Good morning from Brussels Absorbed by domestic political instability, EU heavyweight politicians will not attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) starting today in Baku. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen attributed her absence to the executive’s transition phase, while France and Germany are facing challenges at home. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez will be the most senior EU leaders’ representatives. In addition, instead of the usual events-filled pavilion, the EU is set to have just an info booth at this year's event. One official told Euractiv it represents an "effective but frugal" approach. The EU executive will be represented by current and future Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, who will not have an easy task to push forward EU’s interests in talks with rising global players, writes Euractiv’s Nikolaus Kurmayer. The COP29 takes place on the backdrop of Donald Trump’s – known for his climate skepticism - return to the White House. His sweeping victory last week may have an impact on Europe’s political power balances. Reporting from Warsaw, Aleksandra Krzysztoszek writes that the city’s Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski – the likely candidate of Donald Tusk's Civic Platform (PO, EPP) in the 2025 elections – said over the weekend that Poland “could become a political leader of the EU”. | 