Good morning from Brussels.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland—the Weimar Triangle—together with their Italian, British, Ukrainian, and Spanish counterparts and the EU’s incoming top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, will meet in Warsaw today to discuss Donald Trump's re-election and the war in Ukraine.

“The meeting is an expression of the need for close coordination between core partners in Europe,” a German government spokesperson stated.

Experts told Euractiv that the meeting aims for a “more targeted” discussion without including EU countries whose support for Ukraine might be called into question, such as Hungary or Slovakia.

The participants make it clear the meeting is not aiming to build an “anti-Trump” coalition, while an advisor at the Jacques Delors Institute stressed that such a gathering is needed as “there is no clear leader that can speak to Trump on behalf of the bloc”.

Euractiv’s Charles Szumski and our network report that a potentially divisive issue will be Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia, given that the German chancellor and Italy disagree. 

Trump’s Republican Party already reacted negatively to Biden’s move.

The issue made the foreign ministers' meeting in Warsaw more complex, as they sought to discuss the incoming US president while the outgoing one escalated tension with Russia at the last moment.

Biden’s decision will be discussed today in Brussels among EU defence ministers and NATO chief Mark Rutte, who will join in person.

Meanwhile, the EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola will host a special plenary starting at 11:00 today to mark the 1,000 days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address MEPs from Ukraine.

EU Parliament sources told Euractiv that the plenary will be on the theme “For as long as it takes.”

EU foreign ministers rejected a final proposal by the EU's departing top diplomat to suspend formal political talks with Israel on Monday, Nicholas Wallace reports.

On the economic front, unions warned that most EU countries are failing to implement minimum wage rules.

Last but not least, ongoing demonstrations in France against the EU-Mercosur agreement are the backdrop to a power struggle between the farming unions, with leading organisation FNSEA likely to maintain its dominance in professional elections in January 2025, according to experts.

BERLIN

Germany continues to rule out the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Berlin affirmed on Monday, despite the United States allowing Ukraine to use its long-range weapons against Russian territory. Read more.

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PARIS

Le Pen’s embezzlement trial is ‘political machination,’ defence attorney says. Defence attorneys are taking centre stage for the final leg of the Rassemblement national’s (RN/PfE) EU funds embezzlement trial, claiming it is a politically motivated manoeuvre orchestrated by then-European Parliament President Martin Schulz and former French President François Hollande. Read more.

MADRID

A formation of Spanish 'ultra' far-right forces has asked EPP Chair Manfred Webber to vote against the commissioner candidate Teresa Ribera, aiming to torpedo her chances as the votes of the EPP are crucial to her bid.  Read more.

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ROME

Italy still pro-Mercosur, deputy PM says after agriculture minister rejection. Italy's deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia, EPP) reiterated the country's willingness to conclude the EU-Mercosur trade deal on Monday after Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said the deal was "not acceptable" in its current form earlier in the day. Read more.

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LISBON

Portugal’s spending on healthcare below EU average. Portugal spent €2,814 per person on health in 2022, below the EU average of €3,533 and just over half that of Germany, which had the highest spending at €5,317. Read more.

Ex-Portuguese minister Cravinho appointed EU envoy for Sahel. EU foreign ministers on Monday gave final approval to appoint Portugal's former foreign minister, João Gomes Cravinho, as the EU's special representative for the Sahel, a strategic region for the EU regarding security and stability. Read more.

WARSAW

Warsaw praises Biden for lifting block on long-range missile use to strike Russia. By lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of American long-range missiles to attack Russia, US President Joe Biden has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a language he understands, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (PO, EPP) said on Monday. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Slovakia lacks vision, mature projects for decarbonisation, experts warn. Decarbonisation and market competitiveness must go hand in hand, but Slovakia's progress is being hampered by inconsistent state support and a lack of subsidy-driven solid projects, experts said at an event organised by Euractiv Slovakia. Read more.

SOFIA

The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria's largest Black Sea city, Varna, was closed by government decision in October 2022 but continues to operate undercover in the premises of the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party office in the city. Read more.

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BUCHAREST | SOFIA

Romania, Bulgaria to fully join Schengen area from January, says Bucharest. Romania and Bulgaria will fully join Europe's border-free Schengen area from January 2025 after a crucial meeting in neighbouring Hungary on Friday, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday. Read more.

• EU: General Affairs Council convenes to discuss annual rule of law situation, prepare December European Council, and more;
• Foreign Affairs Council -in its defence composition- expected to address EU support to Ukraine, military readiness and preparedness, and more;
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates in G20 Leaders’ Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
• Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra participates in COP29 high level ministerial dialogue on scaling up adaptation finance, in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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