European officials have expressed outrage over Elon Musk's statements supporting the radical right in the UK and Germany. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Barrot called on the European Commission to protect member states from external interference, warning that if it fails to do so, responsibility will be handed back to individual countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Musk of inciting hatred and attacking institutions, while French President Emmanuel Macron described his views as supporting a "reactionary international" that threatens European democracies.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/940259-blinken-musk-has-the-right-to-express-his-position-like-any-american-citizenAustria's chances of meeting a crucial EU deadline to submit a spending reduction plan by January 21 are uncertain due to ongoing talks between the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP). If an agreement is not reached, Austria will miss the deadline and risk being grouped with highly indebted countries such as Italy and France. The European Commission had previously delayed punishment for Austria's budget deficit in November, but now expects the country to present a plan to reduce its public spending deficit to below 3% of GDP by January 21. Austrian leader Herbert Kickl has called for a "massive political fire brigade operation" to address the issue, which he described as a "debt conflagration that threatens to consume everything."
https://www.politico.eu/article/austria-eu-punishment-overspending-wwii-far-right-vienna-brussels-ovp-fpo-election-manifesto/The European Commission has refrained from taking concrete action against US tech companies since Donald Trump's election victory, despite bolstering its legal arsenal to target major digital platforms. This apparent reluctance is attributed to a desire not to antagonize the incoming leadership in Washington, particularly given Elon Musk's close ties to Trump and his recent inflammatory comments. EU officials have remained silent on issues such as Musk's planned live chat with the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, despite criticism from experts like Alexandre de Streel, who suggests that the Commission is avoiding confrontation with Trump and Musk out of fear of their reactions.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/can-eu-stand-up-to-belligerent-big-tech-in-new-trump-era-204506The United States has played a significant role in the Paris Agreement, including working with China to lay the groundwork for global climate deals. However, under President Trump, the US withdrew from the agreement and instead warned the EU that it must buy more U.S. oil and gas or face tariffs. Despite this, the European Commission is seeking to "constructively engage" with the new administration on issues including climate change. The EU is set to miss a deadline for submitting its national climate plan to the UN, but plans to have an updated plan ready by November's UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1961549/eu-warns-of-serious-blow-from-u-s-trump-on-climate-changeThe European Commission attempted to downplay a hypothetical scenario at its press briefing on Wednesday, where they were questioned about their response if the US were to attack Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The commission's spokespeople declined to provide specifics about how they would respond, despite repeated and intense questioning from the media.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-dodges-questions-donald-trump-invasion-greenland-military/The European Union's upcoming budget negotiations for 2028-2035 have sparked tensions among member states. Countries like Italy and France, which fall short of NATO's defense spending target, are seeking to finance their military budgets through common EU debt, a proposal opposed by fiscally conservative nations such as Germany and the Netherlands. The European Commission must balance competing demands from "hawks" who prioritize defense spending, southern nations concerned about Ukraine, and fiscal hardliners like Germany and the Netherlands. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed an omnibus law that combines multiple green rules, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
https://www.politico.eu/article/finance-policy-battle-2025-saving-investment-defense-green-rule/Hungary is expected to be minimally affected by the reduction in Russian gas supplies due to its use of an alternative route via Turkey and the Balkans, whereas other European countries are bracing for a potential shortage. The European Commission has been preparing for this scenario for over a year, while Ukraine has criticized countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas despite the ongoing invasion. Russia's energy revenues are crucial to its government finances, which is why it has shifted its exports towards Asia in response to Western sanctions. In another dispute, Gazprom announced it would halt gas supplies to Moldova on Wednesday due to a payment issue, prompting Chisinau to declare a state of emergency over possible power shortages.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40340559/moscow-kyiv-end-russian-gas-transit-to-europe-via-ukraineHungary is expected to be minimally affected by the reduction in Russian gas supplies due to its use of an alternative route via Turkey and the Balkans, rather than Ukraine. The European Commission has been preparing for a scenario without Russian gas transiting through Ukraine for over a year. Meanwhile, Russia has redirected its lucrative gas exports towards Asia as it faces Western sanctions and pressure to cut purchases. In a separate dispute, Gazprom announced that it would halt gas supplies to Moldova on Wednesday, prompting the country to declare a state of emergency due to concerns about power supplies.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/europe/moscow-kyiv-end-russian-gas-transit-to-europe-via-ukraineThe European Commission has been preparing for a scenario where Russian gas transit via Ukraine ceases as of January 1, 2025, and is ensuring alternative supplies are available to impacted Member States. The EU's gas infrastructure has been reinforced with new LNG import capacities since 2022, allowing it to provide non-Russian origin gas to Central and Eastern Europe through alternative routes. In response to Ukraine's suspension of Russian gas transit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to halt electricity supply to Ukraine, which is in desperate need of the energy source. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy is exploring options for obtaining electricity from other sources.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/3944051-eu-prepared-for-cessation-of-russian-gas-transit-via-ukraine-from-january-1-european-commission.html