Bartosz Brzeziński

How a ‘veggie burger’ ban nobody wanted became one Brussels might actually pass A fringe amendment to protect meaty vocabulary has become a test of Europe’s loyalty to tradition and its waning appetite for food innovation.

A “veggie burger” ban nobody wanted is becoming one Brussels might actually pass.

Far right to the rescue on Europe’s gene-editing revolution Previously ignored, two far-right lawmakers could end an impasse on gene-edited plants.

Europe’s draft gene-editing law — which could decide whether the bloc embraces a new generation of modified plants — may only survive thanks to the far right.

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia defy Brussels as Ukraine trade deal takes effect The Commission wouldn’t rule out taking the countries to court for banning Ukrainian imports just as the EU’s updated deal with Kyiv takes effect.

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia are openly defying efforts to reset trade relations as a revised trade deal with Kyiv kicks in. 

The bans, covering Ukrainian grain and other farm products, breach EU single market rules that prohibit national trade barriers.

Europe lost its drive for humane animal transport. Denmark hasn’t. Europe’s animal welfare overhaul is on life support. Denmark’s farm minister thinks he can still revive it — one compromise at a time.

The European Commission’s 2023 plan to ease the suffering of farm animals on the move started out as the ultimate feel-good proposal.

Now, its ambitions are stuck. But Denmark is trying to revive the efforts.

How to pass a green law in an anti-green age in 6 easy steps A Slovak liberal quietly steered one of the last surviving environmental files to the finish line.

A Slovak liberal quietly steered one of the last surviving environmental files to the finish line.

Zakaz hodowli zwierząt futerkowych trafi do Senatu i na biurko prezydenta Sejm zdecydowaną większością głosów przyjął zakaz hodowli zwierząt na futra. Projekt trafi teraz do Senatu, a następnie - na biurko prezydenta Karola Nawrockieg

Poland’s lower house has just voted to phase out fur farming by 2033, with compensation for those who quit early. Rabbits remain exempt. The bill now goes to the Senate and President Nawrocki for final approval.

Under Russian drones, Ukrainians wonder if Europe still cares More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s capital endures constant Russian attacks while watching European solidarity fray.

Under Russian drones, Ukrainians wonder if Europe still cares www.politico.eu/article/russ... by @thisisbartosz.bsky.social

Under Russian drones, Ukrainians wonder if Europe still cares More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s capital endures constant Russian attacks while watching European solidarity fray.

Ukrainians are feeling a deep unease that the rest of Europe is tired, turning its attention away from the war and viewing it as something that should simply end, no matter the cost.

EU lawmakers back ‘veggie burger’ ban The European Parliament slips prohibition of plant-based “burgers” into wider farm reform, sparking NGO outrage and political splits.

The European Parliament voted today to ban plant-based and lab-grown products from having meat-related names such as “burger,” “sausage” or “steak” on their labels.

More on this for Politico Pro subscribers (€) → pro.politico.eu/news/206126

When your ban on veggie burger names and lab-grown steaks passes in the European Parliament — French MEP Céline Imart.

Food is wrecking the planet. And Europe has lost its appetite for change. A landmark study says food systems are breaching Earth’s limits. Europe once promised to lead the way, but the revolution fizzled.

Even if the world stopped burning coal, oil and gas tomorrow, what we eat would still be enough to heat the climate beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, warns the EAT-Lancet Commission.

EU delays anti-deforestation rules, again The EU executive has increasingly put industrial competitiveness ahead of environmental concerns.

The European Commission has proposed delaying the EU's flagship anti-deforestation law for the second year in a row as it continues its war on red tape.

‘They should be ashamed’: Green backsliding is wrecking Europe, EU’s first climate chief warns From wildfires to far-right gains, Connie Hedegaard says Europe can’t afford to go soft on climate while China races ahead and companies like BP backtrack.

More than a decade ago, as the EU’s first climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard helped turn carbon policy into a pillar of Brussels’ power and a point of pride for the bloc.

But now, she worries the tide is turning — with dire ramifications.

Poland freezes Covid cash payouts after swingers’ club and yacht storm Donald Tusk’s government vowed that “every złoty will be checked,” blaming the former Law and Justice administration for forcing a rushed rollout.

Poland today halted all further payments under an EU-funded program after a transparency push exposed grants for yachts, vodka bars and a business registered at the same address as a sex club.

Covid cash for yachts, swingers’ club fuels Polish opposition attack on Tusk A transparency push on Poland’s long-delayed EU Covid recovery spending exposed quirky grants, giving the right-wing PiS party fresh ammunition against Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s fragile co…

Swingers' clubs and vodka bars: Donald Tusk’s coalition is scrambling after an ill-judged transparency drive revealed that some of Poland’s EU Covid recovery cash went to eyebrow-raising projects.

The €2 trillion question: Inside the battle over the EU’s budget Trillions of euros, almost as many priorities — and just over two years to agree. The European Commission has unveiled its sweeping new seven-year budget proposal, and the fight over where the mone…

This week, the European Commission unveiled its sweeping new seven-year budget proposal.

On the new episode of EU Confidential, @swheatonjourno.bsky.social, @gregsorgi.bsky.social + @thisisbartosz.bsky.social dig into the fights already heating up over where the money goes.

🎧 Listen now 👇

The post-2027 CAP regulation is finally out. Get the doc and the annex before the Commission takes them down again because the documents still contain comments like "insert reference."

ec.europa.eu/transparency...

Brussels slashes the EU farm budget, calls it a win. Farmers call it a declaration of war. The European Commission says it’s protecting farmers with a smaller but ring-fenced budget. Europe’s farmers say the cuts betray a post-World War II pact.

The European Commission says it’s safeguarding farmers in its proposed new budget. Farmers say Brussels is stabbing them in the back.

The muddled €1.8 trillion EU budget launch that exposes von der Leyen’s weaknesses Simmering internal criticism of the European Commission president came to the boil over a messy, confused and secretive spending plan that highlighted divisions and revealed political fragilities.

Ursula von der Leyen has had a tricky start to her second term as European Commission president.

The next two years of negotiations over the long-term budget were never going to be easy. The way it has started has made a tough job even tougher.

Von der Leyen dumps farm subsidy chaos onto EU capitals Brussels wants fewer tractor protests in the EU quarter, so it’s letting national governments fight the battles over farm support at home.

Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to overhaul the bloc’s subsidy system to keep the farm budget limping along, but shifts political fights back onto national governments, a leaked policy blueprint obtained by POLITICO indicates.

[LEAK] While all eyes are on the budget allocated to farm subsidies, the @ec.europa.eu looks set to sneakily insert restrictions on the use of “meaty” names for plant-based foods in the proposal for a CMO regulation to be unveiled on Wednesday..

Where the EU’s colossal farming budget actually goes Everything you need to know about the colossal Russian doll that is the Common Agricultural Policy.

How big of a deal is the CAP really?

In the run up to next week's budget announcement, we thought it was time to take a step back and look at how the money was divvied up last time.

Here is how the EU spends almost a third of its budget on agriculture 👇
www.politico.eu/article/eu-b...

Brussels farm shake-up plan revealed A draft impact assessment reveals the European Commission’s thinking on a long-rumored CAP overhaul — and why it could satisfy no one.

The EU is weighing a politically explosive merger of its farm and cohesion funds into broader national investment plans, as part of a sweeping effort to simplify how the bloc spends its shared money and responds more nimbly to crises, according to a draft seen by POLITICO.

🚨 The European Commission and Ukraine have agreed to revise their existing free trade agreement, giving Kyiv improved market access compared to pre-war terms, while stopping short of the complete liberalization provided during the conflict. pro.politico.eu/news/201113

Hands off our money, farmers say as EU plans budget shake-up As Brussels prepares a major budget overhaul, Europe’s farmers are ready to bring out the tractors if decades of subsidy support are put at risk.

European farmers have a blunt message for Brussels: Keep the cash flowing, or the tractors will hit the streets again.

Ukraine warns EU tariffs will hammer economy and dent faith in Brussels Imminent withdrawal of wartime trade waivers threatens Ukraine’s economic footing and feeds Russian propaganda, top Ukrainian MP warns.

A top Ukrainian MP has warned that imminent withdrawal of wartime trade waivers could threaten Ukraine’s economic footing and feed Russian propaganda.

www.politico.eu/article/reim...

EU to roll back Ukraine trade perks to protect its farmers Brussels looks to reintroduce pre-war tariffs on some agricultural imports from Ukraine, documents seen by POLITICO show.

NEW: The European Commission is preparing to reintroduce pre-war tariff quotas for some Ukrainian farm products sold into the EU market as of June 6, after the bloc’s wartime tariff waivers expire.

That's according to documents seen by POLITICO.

www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Netherlands delays nitrogen emissions target, defying its own judges and the EU Dutch government buys time for farmers but tests the limits of domestic courts and EU environmental law.

The Netherlands is rolling back its nitrogen reduction targets, setting the stage for a showdown with its own judges and Brussels.

European wines face alarming ‘forever chemical’ contamination, new study finds From Austria to Spain, not a single wine tested came back clean, exposing the reach of ultra-persistent chemicals in Europe’s food chain.

Europe’s favorite bottle of red or white may come with an unwanted ingredient: toxic chemicals that don’t break down naturally, according to a new study.