Good morning from Brussels

Absorbed by domestic political instability, EU heavyweight politicians will not attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) starting today in Baku.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen attributed her absence to the executive’s transition phase, while France and Germany are facing challenges at home. 

Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez will be the most senior EU leaders’ representatives. 

In addition, instead of the usual events-filled pavilion, the EU is set to have just an info booth at this year's event. One official told Euractiv it represents an "effective but frugal" approach. 

The EU executive will be represented by current and future Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, who will not have an easy task to push forward EU’s interests in talks with rising global players, writes Euractiv’s Nikolaus Kurmayer.

The COP29 takes place on the backdrop of Donald Trump’s – known for his climate skepticism - return to the White House. 

His sweeping victory last week may have an impact on Europe’s political power balances. 

Reporting from Warsaw, Aleksandra Krzysztoszek writes that the city’s Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski – the likely candidate of Donald Tusk's Civic Platform (PO, EPP) in the 2025 elections – said over the weekend that Poland “could become a political leader of the EU”. 

Stay tuned in Euractiv’s Liveblog on the last day of the EU candidate commissioner hearings on Tuesday.

The new Commission’s executive vice-presidents – including Italy’s Raffaele Fitto and Spain’s Teresa Ribera - will be the last to be grilled by the EU lawmakers. 

In the tech field, the European Commission has outsourced drafting the Code of Practice for general-purpose artificial intelligence (GPAI), a key element of European and global AI governance, to 13 unpaid independent experts, while maintaining the final say on the draft, Euractiv learned.

BERLIN

Key projects of the German coalition government and the implementation of EU migration reform are in doubt as the opposition insists on holding planned snap elections earlier in exchange for legislative cooperation. Read more.

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PARIS

Starmer to meet Macron in France to discuss Ukraine support after Trump win. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to discuss ways to help Ukraine, after the election of Donald Trump has raised concerns of reduced US support for the war against Russia. Read more.

ROME

Italy’s president urges China to leverage market influence to end conflicts. Italian President Sergio Mattarella's recent trip to China marked a pivotal moment in China-Italy relations, with the Italian president urging his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to use his country's influence to help end global conflicts, stressing that open markets are an "antidote to war". Read more.

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MADRID

Valencia president refuses to resign despite pressure over flooding. The regional President of Valencia, Carlos Mazón, refused to resign on Sunday, a day after thousands protested, accusing the centre-right politician of mishandling the disaster. Read more.

WARSAW

Poland could become Europe's political leader amid a looming government collapse in Germany and an unstable political situation in France, says Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk plans to meet EU leaders and the NATO chief to discuss the situation following Donald Trump's victory in the US. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia's Fico doubts Trump's Ukraine plan, pushes for less Western aid. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cast doubt on the effectiveness of Western support for Ukraine, criticising re-elected US President Donald Trump's election pledge to end the war in Ukraine in '24 hours' while downplaying his recent appearance on Russian state TV. Read more.

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PRAGUE

Czech Pirate Party charts new course to the centre, bets on new leader. The Czech Pirate Party has elected Zdeněk Hřib, deputy mayor of Prague, as its new leader, steering the party towards a more centrist, liberal identity ahead of national elections. Read more.

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KYIV

EU moves to reassure Ukraine of ‘unwavering support’ after Trump win. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell sought to reassure Ukraine of Europe's unwavering support on Saturday, days after Donald Trump's election win cast uncertainty over its war effort. Read more.

SOFIA

The Bulgarian government demands more power over decisions at Lukoil's key refinery in the Black Sea port of Burgas, a key strategic site for Bulgaria and the Balkan peninsula. Read more.

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