EU weighs suspending Israel ties over Gaza crisis The proposed measures come as the bloc faces growing pressure to take action.

Suspending part of the EU-Israel Association Agreement could be on the cards over the country’s breaches of its human rights obligations in Gaza.

Moldova pushes for EU entry assurances as Hungary blocks Ukraine The 2 Eastern European nations are being considered together as prospective members — for now.

Moldova hopes to use a major EU summit to cement its path to joining the bloc, even as a growing row over Ukraine’s membership threatens to slow its progress.

always insightful. Today's wisdom: "Coreper is a very peculiar and particular place.” You've been warned, Denmark.

Danes make their mark Presented by Friends of the Global Fund Europe By GABRIEL GAVIN with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @TimRoss_1 | Listen to Playbook and v…

Velkommen to the first Brussels Playbook of Denmark’s six-month takeover of the EU agenda as the country presides over the influential rotating presidency of the Council.

Today’s edition takes a look at what is to come during Copenhagen’s time in the hot seat.

Dig in 👇

Hungary, Slovakia stall Russian sanctions over gas ban proposal Still, diplomats privately express optimism that a deal can be reached.

Hungary and Slovakia held up progress on new Russia sanctions today, saying they wanted to see a separate proposal to ban Russian gas dropped first.

Israel in breach of EU deal over Gaza human rights, report signals EU leaders will now have to decide whether there is sufficient support to take action.

🚨 BREAKING: Israel’s actions in Gaza may have violated the terms of the country’s agreement with the EU, the bloc’s diplomatic corps found.

Brussels to shelve push for Russian oil price cap amid Middle East chaos Officials told POLITICO the EU would drop proposals for a $45-per-barrel limit on Moscow’s crude as a result of the Israel-Iran conflict.

The EU will not forge ahead with plans to impose a tough new price cap on the Russian oil exports funding the Kremlin's war in Ukraine in light of concerns that a new conflict in the Middle East will drive up oil prices.

EU Parliament creates official body to probe NGO funding It’s the latest of a series of moves by right-wing forces to increase scrutiny of nonprofits.

🚨NEW: the European Parliament will set up a working group to probe EU-funded NGOs, in move that saw the EPP side once again with the right-wing and far-right groups.

W/ @maxgriera.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...

Stuck in the Middle (East) with EU Presented by Orlen By GABRIEL GAVIN with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @TimRoss_1 | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOOD THU…

The EU is desperately trying to avoid being dragged into what threatens to become an all-out war in the Middle East, amid speculation that the US is preparing to authorize military action against Iran within days.

Brussels Playbook has more.

EU gets tough on Russian energy without Trump, Orbán on board Hungary and Slovakia oppose new sanctions on fuel from Moscow, but Brussels suspects they are cooking their books to support their position.

The EU is planning a major new push to cut the funds the Kremlin is using to rain down death and destruction across Ukraine — but the Russians aren't the only ones who don't support the strategy.

EU faces uphill battle to pass new Russia sanctions Brussels wants to cut the flow of cash to Moscow — but Hungary and Slovakia are poised to hold up the proposals.

The EU’s plans to impose hefty restrictions on Russian banks and energy companies will face major hurdles as the bloc’s most Kremlin-friendly countries threaten to wield their right of veto.

EU Commission to unveil new Russia sanctions on energy, banks The measures are designed to target the Nord Stream pipelines and drain the Kremlin’s war chest.

The European Commission is expected to today present its latest tranche of sanctions on Russian energy exports and financial institutions.

Poland’s Sikorski: Nationalist election win won’t derail fight against Russia Maybe Karol Nawrocki’s victory can even help relations with the U.S. and Hungary, Polish foreign minister tells POLITICO.

Poland won't back away from its support for Ukraine or its growing role in the EU despite the government's defeat in last week's presidential election, the country's top diplomat Radosław Sikorski told POLITICO.

Europe arms itself against cyber catastrophe EU to train with militaries, industry and NATO to better fend off large-scale cyberattacks.

The EU will work more closely with national militaries and the NATO defense alliance to respond to large-scale cyber attacks, national ministers decided today.

Costa hints EU could penalize Israel over Gaza offensive Diplomats are weighing up plans to downgrade ties despite opposition from some capitals.

A new EU review is likely to find Israel is falling short of its human rights obligations, one of the bloc’s leaders warned.

Brussels’ blackout game plan Presented by Connect Europe By GABRIEL GAVIN with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @TimRoss_1 | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser…

The lights go out. The network goes down. Trains stop running and the roads descend into chaos. Europe has gone dark.

That’s the apocalyptic emergency that EU ministers are gaming out this morning.

Read more in Brussels Playbook 👇

Ukraine’s big drone gamble

“Trump said we don’t have the cards — this shows we do have the cards, and we can play them.”
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Hungary and Slovakia can quit Russian energy, report finds Ample alternatives exist, but both countries have increased reliance on Moscow and made millions, researchers say.

EU plans to quit Russian fuel aren’t an energy security risk for Hungary and Slovakia — but they could cost the Kremlin-friendly countries hundreds of millions in profits, according to new research.

Europe’s Trump report card is in Presented by Philips By GABRIEL GAVIN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Tweet @NicholasVinocur @swheaton | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GOOD MORNING.​​ I’m Gabriel Gavin, bringing you to…

Today, ministers from across the EU arrive in Brussels for a progress report on efforts to avert a full-blown trade war with Trump.

“We want to hear from the Commission where they are,” a Polish minister told us.

So where are they? Brussels Playbook takes a look 👇

Europe’s final plan to quit Russian energy: Enlist wary execs The EU will make its pitch Tuesday, searching for momentum as sanctions stall, the U.S. equivocates and some eye a Russian fuel return.

The European Union is appealing to an unlikely ally to help finally rid the continent of Russian energy: oil and gas executives.