Good morning from Brussels.

Seven out of 10 Romanians voted for mainstream parties in the parliamentary elections on Sunday, holding off the challenge posed by far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, whose unexpected surge in the first round of the presidential elections last week had caused alarm.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) emerged as the frontrunner, securing an estimated 22.4% of the vote, with 99% of the votes counted. The far-right AUR party (Alliance for the Union of Romanians), which challenges Romania’s alliances with NATO and the EU, came second, with 17.8%.

The National Liberal Party (PNL, EPP) and the Save Romania Union (USR, Renew) won approximately 13.5% and 12.04% of the vote, highlighting a fragmented political landscape that could complicate the pro-EU parties' coalition-building efforts. The ethnic Hungarian Party UDMR got 6.47%.

All the far-right parties received 28.2%, a significant increase from the less than 10% they received in the previous elections.

Next Sunday, Romanians will cast their ballot for the second round of the presidential elections amid an ongoing investigation into TikTok's role and possible foreign interference in the first round.

Ukraine needs security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to strengthen its position before entering any talks with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday. EU top officials marked their first day in office with a visit to Kyiv. 

Moreover, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived on a trip to Ukraine on Monday, where he will meet with Zelenskyy, German media reported.

Meanwhile, EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told media outlets, including Euractiv, that Europe's backing for Ukraine should remain unrestricted and include the possibility of deploying troops in the future.

On an institutional level, though, the EU's outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell warned in an interview with Euractiv that the increasing divergence within EU institutions regarding who speaks on foreign and security policy is becoming unviable. 

He also noted that some in the EU do not have the “sense of urgency” and the “moment of truth will come when the EU faces the question of how much money member states are ready to put down to finance defence projects”.  

Speaking of defence, Aurélie Pugnet has learnt that funding research and development to protect undersea cables, including autonomous systems, will be a key part of the 2025 European Defence Fund programme, as earlier this month, two cables were cut, which Germany and Sweden attributed to “sabotage”.

Kallas had a busy weekend as she also issued a statement on the terrorist attack in Kosovo. On Friday evening, part of a canal supplying water for drinking and for two large power stations was blown up. Prishtina has made several arrests, pointing the figure at Belgrade, while Serbia points the finger right back. Alice Taylor-Braçe has the story.

In the agrifood world, incoming Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told Euractiv that in the coming days, he will launch the new “European Board on Agriculture and Food” initiative. He argued that in the last years, farmers felt that “they have not been involved enough in the policymaking […] notably on the Green Deal objectives.”

Last but not least, attempts to reach a deal on the global plastics treaty were scuppered on Sunday as countries such as Saudi Arabia opposed provisions that might impact plastic production. 

DUBLIN

The two large centre-right parties of Ireland's coalition government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, look set to retain power as the results of the general election held on Friday come in. Read more.

BERLIN

Facing the highest level of job insecurity in 30 years, Volkswagen employees are set to start striking across Germany on Monday, yet experts warn that even if an agreement is reached with industry unions, it is unlikely to resolve the car manufacturers' deeper issues. Read more.

German Liberals swap out key leaders after government sabotage revelations. Germany’s former justice minister, Marco Buschmann, became the general secretary of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on Sunday after his predecessor resigned over revelations that the party the government's collapse. Read more.

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PARIS

Le Pen tells France's Barnier to negotiate or be felled. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier must make further budget concessions to avoid a no confidence motion that could topple his government, National Rally lawmaker Marine Le Pen said on Sunday. Read more.

ROME

Italian government presents united front amid internal struggles. Italy's ruling coalition is trying to appear united after a week of internal clashes and a nationwide strike against the budget, as union and opposition leaders demand immediate government action. Read more.

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MADRID

Spanish socialists unite behind Sánchez to ‘resist’ right, far-right. The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D) showed its determination to 'resist' in the face of renewed right-wing and far-right attacks against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was re-elected leader of the progressive party by a large majority at a party meeting in Seville. Read more.

REYKJAVIK

Iceland’s ruling parties suffer election defeat as pro-EU parties surge. Iceland's ruling coalition parties were trounced in Saturday's general election, while the pro-EU Social Democrats and Liberals made a historic breakthrough and almost certainly now hold the keys to a future government. Read more.

WARSAW

The education system in Poland is at the centre of yet another heated debate, as ultra-conservative organisations joined the opposition PiS (ECR) party and its supporters on the streets on Sunday to protest against the introduction of health education as a new subject in schools. Read more.

Security to shape upcoming Polish European Council presidency. Security will be a core tenet of the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, starting in January, guiding the country’s work split among seven dimensions, according to the government in Warsaw. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovak opposition leader ready to discuss snap elections. As the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) is struggling to maintain its parliamentary majority, Michal Šimečka, leader of the pro-Western opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS/RE), has called for a change of government. Read more.

PRISTINA

An explosion that targeted a state canal that supplies water to most of the country as well as two key power plants has been dubbed a "terrorist attack", while Kosovo has arrested eight people, and Serbia denies any involvement. Read more.

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SOFIA

Brussels halts EU recovery plan payment for Bulgaria. Bulgaria will not receive the second €653 million disbursement under the recovery and sustainability plan due to the country's unfinished reforms, a direct result of the ongoing fourth-year political crisis. Read more.

• EU: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in its employment and social policy composition convenes to discuss demographic challenges, labour and skills shortages, traineeships directive, and more;
• Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa meet;
• Parliament holds its second Disability Rights Week from 2 to 6 December 2024.

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