| Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European UnionThe US might not abandon |
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| Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union The US might not abandon Ukraine once Donald Trump takes charge. The war-torn country's European allies have become cautiously optimistic that the new US administration won't force Kyiv into premature negotiations with Russia, sources told us. In private talks with Trump's incoming team, European officials have kept pushing for continued support of Ukraine, and Trump's team appears to have let go of claims of ending the conflict in a day, shifting to what European allies consider to be a more reasonable timeline of a few months. Ukraine's allies are now more hopeful that the US may help Kyiv return to a position of strength before any talks take place. — Andrea Palasciano | |
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| No Accident | The EU's new tech and security chief Henna Virkkunen told Bloomberg TV the damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea is unlikely to have been an accident ahead of a gathering today of leaders from the region for a NATO summit on the topic. She also said the EU is considering expanding its investigation into whether Elon Musk's X breached its content moderation rulebook. Boss Wanted | As Trump's return to the White House looms, Europe's heads of state are too preoccupied with domestic affairs to help devise a joint response and the Franco-German alliance the continent relied on in the past to shape its common destiny isn't rallying this time. The EU's leadership vacuum may haunt it for decades. Win or Bust | French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will deliver a crucial policy speech to lawmakers today in his fight to stay in power and secure a plan to urgently repair the country's creaking public finances. To avoid the fate of his predecessor, who was toppled by a no-confidence vote over the 2025 budget, Bayrou and his minority government must convince more lawmakers to abstain in repeats of such ballots. Budget Plan | Austrian Far-Right's Chancelor-in-Waiting Herbert Kickl said plans to cut expenditures by more than a percentage point of GDP without raising taxes will be presented to the commission this week. His nationalist-conservative government will target €6.3 billion in immediate budget spending cuts to avoid being reprimanded by the EU. The bloc will decide next week whether that's enough. | |
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| Pricey Homes | Spain is not happy about non-EU residents snapping up its property. Madrid wants them to pay as much as 100% tax for home purchases in the country as it seeks to stem growing discontent over rising real estate prices. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused buyers of speculating and said the government's proposal on the tax will be sent to parliament, adding the plan mirrors regimes in Denmark and Canada. Big Freeze | Europeans are turning the heat up as temperatures this week drop more than expected. Freezing temperatures across western Europe will drive up heating demand, especially in France, Germany and the southern half of the UK. There are snow and ice warnings in place for southern Germany and avalanche alerts across the western Alps. On Edge | The UK is set to get an indication of investor appetite for gilts, with its first bond sale since turmoil gripped the market last week. A week ago, an offering of regular 30-year bonds was the least oversubscribed since 2023 — despite offering the highest yields in more than a quarter century. The test comes amid weak performances by some European bonds. Stop Boozing | Passengers shouldn't be allowed to have more than two drinks at the airport. That's the limit of alcohol the low-cost carrier Ryanair asked European authorities to impose, renewing calls for a crackdown after a spate of costly passenger disruptions. It cited an April 2024 incident that ended up costing Ryanair more than €15,000. | |
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| Tesla surpassed Audi in vehicle sales in 2024, delivering 1.79 million cars compared to Audi's 1.67 million. Tesla's success — despite selling fewer vehicles than expected — was partly due to its rapid expansion in previous years, which allowed it to take advantage of Audi's struggles with competition and weak demand for its electric models. Audi's sales declined in several markets, including Germany, China, and North America, with deliveries of fully electric models dropping. | |
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| All times CET - 10:45 a.m. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos speaks with the European Parliament
- 11:15 a.m. Baltic Sea NATO Allies Summit in Helsinki, Finland
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