Brussels

• The European Union has unveiled a new AI cybersecurity action plan designed to strengthen digital defenses against emerging threats. • The plan primarily consists of recommendations rather than mandates, highlighting a lack of binding regulatory power in this specific area. • Brussels' reliance on negotiated access to US-based AI models, such as Anthropic's Mythos, underscores a significant technological dependency on American firms.

• MEPs from the French left are currently jockeying for position and influence within Brussels to shape the upcoming presidential race. • Raphael Glucksmann's liberal-leaning social democratic party, Place Publique, has gained significant political momentum following the most recent European elections. • This surge in support has fueled widespread speculation regarding a potential presidential bid by Glucksmann to lead the left-wing coalition.

• The European Commission's €5 billion tech fund has yet to make a single investment despite its stated commercial mission. • Sweden's EQT was selected to manage the vehicle, winning the final round over the UK-based firm Atomico, while France's Eurazeo was eliminated earlier. • The situation has sparked tension between France and the UK, highlighting how national interests may complicate the fund's operational goals.

• Massive flight disruptions hit Europe today, resulting in 132 cancellations and 2,348 delays across multiple countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. • Major hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino were heavily affected, disrupting airlines like ITA Airways, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic. • The widespread chaos left thousands of passengers stranded across key cities including London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Amsterdam.

• European AI researchers have released a viral fictional doomsday scenario designed to warn Brussels about the potential consequences of falling behind in technology. • The narrative highlights a deep cultural and strategic divide between the European Union's regulatory approach and the fast-paced innovation of Silicon Valley. • This warning matters as it exposes internal tensions regarding AI safety, digital sovereignty, and the risk of Europe becoming technologically irrelevant.

• EU officials in Brussels have issued new guidance to member capitals regarding the accreditation of social media influencers to cover summits. • The plan allows YouTubers, TikTokers, and Instagrammers to report on EU officials, provided they are "Europhiles" and not critical of the bloc. • This move comes as the EU faces rising euroskepticism and the potential for "Frexit," "Dexit," or "Italexit" as anti-EU parties gain political momentum.

Rights campaigners and MEPs say meeting would normalise regime that erases women from public lifeEU officials are facing fierce criticism over plans to host the Taliban in Brussels on Tuesday, with rights campaigners and MEPs warning that the meeting risks normalising a regime that has banned girls from school beyond the sixth grade and sought to erase women from public life, while its ranks include two leaders accused of crimes against humanity.The Belgian foreign ministry said on Monday it had issued five single-day visas to a Taliban delegation to attend a meeting in Brussels. Sources told the Guardian the meeting was expected to take place on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• European Union leaders are convening for a summit in Brussels on Thursday, notably excluding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the first time in 16 years. • Orban's absence follows a bruising election loss, which many EU leaders viewed as a rebuke of his combative relationship with the bloc and his close ties to Russia. • Despite the defeat, Orban met with far-right allies in Brussels on Wednesday, asserting that his loss does not halt the "historical process" of rising patriotic and anti-migration movements across Europe.

• EU Council President António Costa’s office has initiated contact with a senior official close to Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential peace talks regarding Ukraine. • These diplomatic outreach efforts mark a strategic move by Brussels to explore avenues for negotiation as the conflict continues to destabilize the region. • The initiative is significant as it signals a potential shift or expansion in the EU's diplomatic approach to ending the war and securing a sustainable ceasefire.

• Apple and the European Union are at odds over the delayed rollout of Siri AI to European users, with each side blaming the other for the holdup. • The dispute has led to a stalemate, with no clear resolution in sight for the launch of the AI app in the EU. • Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, has been involved in discussions, but details of the negotiations have not been disclosed.

• The European Commission has launched a new technological sovereignty package to shift the continent's digital strategy toward greater independence. • The Cloud and AI Development Act aims to triple Europe's data center capacity within five to seven years while accelerating AI adoption. • Brussels is integrating open-source solutions to ensure digital tools in cybersecurity, semiconductors, and internet technologies remain auditable and interoperable.

• The European Parliament is reviewing its reliance on Google and exploring the adoption of alternative search engines for its internal operations. • This shift aims to enhance digital sovereignty and prioritize user privacy within the EU's legislative framework. • Officials argue that diversifying search options will create market friction, providing European tech startups and local developers better opportunities to scale.

• The European Commission has introduced a new digital sovereignty package aimed at reducing the EU's dependence on large global technology companies. • The initiative shifts focus from mere regulation toward an industrial policy, featuring a Cloud and AI Development Act, a Chips Act 2.0, and a new open-source strategy. • These measures are designed to strengthen European technology capacity, specifically within critical infrastructure and public procurement processes.

• The EU's Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, is urging Big Tech to adopt sustainable AI practices. • Energy-hungry data centers must support the EU's shift to carbon-free power, according to Jørgensen. • This push for sustainability is part of the EU's broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate goals.

• European Union officials are warning Big Tech companies to implement sustainable AI practices or face potential regulatory restrictions. • The urgency is highlighted by Ireland, where data centers now consume over 20% of the nation's total electricity, the highest share per capita in the region. • This energy crisis underscores the environmental strain caused by the massive computing power required for AI, threatening EU climate goals.

• A Brussels watchdog is moving to ban the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), a far-right EU political party founded by Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) following the 2024 elections. • The ESN party includes several nationalist factions, such as France's Reconquest led by Éric Zemmour, Poland’s Confederation, and the Netherlands’ Forum for Democracy. • While the ESN political group remains unaffected, a ban on the party would strip the organization of its funding and its legal status as a political party.

• Two municipalities in Brussels are currently embroiled in serious governance scandals, sparking concerns over local political accountability. • The cases have emerged this week, highlighting systemic failures in the administration of Belgium's capital region. • These developments matter as they raise critical questions regarding the transparency and integrity of municipal leadership.

Foreign ministers meet to discuss latest on Ukraine, the Middle East and the western Balkans EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels this morning to discuss the latest on Ukraine, the Middle East, and the western Balkans.The talks will focus on the situation in Ukraine, with Kyiv’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha hailing “a new feeling of momentum” as he arrived for discussions this morning.“We have a new reality on the battlefield. Ukraine became stronger after the most difficult winter. … We stabilised the front and we are also in the position that we closed the sky … [can] shoot down up to 90% of aerial objects by which Russians attack us.”“We noticed new some very interesting developments in Russia, not only in the economy. So we are following them.”“We believe that when we see it in action. For now, even during the so-called ceasefire that he begged for, we have not really seen the cessation of hostilities. So, it’s premature to, to really suggest something like that.” Continue reading...

• The European Union imposed sanctions on 45 Russian businessmen and military contractors on April 9, freezing their assets and banning transactions worth an estimated €8.3 billion in response to what Brussels termed "financing of the war in Ukraine and sanctions evasion."​ • The new measures target individuals accused of shell company networks used to circumvent previous sanctions, with particular focus on the defense and energy sectors supplying Russian military operations. • EU officials stated the expanded sanctions list represents the 14th round of measures against Russia since February 2022, with the bloc pledging continued escalation if Moscow does not halt military operations.

European Commission says social messaging app is exposing children to grooming and sexual exploitationBrussels has opened an investigation into Snapchat over concerns that the social messaging app is exposing children to grooming, sexual exploitation and other criminality.In a separate decision on Thursday, the European Commission also said four pornographic websites were failing to prevent minors seeing adult content. Continue reading...

• European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels to address the escalating Iran conflict now in its third week, coordinating response to regional instability and implications for European interests. • The high-level coordination reflects EU concerns about energy security, maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz, and the potential for wider Middle Eastern destabilization affecting European allies.