DE🇩🇪Germany
- Grundsicherung replaces Bürgergeld. The new basic benefit takes effect today — more pressure to work and more sanctions for failing to meet obligations taz ↗
- Brussels wants public contracts reserved for European firms. FAZ writes exclusively about a “Buy European” plan for public procurement FAZ ↗
- Wall Street closed its best quarter since 2020. U.S. indexes ended in positive territory Handelsblatt ↗
- Three men died in a fire in Monschau in the Eifel. The building was evacuated Spiegel ↗
- Lyten’s takeover of the Northvolt construction site has been agreed. “We are planning for the long term,” the battery factory says Welt ↗
- Deutsche Bahn will distribute body cameras to 2,000 employees. A response to attacks on staff Spiegel ↗
- Corruption investigation around EURO 2024. Searches at German offices and at the headquarters of the football association De Telegraaf ↗
- Coalition committee tackles tax reform, with the question whether Merz can manage to be a “reform chancellor” Handelsblatt ↗
- Agreement on protection against dismissal only up to an income of 100,000 euros a year FAZ ↗
- Court upheld the ban on Russia Today broadcasting in Germany Tagesspiegel ↗
- Counterintelligence warns of rising extremism from the right and from Russia taz ↗
- Angela Merkel’s official chancellery portrait was unveiled Spiegel ↗
- Kaufbeuren will become the base for Germany’s Arrow 3 missile defense system Spiegel ↗
- European Central Bank is considering doubling banks’ minimum reserve requirements Handelsblatt ↗
- Renewables covered a record 58 percent of electricity consumption Welt ↗
- Wagenknecht’s BSW movement offers cooperation to the AfD and seeks a stage with Weidel Tagesschau ↗
- Social Democrat Sinkevičius became Lithuania’s prime minister FAZ ↗
PL🇵🇱Poland
- Ukraine’s parliament approved the National Pantheon. A “historic decision” — Warsaw is waiting for the names Kyiv will honor and will respond only afterward Do Rzeczy ↗
- President Nawrocki’s office: the creation of the pantheon is an “escalatory step.” Warsaw reacts sharply to the Ukrainian decision Interfax ↗
- Czarzasty on the Ukrainian pantheon: “We will not move Ukraine on the map.” The Sejm deputy marshal is damping down the memory dispute Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Crisis in Kaczyński-Morawiecki relations: “Something has cracked.” Tension at the top of PiS TVN24 ↗
- KO caucus: no consequences after reports of an out-of-turn medical examination. The governing party closed the affair Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Former president Duda links politics and business. Andrzej Duda received a new role on the boundary between the two TVN24 ↗
- Russia and China held secret military exercises. The Polish press on the strategic nature of the cooperation Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Russia’s fuel crisis “like a tsunami.” St. Petersburg fears empty shelves at petrol stations Onet ↗
- Polish bus crash in Turkey. Twelve injured passengers ended up in hospital Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
- Dispute with Kyiv escalates: the government is waiting for the names Ukraine will honor in the National Pantheon and will respond only afterward Do Rzeczy ↗
- Political scientist Sadura on “national narcissism”: the carnival of pride over helping Ukraine is over Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
- Health minister and NFZ fund chief summoned to the prime minister’s office; no resignation for now Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
- “Prosecutors’ revolt” in Tusk’s office Do Rzeczy ↗
- LOT plane from Warsaw to Tel Aviv reported an emergency; Israel scrambled fighter jets Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
- EU commissioner: EU states are to spend 7 trillion euros on defense within ten years Rzeczpospolita ↗
HU🇭🇺Hungary
- Medián poll: Tisza at 73 percent. Its lead over Fidesz among decided voters has widened further Telex ↗
- The government unblocked roughly 10,000 users on its government Facebook page. It takes 13 minutes to scroll through the list of blocked users Index ↗
- The leadership of Semmelweis University’s board of trustees is giving up its salaries. It offers full cooperation to Magyar’s new government Portfolio ↗
- Record electricity consumption because of the heat. Hungarians also used air conditioning at record levels on Tuesday HVG ↗
- Government: the situation is critical, the army has intervened in several municipalities. Further water restrictions are threatened because of record heat Portfolio ↗
- Another 160 billion forints in public money was uncovered. According to the portal 24.hu, the case points toward Orbán’s government 24.hu ↗
- MP Ruff Bálint initiated another extraordinary parliamentary session. He wants to convene it next week as well HVG ↗
- Tisza’s government abolished the Sovereignty Protection Office; a vote on agent files is coming soon Portfolio ↗
- The “golden convoy” affair: witness statements, according to the portal 444, suggest that Orbán instructed the head of the counterterrorism service by phone HVG ↗
- Water crisis from the heat: third-level restrictions in 120 municipalities, a record 41 degrees, trains standing still Portfolio ↗
- The new Asset Recovery Office resembles the abolished sovereignty office, according to the Helsinki Committee Index ↗
- Poverty statistics scandal: sociologists call for an investigation into the statistics office’s “suspicious” data Portfolio ↗
- Hungary will not support an EU proposal to restrict the entry of Ukrainian men of military age 444 ↗
AT🇦🇹Austria
- The reform partnership outlined its intentions. Billions are to be saved on network costs in the energy sector Kleine Zeitung ↗
- Unemployment rose by 1.2 percent in June. No easing on the labor market Die Presse ↗
- France halted its own parcel tax. It brought in too little revenue — a piquant detail on the day the EU introduces a three-euro duty Der Standard ↗
- The trial of Heinz-Christian Strache continued. Dominik Nepp’s testimony was next Die Presse ↗
- The easing of energy prices is dampening inflation. Austrian inflation is falling together with the eurozone ORF ↗
- Two acquittals in a defamation trial. The case of an alleged rape in Vienna Die Presse ↗
- After midnight, the government announced an agreement on healthcare reform, but many details remain open ORF ↗
- After the Communists’ success in Graz, Styrian SPÖ leader Lercher admits the party’s mistakes Kurier ↗
- Court: deprivation of liberty at the airport under the EU asylum pact is contrary to European law Der Standard ↗
- Euroclear is suing the Russian central bank in Belgium ORF ↗
- Data protection advocate Schrems calls for withdrawal from the data agreement with the U.S. ORF ↗
- The EU sharply reduced steel import quotas, angering Austrian industry ORF ↗
UA🇺🇦Ukraine
- The Rada approved the creation of the Ukrainian National Pantheon. Zelenskyy is waiting for the law for an expedited signature Ukrajinska Pravda ↗
- Sweden will supply Gripens with deep-strike capability. According to Minister Jonson, they will also receive Meteor missiles — a key tool against carriers of Russian guided bombs Interfax ↗
- Fedorov: we are working on a direct contract to purchase PAC-3 systems. According to him, nothing like this has ever happened before Interfax ↗
- The World Bank provided nearly $600 million for social benefits. The money is going to the most vulnerable groups, Prime Minister Svyrydenko said Interfax ↗
- Ukraine says it hit Russian aircraft in hangars at the Saki airfield in Crimea. According to the SBU, attacks on Russian logistics continue Interfax ↗
- A Russian drone hit a residential building in Kherson. According to the prosecutor’s office, a woman was killed and two people were wounded Interfax ↗
- The commander of a Russian unit has been notified of suspicion over mass killings in Bucha. According to the National Police, it was terror against civilians Interfax ↗
- Zaluzhnyi was invited to a meeting with Zelenskyy, where he was dissuaded from presidential ambitions. According to Ukrajinska Pravda, it concerned a possible political contest Ukrajinska Pravda ↗
- Ukraine signed a deal with Sweden to buy 16 Gripen E fighter jets Kyiv Independent ↗
- Denmark announced its 30th military aid package worth $670 million Kyiv Independent ↗
- The European Commission released the first €3.9 billion tranche for drone purchases Interfax ↗
- Syrskyi: Russia is preparing an offensive on Chernihiv Oblast from the north, Putin ordered a recalculation of options Censor.NET ↗
- Germany and the Netherlands are taking over command on NATO’s eastern flank in Estonia Radio Sarajevo ↗
- Russia is temporarily closing railway border crossings with Finland, Estonia and Latvia Kyiv Independent ↗
- Zaporizhzhia: seven guided bombs in an hour and a half, two dead and 15 wounded, a kindergarten damaged Interfax ↗
- An explosion in Monaco seriously injured sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch Iermolaiev; it is being investigated as attempted murder Kyiv Independent ↗
- Poland and Ukraine are negotiating the transfer of drone technologies under the SAFE programme Censor.NET ↗
- A Czech party wants Zelenskyy stripped of an award; President Pavel’s spokesman rejects it Censor.NET ↗
FR🇫🇷France
- The government will release loans to farmers to prepare for heatwaves. Minister Genevard announced it BFM TV ↗
- Lecornu confirmed life imprisonment for sexual violence against children. He is also shortening the statute of limitations for investigations Le Figaro ↗
- The Greens filed a motion of no confidence in the government. La France Insoumise also joined; the reason is the handling of heatwaves BFM TV ↗
- Air traffic control caused 6.6 million minutes of flight delays. The transport minister admits failures BFM TV ↗
- “Monaco Battalion”: who are the Ukrainian oligarchs on the French Riviera. A report after the explosion there that injured sanctioned Iermolaiev Ouest-France ↗
- The 2027 presidential election will take place on April 18 and May 2 France 24 ↗
- The Socialists and Greens split over their strategy for the presidential primaries Le Monde ↗
- The CIA director compared top-tier artificial intelligence to “digital nuclear weapons” Le Monde ↗
- Tensions over the EU–Mercosur trade deal at the summit in Paraguay Le Monde ↗
- France faces a new heatwave, with the Greens accusing the government of weak preparation BFM TV ↗
IT🇮🇹Italy
- A major fuel tax fraud worth more than €60 million in Milan. Petrol and diesel were sold “at a reduced price” Il Fatto Quotidiano ↗
- Automatic enrolment in supplementary pensions begins today. The rule for newly hired employees is changing AGI ↗
- A rift between the Vatican and the Lefebvrists. A formal schism; the question is what comes next AGI ↗
- Italian seas are getting warmer. In 2025 they were 1.8 degrees above average, ISPRA warns ANSA ↗
- The “Melonellum” electoral reform is stuck; Forza Italia and the League oppose preference votes and Vannacci is applying pressure Il Manifesto ↗
- According to critics, the reform is tailor-made for a future president ahead of the head-of-state election Il Manifesto ↗
- Attack on journalist Ranucci: four arrests, prosecutors speak of a “contract” hit Il Manifesto ↗
- The far right in parliament backs “remigration”: “anti-fascism has been defeated” Il Manifesto ↗
- Investigation into embezzlement of EU funds in four countries, with Le Pen also in the spotlight Il Giornale ↗
- A man with a Kalashnikov in the streets of Naples triggered shooting in a crowd; three detained Open ↗
CH🇨🇭Switzerland
- The price of gold has plunged. NZZ nevertheless sees reasons why the precious-metal boom will continue NZZ ↗
- New rules from July 1. Car racing, child protection and phone scams are getting new boundaries SRF ↗
- The mayor of Crans-Montana apologized after the fire disaster. “I lacked humanity,” he admitted Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- Commentary: the Federal Council is cowering before Trump; parliamentarians describe Parmelin’s offer as “authoritarian” Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- Cassis warns against rigid neutrality NZZ ↗
- The introduction of electronic identity, e-ID, is being postponed until 2027 SRF ↗
- A reduction in EU steel quotas would massively restrict Swiss producers, the Swissmem association complains NZZ ↗
- A culture dispute over a trans woman expelled from a women’s nudist zone is escalating NZZ ↗
LU🇱🇺Luxembourg
- Luxembourg companies’ confidence in the economy has fallen to a historic low. Luxembourg Times ↗
- Cargolux will pay a €1.15 million fine for influence-peddling in Gabon. Luxembourg Times ↗
- Unions criticize the closure of the factory in Steinfort. It will affect nearly 100 employees Luxembourg Times ↗
- Grand Duke Guillaume received at the Élysée Palace. Luxemburger Wort ↗
- How Bardella is overtaking his mentor Le Pen and heading for the Élysée Palace Luxemburger Wort ↗
- The grand ducal court exceeded its budget for the first time, surpassing €25 million Luxembourg Times ↗
- Top EU steelmakers warn against weakening the carbon market Luxembourg Times ↗
- Luxembourgers trust the state and authorities more than political parties Luxembourg Times ↗
ES🇪🇸Spain
- The leader of Sumar resigned after the harassment case was shelved. She speaks of a “discrediting campaign” El Español ↗
- The stepson of Marbella’s mayor (PP) was sentenced to nine years. For drug trafficking and money laundering El Mundo ↗
- Monaco prosecutors rule out terrorism in the bombing attack on the Ukrainian oligarch. ABC ↗
- Sánchez’s migrant regularization under pressure: police estimate that 400,000 people outside Spain “smuggled” themselves into it El Español ↗
- The “trama Leire” case: indictment of the chairwoman of the state holding company SEPI ABC ↗
- Hatred toward migrants on social networks jumped by 19 points amid the regularization El Mundo ↗
- The EU is adopting the Chinese model and will make foreign investment in strategic sectors conditional El Español ↗
- Wave of jewellery-store robberies after the rise in the price of gold El Mundo ↗
BE🇧🇪Belgium
- Deadly apartment block fire in Antwerp. Several people are dead on Linkeroever, residents fled across balconies VRT NWS ↗
- Francken (N-VA) wants to end Belgium’s participation in the Franco-German fighter jet. He questions the next-generation combat aircraft project VRT NWS ↗
- Court: 32 former MPs may not keep a pension of 9,500 euros. The court did not rule in their favor 7sur7 ↗
- Municipalities where Flemish ministers and MPs live will receive up to 25 percent more in subsidies De Morgen ↗
- New arms factories and ammunition depots in Flanders no longer need an environmental permit in an emergency De Standaard ↗
- Inappropriate party by U.S. ambassador Bill White in Brussels’ Cinquantenaire Park, two journalists were escorted out De Standaard ↗
- Is Putin losing his iron grip on Belarus? “Lukashenko does not intend to go down with the Russian ship” De Standaard ↗
- Heat has cracked more than 150 roads and cycle paths De Standaard ↗
PT🇵🇹Portugal
- The unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent. Employment reached its highest level since 1998 Jornal de Negócios ↗
- Portugal is heading to the summit with 2.01 percent of GDP spent on defense. The minister said so RTP ↗
- Industrial production fell by 2.3 percent in May. Jornal de Negócios ↗
- Record ocean temperatures herald a “new phase” of climate risk Público ↗
- The government wants air-conditioned shelters in every district for the heat wave RTP ↗
- Sócrates claims prison cost him 300,000 euros a year CM Jornal ↗
- A gang robbed the safes of twelve banks over ten months CM Jornal ↗
- The Portuguese are among the most pessimistic people in the European Union Observador ↗
IE🇮🇪Ireland
- Zelenskyy landed in Dublin. Ireland is also taking over the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU under tightened security The Journal ↗
- The Supreme Court ordered Enoch Burke’s release from prison — for the fifth time. Despite his continuing contempt of court Irish Examiner ↗
- TikTok will cut 300 jobs in Dublin. The wave of layoffs in Ireland’s AI-driven tech sector continues Irish Independent ↗
- Ireland has taken over the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, trade unionists are preparing a rally RTÉ ↗
- Zelenskyy arrived for talks, the country is on heightened alert Irish Examiner ↗
- New customs fees on orders from countries outside the EU apply from today The Journal ↗
- Climate inaction could cost the country 13 billion euros RTÉ ↗
- The Food Safety Authority recalled batches of cooked ham over listeria RTÉ ↗
NL🇳🇱Netherlands
- Dutch inflation fell to 2.9 percent in June. Lower energy prices are the reason NU.nl ↗
- A specialized Dutch rescue team is leaving Venezuela. The chance of finding survivors after the earthquake is now small AD ↗
- Council of State: Syrians were rightly rejected in an asylum application over a “child marriage.” AD ↗
- The cabinet believes it will achieve the target of 100,000 new homes a year for the first time De Telegraaf ↗
- Farmers’ organizations threaten a “hot summer” of actions if the government does not withdraw its position De Telegraaf ↗
- Amnesty: RSF forces committed ethnic cleansing during the capture of Sudan’s Al-Fashir, children were deliberately killed NOS ↗
- Families of five murdered Venezuelans sue Maduro in New York AD ↗
🌍 Other Countries
- 🇬🇷 Greece: series of arson attacks on the homes of officials from the governing New Democracy party. Three bombs in 35 minutes in Thessaloniki, the mother of one candidate ended up in intensive care, the counterterrorism unit is investigating — Prime Minister Mitsotakis promises “zero tolerance for terrorism” Naftemporiki ↗
- 🇷🇴 Romania: the AUR party has launched a procedure to remove the president. The far-right AUR is targeting head of state Nicușor Dan Libertatea ↗
🔁 Cross-country Themes
- Eurozone inflation fell to 2.8 percent in June — after four consecutive increases. 🇩🇪 DE · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇹🇷 TR El País ↗
- Indirect U.S.-Iran talks began in Doha — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇹🇷 TR Libération ↗
- The presidency enriched Trump: more than 2 billion dollars from cryptocurrencies in a year — estimates rise from 2.3 to 6 billion. 🇦🇹 AT · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇷🇴 RO Kurier ↗
- Venezuela after the earthquake: search increasingly difficult, rescue teams are leaving — more than 1,900 victims. 🇦🇹 AT · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇫🇷 FR ORF ↗
- The EU introduced a three-euro duty on packages from Temu and Shein (effective from today, July 1) — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇮🇪 IE · 🇦🇹 AT
- The EU halved duty-free quotas for steel imports — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇱🇺 LU
- The earthquake in Venezuela has claimed more than 1,900 victims, families sue Maduro in New York — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇳🇱 NL
- The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, a defeat for Trump — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇱🇺 LU
- Iran and the U.S. held talks in Qatar, Iran and Oman’s plan for a toll in Hormuz could sink the talks — 🇮🇹 IT · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇭🇺 HU
- Ukraine is buying 16 Gripen E fighter jets from Sweden — 🇺🇦 UA · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇸🇮 SI · 🇳🇴 NO
- Record heat and record ocean temperatures, WHO convened an emergency meeting — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇦🇹 AT
- Investigators searched the offices of far-right parties over embezzlement of EU funds, Le Pen also in their sights — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇫🇷 FR
- Russia is closing railway crossings with Finland, Estonia and Latvia — 🇺🇦 UA · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇭🇷 HR
- Poland-Ukraine dispute over historical memory: Bandera, the National Pantheon and stripping honors — 🇵🇱 PL · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇳🇴 NO · 🇱🇺 LU
🔦 Views from Outside
- Poland-Ukraine dispute over historical memory (Polish and Ukrainian press) — the alliance between Warsaw and Kyiv is not cracking at the front, but in history. Former prime minister Morawiecki is asking the European Parliament to recognize the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as a “Nazi organization,” the Czech side wants Zelenskyy stripped of an honor, and attacks on Ukrainian refugees are increasing in Poland. Slovak and Czech media cover the topic only as a flat agency report.
- Hungary’s “gold convoy” affair (Hungarian press) — Ukrainian lawyers are seeking pretrial detention for Viktor Orbán, and witness testimony, according to the 444 portal, suggests that the prime minister instructed the head of the counterterrorism service by phone during the operation. It is one of the first major cases being opened by Péter Magyar’s new government.
- Switzerland’s tariff capitulation to Trump (Swiss press) — according to its own commentators, the wealthy neutral country is buckling under the threat of U.S. tariffs. MPs described Minister Parmelin’s offer as “authoritarian to the point of being disturbing,” while Minister Cassis warns against rigid neutrality.
