Bulgarians voted on Sunday for the eighth time in five years, with anti-corruption candidate Rumen Radev’s bloc expected to lead. Amid ongoing political instability, polling suggests Radev could secure around 35% of the vote, as voter turnout surges ahead of preliminary results on Monday.

During a Socialist Workers’ Party rally in Gibraleón, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and candidate María Jesús Montero announced plans to ask the EU to terminate its Association Agreement with Israel, emphasising the need to ‘Defend Public Services’.

Ursula von der Leyen’s chief adviser is in Budapest to negotiate the release of €10 billion, as Hungary aims to unfreeze the funds in exchange for specific reforms. Sources indicate that the negotiations are unrelated to Ukraine, focusing exclusively on Hungary’s compliance.

EU DEVELOPMENTS

Today, Europe focuses on strengthening ties and addressing economic challenges amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.
Key discussions reflect unity and commitment towards collaborative solutions.

Far-right leaders convened in Milan to advocate for remigration in Europe. League chief Matteo Salvini proposed a points-based residence permit and criticised the EU’s handling of the energy crisis, endorsing a renewed approach to importing Russian oil.

A coalition of EU-based titanium dioxide producers has filed a complaint with the European Commission against Chinese firm LB Group, alleging unfair subsidies linked to its planned acquisition of the UK’s Venator plant. This follows prior EU anti-dumping duties introduced against LB Group in 2025.