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FIREPOWER: Eastern Sentry mapped, but what’s in a drone wall?

Plus defence roadmap dates, and man of steel Šefčovič

Šefčovič vs. the nostalgia bloc

In today’s edition: EU ambassadors meet on the bloc’s 19th package of sanctions against Russia, protesters clash with police in France during nationwide anti-austerity strikes with 181 arrested, and EU countries tentatively agree to a vague 2035 climate pledge at the UN

Affordable Housing in Portugal Gets €1.34 Billion Boost from EIB

Portugal has secured €1.34 billion in EIB funding to build and renovate 12,000 affordable rental homes, in what officials call a landmark investment in housing, social cohesion, and economic resilience

Commission in talks to combine AI Gigafactory pitches

Brussels wants to whittle down 76 pitches for hosting large AI training hubs into just a handful of actual projects

‘Big challenge’: Šefčovič plays down hopes for swift EU-India trade pact

Differences over car market access remain unresolved in talks with New Delhi, the veteran commissioner told Euractiv.

Protestors try to save Belgium’s $10 million stockpile of USAID contraceptives

Advocates say the goods could prevent 360,000 unintended pregnancies

Philip Morris backs EU push to test vapes’ health impact (with a catch)

The European Commission recently proposed raising taxes on cigarettes as well as novel tobacco products

On first visit to Madrid, Merz and Sánchez split over Israel

The Spanish and German leaders touted unity on Ukraine, but their meeting was clouded by splits over defence spending and the war in Gaza.

Europe to offer UN only vague climate commitment next week

A 90% climate target for 2040, which had deeply divided EU countries, is not referenced in the "statement of intent"

Danish presidency draft gives countries leeway on Critical Medicines Act

Council draft would lower the threshold for Commission-led procurement from nine member states to six