Presented by Neste

POLITICO Confidential

By KATE DAY

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Von der Leyen doubles down in face of energy crisis criticism

With energy prices surging following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the European Commission president is trying to bolster support for her energy strategy, which includes replacing imported oil and gas with homegrown green energy. Read the story.

Trump says he’ll help pick Iran’s leader, predicts regime change in Cuba

Exclusive: The president brushed off worries about the impact of the Iran war on gas prices and U.S. ammunition reserves in an interview with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns. Read the story.

MAGA embrace: Europe’s nationalists head to Washington

Right-wing populists from across Europe are converging on the U.S. capital, where Speaker Mike Johnson is headlining a sovereignty conference. Read the story.

**A message from Neste: The world needs to keep moving, but with reduced emissions. Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel are available today. Let’s fuel change. Learn more at neste.com/change.**

Von der Leyen, Kallas and a growing EU foreign policy turf war

The EU’s response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran has laid bare familiar divisions at the top. Read the story.

‘The catastrophe is coming’: The battle to fix Britain’s crumbling parliament

The Palace of Westminster, home to the House of Commons and House of Lords, is falling down and experts warn it will soon be uninhabitable. But where should British MPs go? Read the story.

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EU still struggling to find solution to Hungary’s veto of Ukraine’s €90B lifeline

The EU’s insistence it can deliver a massive loan to Ukraine is slamming into hard reality: Hungary is showing no signs of ending its opposition and the European Commission is in a legal bind over what to do about it. Read the story.

Why the EU’s new industry act is climate policy in disguise

Make no mistake: The EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act is a climate law in disguise. The act, aimed at strengthening the bloc’s industrial base, funnels taxpayer money toward low-carbon materials and net-zero technologies produced in the bloc. Read the story.

YOUR WEEKEND PLAYLIST

EU Confidential

For decades, Europeans shared a simple belief: that the world — however messy — ultimately runs on rules.

But what if the escalating war in Iran shows that these rules no longer apply?

In this episode of EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton speaks to two foreign affairs experts who help unpack how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East impacts Europe.

Listen to the episode.

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Westminster Insider

The Palace of Westminster towers over the River Thames as a symbol of British democracy. But look a little closer and the building is falling apart.

From fire risks and asbestos to crumbling stonework and miles of aging wiring, experts warn the U.K. parliament is becoming an increasingly dangerous place to work for MPs, peers and staff.

Listen to the episode.

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DECLASSIFIED

Read this week’s Declassified column.

Caption competition

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“New Dutch PM puts on a brave face at launch of European Commission’s cloning experiment.”

Can you do better? Email us at [email protected] or get in touch on X @POLITICOEurope.

Last week, we gave you this photo:

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 Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best from our postbag — there’s no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze.

“Voilà! In France, austerity is pronounced oysterity!”

by Giovanni Cellini

**A message from Neste: Join us in redefining how the world moves. Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel are available today, with production capacity in Europe increasing for tomorrow. Let’s fuel change. Learn more at neste.com/change.**

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