Good morning from Brussels.

It's crunch time for Ukraine.  When America's top diplomatic trio descends on Europe in the coming days, European leaders will be on tenterhooks, eager to learn what Washington plans to do with Ukraine, writes Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski.

In other words: will the Trump administration continue to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression? Or will it signal it's withdrawing that support in the hopes such a step would bring about a quick end to the war?

An updated draft Work Programme 2025 seen by Euractiv, shows the Commission's intention to withdraw the ePrivacy Proposal, writes Euractiv’s Claudie Moreau.

The file was proposed in 2017, as an update to the current ePrivacy Directive. However, the proposal has been stuck in trilogue negotiations since 2021.

As the AI Action Summit is in full swing in Paris, the independent network of NGOs Mental Health Europe has warned policymakers about the risks AI poses to mental health.

INTERVIEW. Donagh Cagney sat down with Livia Spera, the General Secretary of the European Transport Workers' Federation, and talked about navigating a rightward-shifting Brussels, green growth, and the pros and cons of €9 train tickets.

A leading MEP has rebuked the Italian government's arguments for a deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX, in an open letter to the European Commission seen by Euractiv.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk is leading a $97.4 billion (€94.5 billion) bid to control OpenAI. 
 

PARIS

AI Summit: Regulation goes out of fashion in Paris. Growth and competitiveness are trumping safety and sustainability at the AI Action Summit in Paris, as France champions Europe’s move from regulation to innovation.  Read more. 

ROME

Italy is scrambling to reclassify its Albania migrant facilities merely as repatriation centers to dodge further legal roadblocks, national media report. Read more.

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MADRID

Spain urges EU to double budget, brace for Trump. The complex global geopolitical context following the return to power of US President Donald Trump calls for “a more ambitious and bolder European budget” of “at least” 2% of annual GDP, Pedro Sánchez's government said in a statement on Monday. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal backs two-state solution, sees ceasefire as key to hostage release. Portugal's foreign minister confirmed in Jerusalem on Monday the country's support for the two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine and that the ceasefire agreement, although fragile, could lead to the release of all hostages. Read more. 

WARSAW

Tusk in agreement with opposition to restrict child benefits for migrants. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk plans to tighten eligibility for child benefits for immigrants and refugees, requiring recipients to be employed in Poland. However, his coalition partners do not welcome the idea. Read more. 

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PRAGUE

Czech foreign minister protests Russian threats against senator. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (independent) has summoned Russian Ambassador Alexander Zmeyevskiy and delivered a formal protest over recent remarks made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev against Czech Senator Miroslava Němcová (ODS, ECR). Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Fico’s Letter to Musk slams USAID funding for NGOs. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has written a letter to Elon Musk complaining about the subsidies and grants that the USAID agency has provided to NGOs, media outlets, and specific journalists in Slovakia. Read more.

BUCHAREST

President Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday that he is resigning and has submitted his resignation to the heads of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies to avoid the debate on the suspension request scheduled for Tuesday. Read more. 

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SOFIA

Bulgarian civil servants receive threats from anti-eurozone party. Employees at the National Statistical Institute (NSI) in Bulgaria have received emails threatening them and their families before the release of key data related to the country’s entry into the eurozone. Read more.

• EU: Commission President Ursula President von der Leyen meets United States of America Vice President James David Vance, in Paris, France
• Parliament President Roberta Metsola receives Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Chairperson Ruslan Stefanchuk;
• Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath participates in Parliament’s plenary session on “Protecting the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice”;
• Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica delivers speech on “Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy” during Parliament’s plenary debate;
• Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos participates in Parliament’s plenary debates on “Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine after three years of Russia’s war of aggression” and “Political crisis in Serbia”.

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[Edited by Vas Panagiotopoulos, Daniel Eck, Sofia Mandilara]