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- European Parliament estimates digital levy could raise €25bn annually
- EU plans to use Google fines to reduce member states’ budget contributions.
- Russia intensifies attacks on Kyiv, targeting Academy of Sciences
- Five men arrested near RAF Fairford released on bail amid investigation
- Satellite images reveal extensive destruction across Gaza three years into conflict
- Officials condemn masked group demonstrating on B.C. First Nation land
- Trump and Johnson to meet AI executives at White House amid safety concerns
- Mountain collapses in Nepal landslide, leaving 19 dead and 10 missing
EU
The European Parliament’s proposed digital levy could generate up to €25.2 billion yearly, significantly exceeding the European Commission’s prior estimates. MEP Danuše Nerudová highlighted the broader tax base considered, which includes online gambling and digital services, amid ongoing negotiations for the EU’s long-term budget.
E.U. BRIEFING
This morning, Europe addresses various economic and environmental challenges, focusing on sustainability and regulatory developments.
Key discussions are expected on energy, defence, and digital policy.
European defence ministers convened in Brussels to bolster support for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression, which is impacting the region. Discussions will focus on enhancing the EU’s emergency protocols against hybrid threats and addressing financial aid needs for Ukraine’s military, as President Zelenskyy seeks €23.5 billion.
Ihor Samokhodsky, founder of the Policy Genome project, stated that AI chatbots, including Russia’s Yandex-developed Alice, can spread disinformation in global conflicts, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. This highlights the urgent need for accuracy in AI-driven information amid rising security concerns in Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Australia later this month to advance a stalled trade agreement, contingent on upcoming negotiations between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU-INC initiative at the World Economic Forum, aimed at simplifying company formation across the EU. The proposal seeks to eliminate legal fragmentation, allowing startups to operate under a single online system by 2027.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will convene a meeting on competitiveness in Leuven, addressing both economic strategies and internal tensions among commissioners. The seminar includes IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and focuses on implementing the competitiveness report by Mario Draghi.
Lawmakers at the European Parliament are struggling to agree on the design of the digital euro, jeopardising its legislative path. Rapporteur Fernando Navarrete proposed an offline “e-cash” model, while some factions back user accounts on the ECB ledger. S&D’s Nikos Papandreou emphasised the need for payment sovereignty amid geopolitical change.
Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña urged the European Union to implement the recently signed free trade agreement with Mercosur without delay, warning that stalling it amid rising geopolitical tensions would be a strategic mistake.
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