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Good morning from Brussels.

The EU's new top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, officially took over a few days ago but has already been thrown into the deep end as she will need to coordinate EU diplomacy on Syria.

The EU foreign ministers are meeting today in Brussels, and Kallas will present proposals to improve the efficiency of foreign policy debates.

But the key challenge, Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski reports, is who to engage or not engage with in the aftermath of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ousting.

Brussels has indicated that they will “soon” seek to establish diplomatic contact with Syria's new rulers, and Kallas has adopted a wait-and-see approach toward Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that led the overthrow of Assad. 

Both Assad’s regime and HTS have been under sanctions for years.

“We might simply not have the luxury to say we don’t engage,” one EU diplomat said. “After all, we found ways to engage with the Taliban in Afghanistan when it was possible to pursue our interests.”

Meanwhile, other players – such as Russia, Turkey and Iran - are already trying to position themselves in the new Syria and adjust to the new balance of power in the Middle East. 

Experts told Euractiv that despite conflicting interests in Syria, Moscow and Ankara need each other and will maintain relations.

Digital governance in the era of hybrid warfare, with Estonia’s digital minister

In this episode, host Giada Santana is joined by Estonia's Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta to discuss Estonia's digital transformation and the challenges of securing a fully digital state in an era of escalating cyber warfare. Listen here. 
Bubbling in Brussels
Click on the picture to read the story |  [Michele Tantussi/Getty Images]

The EU should develop a “clear agenda for gradual integration” and increase diplomatic contacts with the Western Balkans, according to a joint letter by seven EU member states, seen by Euractiv.

Meanwhile, the ruling Georgian Dream party installed far-right Mikheil Kavelashvili as president on Saturday in a controversial election process amid a deepening constitutional crisis and weeks of mass pro-EU protests. 

The EU has slammed Georgia’s democratic backslide, and foreign ministers today will consider “additional measures”. 

On the Ukraine front, Hungary's year-long blockage of Ukraine support has prompted EU member states and top officials to renew their interest in convincing Budapest to opt-out.

Lastly, on defence, discussions to approve the EU Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) were postponed again this month, with no deal in sight, as political wrangling over different strategies continues, writes Aurélie Pugnet.

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Western Europe
Click on the picture to read the story |  [Hannibal Hanschke - Pool/Getty Images]

BERLIN

The German Bundestag is expected to pave the way for early elections by holding a confidence vote on Monday, a rare event in Germany’s political history that looks all but certain to usher in the end of Chancellor Olaf Scholz‘s tenure. Read more.

UK & Ireland

LONDON

UK officially joins Indo-Pacific trade bloc. Britain on Sunday became the first European nation to join a major Indo-Pacific trading bloc, in what has been hailed as the country's biggest trade deal since Brexit. Read more.

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DUBLIN

Israel to shut embassy in Ireland over 'extreme anti-Israel policies'. Israel said on Sunday it would close its Dublin embassy due to the Irish government's "extreme anti-Israel policies" including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza. Read more.

Southern Europe
Click on the picture to read the story |  [EPA-EFE/Andrzej Lange]

ROME

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will step down as president of the EU's conservative ECR group and back former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki as her successor. Read more.

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MADRID

Puigdemont raises the stakes, issues new warning to Sánchez. Catalan separatist party JxCat will never be anyone's political hostage, its leader Carles Puigdemont, warned in a direct warning to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE/S&D). Read more.

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LISBON

Portuguese president dismisses concerns about deficit. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has dismissed concerns about a possible deficit in 2025 as foreseen in the Bank of Portugal’s recently published economic bulletin for December. Read more.

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ATHENS

Greece passes new budget, reassures defence spending. With 159 votes out of the 300-member parliament, Greece’s ruling New Democracy party (EPP) passed the 2025 budget, while a large majority voted in favour of defence spending. Read more.

Eastern Europe
Click on the picture to read the story |  [NurPhoto/Getty Images]

WARSAW

Two of the four parties in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's ruling coalition have agreed on a joint candidate for next year's presidential election, while the others have put forward their own. Read more.

The Balkans

SOFIA

ALDE party lends a hand in forming Bulgaria’s government. The Alliance of Liberals in Europe (ALDE) suggested a “cordon sanitaire” against Delyan Peevski, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms–New Beginning (DPS-NN) leader facing US sanctions. Read more.

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BUCHAREST | CHIȘINAU

Romania ready to support Moldova amid energy crisis. Romania will help Moldova overcome its energy crisis, Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja announced after Chisinau declared a state of emergency after Russia cut off gas transit through Ukraine at the end of the year. Read more.

Agenda
  • EU: Foreign Affairs Council convenes to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine, Georgia, Middle East, and more;
  • Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council in its Energy composition expected to focus on geothermal energy, grids action plan, and more;
  • Seventeenth Accession Conference with Montenegro held in Brussels to provisionally close negotiations on intellectual property law, information society, industrial policy;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe]

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