Coalition of could-be’s: As Washingtion goes AWOL, Europeans search for Ukraine unity

Good morning from Paris.
Not on the same page. As Washington goes AWOL, a select group of European leaders met in Paris yesterday to discuss what Europe could bring to the table in negotiations over Ukraine. They were not on the same page when it came to sending peacekeeping forces – or much else, write Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski and Théo Bourgery-Gonse.

Meanwhile, the US envoy for Ukraine and Russia told a group of reporters that European views will be taken into account and Ukraine will not be pressured into a deal. “If you believe there are going to be thirty-three people sitting at the same table (…) in all probability, the answer is no, not at all,” Keith Kellogg said.

Still an option. The Commission will propose legislation on AI in the workplace if the current framework fails to protect workers, said labour Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu yesterday in European Parliament hearing, writes Euractiv’s Claudie Moreau.

Meanwhile, the Commission has left the revision of the tobacco taxation directive out of its 2025 working programme despite mounting pressure from member states and the industry itself, writes Euractiv’s Sarantis Michalopoulos.

Pre-crisis levels. Collective demand for LNG from EU member states fell to its lowest level since 2021 last year, according to the latest data, with experts concluding that the EU has “likely already passed peak demand,” writes Euractiv’s Jasper Steinlein.

Euractiv's Nicole Verbeeck sat down with Belgian MEP Liesbet Sommen (EPP), who said that smaller member states warn that they risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive pharmaceutical market.

BERLIN

The outgoing German government has welcomed a Brussels move to significantly slim down the EU's world-first CO2 border tariff CBAM, according to a letter seen by Euractiv. Read more.
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PARIS
France to keep regulating power prices. France’s regulated electricity prices for residential customers and very small companies will be maintained, as they help with price stability and electrification, the French government has said in a key report. Read more.
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AMSTERDAM
Dutch cancer patients forced to wait for drug pricing dispute resolution. Dutch cancer patients have been denied access to two drugs after the Dutch Healthcare Institute claimed the drug manufacturers did not provide the information necessary to determine whether the drugs were worth their asking price. Read more.

LONDON

US must provide ‘backstop’ for Ukraine, Starmer says after meeting in Paris. Following the emergency defence meeting in Paris on Monday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stressed the importance of both US and EU support in order to deter further encroachment from Russia. Read more.

ROME

A growing spyware scandal is shaking Italy, as revelations emerge of journalists, activists, and NGOs being targeted with Israeli-made surveillance tools—sparking political backlash, government denials, and calls for an EU inquiry. Read more.
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MADRID

Spain resists Trump's demand to increase NATO defence spending target. Madrid is not bowing to pressure from US President Donald Trump to raise the Iberian country's defence spending to 5% of GDP and plans to increase the national budget for military purposes to 1.32% of GDP this year, in line with the government’s initial defence roadmap. Read more.
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LISBON

Portugal backs EU Commission’s move to loosen budget rules for defence spending. The Portuguese minister of finance said on Monday that he supports the European Commission's intention to ease the European Union's budgetary rules for more defence spending, pointing out that these are time-consuming investments because they are not made "in the supermarket around the corner". Read more.

PRAGUE

Czech officials are calling on the European Commission to revisit its hydrogen production rules, arguing that the current framework is based on unrealistic expectations and it limits the growth of hydrogen development in the country. Read more.

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WARSAW

Poland won't send troops to Ukraine, Tusk announces. Poland has no plans to send troops to Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared before the Paris summit, while affirming the country's support for nations that choose to engage militarily in the conflict. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico’s government delays decision on its future amid coalition crisis. Slovak government remains in turmoil after missing its self-imposed deadline to resolve the ongoing coalition crisis, with possible government reshuffles or early elections, possibly in June, lying on the table. Read more.

SOFIA

Dombrovskis: Bulgaria has still a chance to join the eurozone in 2026. Bulgaria's adoption of the euro in 2026 remains a realistic goal, but there is still work to be done, European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis said before the start of the Eurogroup meeting on Monday. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian far-right MEP announces another presidential bid. Member of the European Parliament Diana Șoșoacă, who was removed from the 2024 presidential race by a decision of the Romanian constitutional court, announced on Monday that she will run again, claiming she has gathered almost all the necessary signatures. Read more.

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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]