An EU sanctions exemption for Russian LNG was carved out by Greece for one of its shipping billionaires. But another stands to benefit from the loophole by maintaining Kremlin gas contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros: France’s Total w @iancjohnston.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/2ec2f7ff-e...

TotalEnergies benefits from EU sanctions reprieve on Russian gas

French energy major can continue selling LNG from its Yamal project in Siberia to Asian customers

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“This could be the last ‘package’ of sanctions” said one official, referring to measures agreed on Thursday after weeks of Greek obstruction. “It’s now very clear that this approach does not work any more” EU considers overhaul of sanctions policy after Greek LNG tragedy as.ft.com/r/d11df6ea-8...

Greek shipping carve-out on Russia sanctions prompts EU rethink

European officials seek ways to curb veto tactics in negotiations

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A Canadian woman of Chinese origin who was interning at Nato’s military headquarters in Belgium has been arrested on charges of spying. Arrest is the latest in a long line of espionage attempts in Belgium which hosts Nato civilian and military HQs and the EU as.ft.com/r/44db3c09-c...

Nato military HQ intern arrested on suspicion of spying

Belgian officials say operations have not been compromised after a Canadian national of Chinese origin is detained

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💥 EU fines Google €890mn in major test of Donald Trump’s threats to protect Big Tech. EU comp chief Ribera dismissed threats of US retaliation, saying Brussels would not act in response to “what someone else is trying to tell us what to do or not to do”. as.ft.com/r/9562be64-3...

EU fines Google €890mn in test of Donald Trump’s threats to protect Big Tech

EU competition chief says it is bloc’s ‘duty to defend rule of law’ while delivering ‘strong message’ to search giant

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EU heads for deal on new Russia sanctions package after Greece is offered a compromise to be allowed to continue carrying Russian LNG into 2027, according to three diplomats briefed on the negotiations. Athens had vetoed the package without an LNG carve-out as.ft.com/r/a9380ca3-d...

Russian gas cargoes to remain exempt as EU nears new sanctions deal

Groups such as Greece’s Dynagas will be allowed to continue carrying Russian LNG

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EU capitals failed to reach a deal during all-day talks, as Greece continued to insist on a carve-out from a Russian LNG shipment ban. Ambassadors will reconvene tomorrow morning hoping to clinch a deal and avoid the situation of surge in the Kremlin's income from crude oil exports.

Henry Foy@henryjfoy.ft.com · 2w ago

As EU ambassadors begin a crunch debate on the next round of Russia sanctions, with billions of euros worth of LNG exports and oil revenues hanging in the balance, the @financialtimes.com editorial board lays out the crude truth Background here: as.ft.com/r/3ac50792-e...

Bad take, has very little to do with Orban/Magyar. Even with Viktor around the table the Greeks would be the ones holding up this package. It’s about be left with only the sacred cows to sanction.

Luke McGee@lukemcgee.bsky.social · 2w ago

With Budapest no longer providing cover, EU governments are being forced to own their objections to tougher action against Russia. www.politico.eu/article/post...

As EU ambassadors begin a crunch debate on the next round of Russia sanctions, with billions of euros worth of LNG exports and oil revenues hanging in the balance, the @financialtimes.com editorial board lays out the crude truth Background here: as.ft.com/r/3ac50792-e...

France & Germany go public with demand to reform the EU's diplomatic service... and set ambitious end-2026 deadline for options “With the geopolitical developments we are facing, Germany & France emphasise the need to reform the EU’s internal set-up for external action" as.ft.com/r/284f4a6a-7...

Paris and Berlin set year-end deadline for options to reform EU’s diplomatic arm

Also in this newsletter: EU’s biggest economies call for lighter bank rules

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EU approaching “peak sanctions” as France, Germany, Greece & others demand measures against Russia be cut to protect their companies “Around the table, the moral imperative is functioning less and less” said one diplomat w @alicemhancock.bsky.social & @chriscook.news as.ft.com/r/b8082481-c...

EU faces crumbling support for new Russia sanctions

National capitals refuse to support measures that could hurt big companies

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⛴️ Athens blocks EU sanctions against Moscow to protect Greek billionaire shipping tycoon that built fleet to serve Putin’s Arctic gas projects w @alicemhancock.bsky.social & @chriscook.news as.ft.com/r/793a4480-5...

💥 Top scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social - Brussels has drawn up fresh Google fines and the threat of periodic penalties - to be publicised next week - as the EU’s Big Tech enforcement increases as.ft.com/r/d2deedaa-3...

💥 Ukraine will use a €60bn weapons loan from the EU to buy Chinese dual-use components, despite Brussels condemning Beijing as “the key enabler” of Russia’s war against Kyiv. @financialtimes.com scoop with @paolatamma.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/6eb1a8db-d...

This means we are looking for a new Europe Express editor! Do you want to join the FT and the best team in Brussels? Apply here: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

💥 Some personal news: From September, I will move on from editing the Europe Express newsletter and focus on reporting on security and migration, and doing investigative stories from Brussels. Very excited for this new chapter - don’t hesitate to reach out with tips.

“This is not about whether children can access social media”, said @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu. “It is about whether and when social media can access our children.” EU moves towards social media ban for children under 13 - @bmoens.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/9f9ff1b1-4...

IEA warns of petrol and diesel supply crunch—IEA head Birol told the FT that just 16mn barrels per day of oil were coming from the Gulf, compared with the 24mn before the conflict in the Middle East began. www.ft.com/content/5426... @henryjfoy.ft.com @iancjohnston.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Europe’s slow electrification is a ‘major mistake’ www.ft.com/content/fbeb...

🇪🇺 French commissioner pushes for ‘Buy European’ in EU public procurement, according to draft document seen by @financialtimes.com as.ft.com/r/9d602654-e...

“It’s relatively simple,” said one Nato diplomat. “Trump likes winners. And Ukraine, recently, has started winning.” How Trump’s Ukraine shift steadied nervous Nato allies, and a summit that threatened new acrimony among allies ended with free guns and “love in the room” as.ft.com/r/59831802-b...

💥 Trump "completely committed" to Nato despite threats over Greenland, US troops in Europe & Iran support, Rutte insists as leaders arrive at a summit of the shaky alliance Follow the developments live from Ankara w/ @jprathbone.bsky.social @lucyfisher.ft.com & I here: www.ft.com/content/f2eb...

Nato summit live news: Trump ‘completely committed’ to Nato despite renewed threats, Rutte says

US president has threatened to remove US troops from Europe and revived calls to take control of Greenland

ft.com

This by Ben Hall, Charles Clover & @henryjfoy.ft.com is excellent. Financing & building up European defence kit is only the beginning (although we cannot replicate the US way of war); learning to trust each other & agreeing on chains of command, without the US in the lead, is the bigger problem.

How Europe would fight without America

As Nato meets, the continent is starting to think about how to defend itself without the US

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“If our partners do not abandon Ukraine financially, if our soldiers continue holding the front, if every kilometre of Russian advance continues to cost them tens of thousands—and sometimes hundreds of thousands—of personnel, then the decisive struggle will take place in the skies,” Zelenskyy said.

Nato leaders back Ukraine’s strikes on Russia that have put Kyiv in “best” position in the war, 🇫🇮 prez Stubb told FT “Everyone, including our American friends, sees that Ukraine is right now on top. That has changed the strategic thinking of those trying to mediate peace” as.ft.com/r/f125005d-c...

Nato backs Ukraine’s push to hit Russia harder, says Finnish president

Alexander Stubb tells FT that long-range drone strikes have changed US views on the war and put Kyiv in ‘best’ position since 2022

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Want to work with me producing Brussels’ most influential morning newsletter, & join the FT’s outstanding team of reporters at the heart of the EU? Here’s a brilliant chance for a dynamic, sharp, collaborative & ambitious journalist to join our fab crew job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

How France’s aggressively Buy European demands cost Paris €1.1bn Brilliant tale by @paolatamma.bsky.social @marinovik.bsky.social and @labboudles.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/a2e6d341-f...

French push to exclude UK from EU defence spending backfires

Paris loses out on cheap loans due to strict eligibility criteria it had championed

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Trump was “hugely impressed and enthusiastic” about Ukraine’s long-range strikes deep inside Russia at last week’s G7 summit, officials told FT, adding to Moscow’s irritation at signs of the US leaning toward Kyiv w comrades @maxseddon.bsky.social & @christopherjm.ft.com as.ft.com/r/85f3cb74-e...

Vladimir Putin sours on Donald Trump over his latest Ukraine shift

US president ‘impressed’ with Ukrainian drones hitting targets deep into Russia, say officials

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💥 The EU should use “momentum” around Ukraine peace talks & push ahead with attempts to talk to Putin, Austria’s chancellor told FT Stocker “supports very much” nascent talks & urges other EU leaders to endorse them. “Wars end not with weapons, but with successful diplomacy" w @mjruehl.bsky.social

Europe should speak to Putin, says Austrian chancellor

Christian Stocker tells FT that there is ‘momentum’ around Ukraine peace talks

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💥 The EU is preparing emergency trade benefits for Armenia in response to Russia’s economic pressure on Yerevan, in a bubbling battle for influence in the South Caucasus as.ft.com/r/4cbbec4a-e...

EU readies trade relief for Armenia after Russian import bans

Brussels steps in after Moscow restricted food and flowers from former ally in response to its westward pivot

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Macron often weathers mockery from Trump, such as remarks about his accent speaking in English, said people present in meetings. But Trump appreciates Macron being clear & consistent in his criticism in public & private. @labboudles.bsky.social @a-mackinnon.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/5431c5d6-4...

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump test their bruised bromance at G7 summit

French president will host world leaders at Évian-les-Bains from Monday

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