POLITICS

• Rikard Jozwiak's "Wider Europe Briefing" highlights the EU's "Super Tuesday" regarding enlargement and the status of Ukrainian civil detainees held by Russia. • A coalition of nations, including Belgium, Bulgaria, and Sweden, criticized the European Commission for allegedly "sugarcoating" Serbia's progress on necessary reforms. • These countries pointed to the Commission's own rule-of-law report from one month prior, which heavily criticized Belgrade on multiple issues.

• South Korea's Minimum Wage Commission has approved a 3.7% increase in the national minimum wage for 2027. • The new hourly rate is set at 10,700 won (approximately US$7.19), marking a continued upward trend in labor costs. • This decision reflects the government's effort to balance worker purchasing power against the operational costs of businesses.

• Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before Congress to request increased security funding following a rise in threats against the court. • This appearance marks the first time Supreme Court justices have testified before Congress since 2019, highlighting the urgency of the security situation. • The justices warned that political intimidation of the judiciary crosses a critical line and poses a direct danger to the safety of individual members of the court.

• The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture is calling for social media platforms to implement stricter safety measures to better protect children. • Lawmakers argue that digital platforms must "adapt to the real world" to mitigate the risks associated with youth usage of social media. • This initiative matters as it seeks to hold tech companies accountable for the mental health and safety of minors across the EU.

• A historic agreement signed in Brussels on July 14 removes border checks for Schengen area travelers between Spain and the British enclave of Gibraltar. • The deal effectively ends more than a century of restrictive border controls between the two territories. • This move aims to streamline travel and enhance regional mobility by integrating the border into the Schengen framework.

• The Greek government has announced a national plan to fast-track legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. • This move is part of a broader effort to accelerate several pieces of legislation, though the specific implementation date for the ban has not yet been finalized. • The sudden push for these laws has fueled political speculation that snap elections could be called as early as this autumn.

• Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan appeared before Congress on Tuesday to discuss judicial security, the emergency docket, and ethics. • Justice Barrett made a personal plea for increased security funding, citing specific threats directed at her and her family members. • Justice Kagan addressed the difficulty of establishing an ethics enforcement system, arguing that neither the executive nor legislative branches should control the process.

• Maine Senate candidates have publicly condemned a fatal shooting involving ICE agents, bringing increased political scrutiny to GOP Senator Susan Collins during her current re-election campaign. • Republicans are pursuing a third partisan reconciliation package to fund priorities such as the war in Iran and the "Save AMERICA Act" election overhaul bill. • Senator John Cornyn of Texas expressed uncertainty regarding his support for Todd Blanche's appointment as attorney general ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing.

• Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett met with lawmakers on Tuesday for a regular budget hearing on Capitol Hill to discuss security funding. • Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro used the occasion to advocate for a bill banning most gifts and the implementation of an enforcement mechanism for the Court's ethics rules. • Justice Kagan expressed support for an enforcement system but cautioned that creating one is difficult, as external imposition by Congress or the President could compromise judicial independence.

• Hungarian MPs have voted for a constitutional amendment that allows them to remove the president from office, targeting an ally of former leader Viktor Orban. • The new rules introduce a 12-year or three-term limit for legislators, a move designed to block several prominent opposition figures from seeking re-election. • In an immediate reaction to the change, Fidesz legislator Gergely Gulyas resigned as party leader in parliament because he would be ineligible to run in 2030.

• The European Union advanced membership accession talks for Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine on Tuesday, signaling a renewed commitment to enlargement. • Ukraine and Moldova have now opened a second cluster of negotiations focusing on trade policy, humanitarian aid, and foreign security and defense policies. • This strategic push reflects a significant shift in Europe's security priorities and geopolitical response following Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

• Russian Ministry of Defense recruitment efforts are reportedly failing to keep pace with rising casualty rates resulting from costly military advances in Ukraine. • On July 13, 2026, ten nations—including the UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine—signed a joint declaration in Paris to establish the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. • This new coalition aims to accelerate the production of anti-ballistic air defense systems to bolster regional security.

• Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified regarding the high court's budget request, which specifically seeks increased funding for security. • Justice Barrett emphasized that the current threat level against judges is "really high," highlighting a growing safety concern for judicial officers. • Representative Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) supported the request, stating that justices must be able to perform their duties without fearing for their own safety or that of their families.

• Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before congressional committees to request additional funding for judicial security. • Justice Barrett shared a personal account of a "swatting" incident to illustrate the escalating nature of threats facing the court. • This marks the first time in seven years that justices have appeared before Congress for this purpose, highlighting a critical need for enhanced protection.

• Supreme Court justices provided rare congressional testimony to discuss critical security risks and ethical considerations facing the court. • The Court has requested a budget of $228 million for the next fiscal year, representing a roughly 10% increase over the previous year's funding. • This testimony highlights the judiciary's growing need for enhanced protection and transparency amidst increasing external pressures.

• Investigative reporter Ese Olumhense examines how former President Donald Trump's false claims regarding the 2020 election have triggered a surge in restrictive election crime laws. • The report details how these legislative efforts, fueled by the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, are actively reshaping voter access across the United States. • This trend is significant as it highlights a systemic shift in how election integrity is defined and enforced, potentially limiting the ability of citizens to vote.

• Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before the Senate to advocate for an increased security budget. • The request comes in response to a significant rise in threats directed at the judiciary and its members. • This testimony highlights the growing safety concerns facing the nation's highest court amidst a volatile political climate.

• Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett are testifying before Congress to request millions of dollars in additional security funding. • This rare appearance marks the first time justices have testified before lawmakers since 2019, driven by a surge in security risks. • U.S. Marshals Service data reveals over 600 threats against federal judges in the 2023 fiscal year, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.