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As some 50 European leaders gather in the UK on Thursday (18 July) under the helm of the European Political Community, it is increasingly clear that the format is struggling to justify its existence.

German industry umbrella association BDI expects only “marginal” growth effects from a package adopted by the German government on Wednesday (17 July), which includes tax for foreign workers, bureaucracy reduction, and initiatives at EU level.

Thirty-eight sub-Saharan African migrants were arrested in Tunisia on Wednesday (17 July) after clashes with coastguards who intercepted their boat during an attempt to migrate to Europe, Tunisian media reported.

New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Irish counterpart Simon Harris sought to usher in improved relations with pints of Guinness on Wednesday (17 July), promising to work together closely on Northern Ireland and on healing Brexit wounds.

The Czech government on Wednesday (17 July) picked South Korea's KHNP to build two new nuclear power units, with the possibility of more.

The newly established EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory, aimed at enhancing transparency in prices and the distribution of added value in the agri-food sector, held its inaugural meeting on 17 July. 

In a rare occasion of open and far-reaching political conflict in Brussels, a German fiscal hawk and a Portuguese Socialist, both in high positions, clashed this week over the EU’s biggest pot of cash: its "cohesion" policy.

Hopes that Keir Starmer’s new Labour government will seek to rebuild closer ties with the EU gained momentum on Wednesday (17 July) as King Charles presented the incoming administration’s priorities at the House of Lords.

King Charles confirmed that legislation to regulate artificial intelligence is coming under the UK's new Labour government, but stopped short of providing details in his speech at the first Parliament session under the new government on Wednesday (17 July). 

Toni Comín, MEP - elect in exile of the Catalan separatist JxCat party, files a case with CJEU, questioning the democratic legitimacy of President Roberta Metsola, accusing her of being influenced by Spain's PP, after his seat was left vacant.

Teresa Ribera, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of Spain understands the advantages of a multi-modal energy system encompassing renewable gases like hydrogen.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) finds that the European Commission was wrong to restrict access to COVID-19 vaccine purchase contracts to citizens, In a decision handed down on Wednesday (July 17).

Ahead of the European Parliament's vote on Ursula von der Leyen's bid to lead the Commission for another five years, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is keeping her cards close to her chest but will listen carefully to what von der Leyen says about the Green Deal in her parliamentary address.

In the last Health Brief before the summer break, Euractiv shares the latest information we have on which MEPs will be working on the health committees in the new parliament.

The EU Court of Justice upheld the European Commission’s decision to designate TikTok's parent company ByteDance as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act on Wednesday (17 July), dismissing all arguments presented by the company.

Draft committee arrangements of the European Parliament’s biggest groups, seen by Euractiv, show that some heavyweight lawmakers surprisingly secured only substitute status due to the high demand for seats in the environment (ENVI) and industry (ITRE) committees.

A former Kosovo rebel commander was found guilty of war crimes on Tuesday (16 July) and sentenced to 18 years behind bars for abuses and murder in 1999 during Pristina's independence struggle.

European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said the Commission will propose changes to the EU's visa regime within July, according to two letters addressed to member states and seen by Euractiv, sent at the time Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is hunting for votes for reelection from the right.

The US received intelligence in recent weeks about an Iranian plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump, CNN said on Tuesday (16 July), and a US official said the Secret Service shared details of an increased threat with the Trump campaign.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Czech MEP calling the 'cordon sanitaire' effective, Metsola hinting at good cooperation with future European Council President Antonio Costa, and so much more.