EU

The European Union is seeking an additional €70 billion for Ukraine in 2024, following a direct appeal from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who highlighted the financial impact of Russia’s intensified military actions. EU leaders have tasked the European Commission with identifying ways to bridge the funding gap.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that Germany is lagging in the artificial intelligence race, urging faster implementation of AI by policymakers. At the upcoming Invest in Germany summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz will announce a joint AI pact and significant funding to enhance Germany’s technological competitiveness.

Talking Europe hosts Andrej Plenkovic, the prime minister of Croatia. We unpack the dense agenda of the October 26-27 EU Council and debrief the summit’s conclusions on the Israel-Hamas war, particularly the call for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” to ensure aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. We also discuss developments in southeastern Europe, such as the recent re-introduction of border checks, and ask what those mean for Croatia and the other countries concerned.

Almost a month into the war between Israel and Hamas, the European Union is still struggling to speak with one voice. While EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed unconditional support for Israel, some of her own staff have signed a letter criticising her position, along with employees from other EU institutions. Some EU member states continue to express strong support for Israel, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary, while others worry that such stances may harm the bloc’s image.

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