Good morning from Paris,

France’s new government wants to reopen negotiations on the EU Migration Pact and take a stricter stance on migration, following the example of neighbouring Germany and the Netherlands.

“We must review EU legislations that are no longer adapted, I’m thinking first and foremost of the ‘return’ directive… It is time we change EU rules,” new Home Affairs Minister Bruno Retailleau -  a person widely seen as an olive branch to the far-right – said. 

Paris also sees in a positive light some EU countries’ decision to reintroduce border controls in the Schengen area, with Prime Minister Michel Barnier citing as an example similar measures “socialist” governments have already taken, such as in Germany, Denmark or the UK.

Théo Bourgery-Gonse has all the details.

But some ministers want to take the issue a step further: they spoke in favour of abolishing the state medical aid for undocumented migrants, triggering the reaction of healthcare professionals. 

Clara Bauer-Babef has more.

After years of complex negotiations, a new EU Migration Pact was agreed earlier this year establishing the so-called “compulsory solidarity” mechanism, seen as a relief by the EU’s first entry countries.

But a possible revisit of the migration file before it enters into force in mid-2026 will annoy first-line countries like Greece, especially in light of fear of new migration waves from the turmoiled Middle East. 

>> Listen here the interview of Evi Kiorri with Hisham Mhanna, spokesperson of the ICRC in Gaza, who said the Israel-Hezbollah conflict threatens a regional spill over.

Meanwhile, Greek leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday discussed the matter with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. 

They both agreed to continue their collaboration in eradicating smuggling networks, despite their stark divisions on political matters.

Nearly two-thirds of foreign-made components in Russian weapons are produced in or re-exported from China, a senior Ukrainian official said on Tuesday. Thomas Moller-Nielsen has the whole story.

In the energy field, the nuclear industry’s initial fears over the nomination of nuclear sceptics Teresa Ribera and Dan Jørgensen to key posts within the next European Commission have started to fade, with the industry now focusing on the positives, writes Paul Messad. 

In the tech world, the EU’s largest telecom operators are taking up sustainability as part of their call for more investments in their industry, according to a policy agenda published by lobby Connect Europe on Wednesday. Théophane Hartmann has the story.

Meanwhile, three influential MEPs question how the EU Commission is appointing key positions in drafting guidelines for general-purpose AI (GPAI), on the same day that the EU executive is inviting organisations to participate in the process. Eliza Gkritsi has the details.

BERLIN

While EU policymakers step up efforts to convince Europeans to invest more of their savings into European assets rather than abroad, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Tuesday that citizens would be well-advised to invest globally. Read more.

STOCKHOLM

Iran ran special cyber op in Sweden last year, local authorities confirm. Iran’s security service carried out a special cyber operation against targets in Sweden last year,  the country’s prosecutor and security services revealed on Tuesday. Read more.

ROME

The Five Star Movement (the Left) will urge EU countries to reject Italian Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso’s plan to bring forward the review of the EU’s 2026 deadline for electric vehicles to 2025, which he will present in Brussels on Wednesday, the party told Euractiv Italy on Tuesday. Read more.

///

MADRID

Spanish government withdraws 2025 draft budget. The Spanish government on Tuesday withdrew the draft budget for 2025 due to be voted on in parliament on Thursday, after the right-wing Partido Popular Party and the party of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont announced they would reject the text. Read more.

///

LISBON

Portuguese government won’t close budget without knowing Socialist proposals. Portugal’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pedro Duarte, reiterated on Tuesday that the government would not close the budget without knowing the proposals from the PS party, insisting that it had the “goodwill” to accept them. Read more.

BRATISLAVA

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government coalition has de facto seized control of the parliamentary committee overseeing the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), traditionally led by the opposition, leading to fears about its impartiality and ability to investigate matters such as the alleged purchase of Pegasus spyware and concerns about bomb threats to schools. Read more.

///

WARSAW

Expert dismisses opposition claims Poland won’t profit from EU Cohesion Fund plan for flood victims. Poland will benefit from the cohesion funds European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said would be made available to help flood-hit regions, an economist told Euractiv Poland, dispelling earlier opposition claims that Warsaw would gain nothing from such aid. Read more.

///

PRAGUE

Drama in Czech government after PM dismisses minister. After the Pirates’ crushing defeat in the weekend’s regional and senate elections, party leader Ivan Bartoš announced that his party would not leave the governing coalition and that he would keep his post as deputy prime minister for digitisation, only to be proposed for dismissal by Prime Minister Petr Fiala hours later. Read more.

///

BUDAPEST

Ministers criticise Hungarian EU Presidency for downplaying Ukraine. EU ministers criticised an underemphasis on Ukraine in Hungary’s agenda for its presidency of the bloc, at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Read more.

SOFIA

Bulgaria expects decision on full Schengen accession by year’s end. The authorities in Sofia expect a decision on full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen by the end of the year. Read more.

///

BUCHAREST

Romania, other member states, seek greater flexibility in implementing recovery plan. Romania is working with other EU member states, such as France, Spain and Italy, to negotiate more flexible rules for the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to ensure the successful absorption of funds and the smooth implementation of projects, said Romania’s Minister for European Investments and Projects Adrian Câciu. Read more.

///

PRISTINA

Silence over Kosovo’s stalled Council of Europe bid as France, Italy dig in their heels. As momentum around Kosovo’s bid to join the Council of Europe stagnates, stakeholders have refused to comment on reports suggesting the process is being hampered by France and Italy, two previously staunch supporters of their accession. Read more.

• EU: Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola participates in panel discussion “Europe’s Southern Border: The importance of the Mediterranean Region”, during EPP Study Days, in Naples, Italy;
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell participates in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Participates in the G20 foreign affairs ministers meeting; Co-hosts a ministerial meeting on Sudan; Hosts a meeting with the Western Balkans leaders;
• Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides delivers speech at UN General Assembly side event on “Fostering Cross-Country Solidarity to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in the WHO European Region and Beyond”;
• Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participates in the Norway-Canada Ministerial Consultation Meeting on Plastic Pollution Treaty;
• Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra delivers statement, on behalf of EU and member states, at UNGA high level meeting to address Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise;

***

[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Martina Monti, Alice Taylor-Braçe]