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The EU will not be able to keep its markets open to Chinese exports unless Beijing takes decisive action to rebalance their trading relationship, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a summit today. politico.eu/article/eu-chi…

Happy Thursday, city lovers! In this week’s edition of Living Cities, we look at the measures that national, regional, and local governments can take to ensure public cash isn’t lost to corruption in Europe’s cities. Dig in 👇 politico.eu/newsletter/glo…

The European Central Bank held its key deposit rate stable, as it waits for more clarity on the impact that U.S. tariffs will have on the eurozone economy. politico.eu/article/ecb-ho…

The Hungarian government has banned the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country, citing “antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah,” a government spokesperson said today. politico.eu/article/irelan…

South Park skewers Trump over Epstein files, depicts him in bed with Satan ow.ly/q4Z7106gMzP

The European Commission received broad support from EU member countries today for a single round of retaliatory tariffs on US goods if no trade deal is reached with the Trump administration, two EU diplomats told POLITICO. politico.eu/article/eu-cou…

The United States has ramped up criticism of a key European Union tech law, irking European diplomats as both sides attempt to land a tariff deal. politico.eu/article/us-eur…

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken hit back at Dassault CEO Éric Trappier over the French executive's refusal to let Belgium participate in a European next-generation fighter jet project. politico.eu/article/belgiu…

News organizations Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Reuters and the BBC issued today a rare joint statement calling on Israel to allow journalists to move in and out of Gaza, and to provide more food for civilians in the besieged Strip. politico.eu/article/worlds…

The EU is under immense pressure to clinch a trade deal with Donald Trump before his Aug. 1 deadline. But while negotiators are scrambling to convince Washington to negotiate further, appetite is growing to ready not one, but several counterstrikes. 🔗 politico.eu/article/transa…

In this week's London Influence: 📕 The government’s big ethics shake up 🗳️ The sizable changes to election rules 🤖 The Westminster lobbying blitz launched by an AI-powered US weapons firm Dig in 👇 politico.eu/newsletter/pol…

London has become the global capital of spies-for-hire. But for the people targeted by these private intelligence agents — including journalists, whistleblowers and dissidents — the activity can be life-altering. These are their stories. politico.eu/article/uk-bri…

COMMENTARY: As a democratic state, Ukraine is under assault from two sources. Its first and most obvious adversary is Moscow. But to some, the other is its own semi-autocratic leadership. 🔗 politico.eu/article/ukrain…

Ireland's media regulator is turning up the heat on Elon Musk's social media site X for not properly checking the age of users who can access porn. politico.eu/article/x-twit…

For decades, the only meaningful deals China struck with any other nation to reduce its enormous output of greenhouse gases were with the world’s other largest polluter, the United States. Now, the EU is trying to break into that club. politico.eu/article/us-eu-…

The age-old fight between Poland and France over the legacy of Marie Curie has a new front: the €20 banknote. politico.eu/article/ecb-ne…

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hailed a “major win” as he prepares to sign a long-desired free trade agreement with India. But with key aspects of the deal still unresolved, he may want to keep the champagne on ice. politico.eu/article/uk-ind…

As transatlantic trade tensions ratchet up, calls are growing on Brussels to get tough and ready its most powerful trade tool. politico.eu/article/transa…

For once, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer gets to hawk a win today as he inks a tariff-cutting trade deal with India’s Narendra Modi. He should enjoy it while it lasts.  More in London Playbook 👇 politico.eu/newsletter/lon…

EU top dogs Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa are on the ground in Beijing for a super-short EU-China summit today. They’ve already delivered a series of remarks that highlight the strains being felt. Read more in Brussels Playbook 👇 politico.eu/newsletter/bru…