Orbán’s EU fixer faces becoming Hungary’s ‘fall guy’ Ambassador Bálint Ódor's knowledge of the EU's inner workings helped the outgoing government forcefully make its points for years. But his time in Brussels looks like it's coming to an end.

Orbán’s EU fixer faces becoming Hungary’s ‘fall guy’

EU ponders rise of Rumen empire POLITICO’s must-read briefing on what’s driving the day in Brussels, by Gerardo Fortuna, Nicholas Vinocur and Gabriel Gavin. By GABRIEL GAVIN Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @Nicho…

The EU’s awkward squad may be about to lose a member after Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s historic defeat last week.

But it could gain a new one after Bulgaria’s parliamentary election this weekend.

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Magyar hints at ending Hungary’s block on €90B Ukraine loan Budapest still won’t contribute to funding Kyiv, which is running out of cash, incoming prime minister says.

Hungary's government will drop its opposition to the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine, incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar signaled, bringing a four-month standoff to an end.

EU poised to slash up to €1.5B in funding to Serbia over democracy fears “We are increasingly worried about what is happening in Serbia,” a candidate to join the EU, Commissioner Kos says.

EXCLUSIVE: Serbia faces losing up to €1.5 billion in EU funding as the European Commission weighs pulling the plug over democratic backsliding and the country’s close ties with Russia.

Seismic shift looms for Hungary Presented by Amazon By GABRIEL GAVIN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser On EU Confidential: Sa…

If Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán loses the parliamentary election this weekend, his departure would send shockwaves through the EU.

But a surprise return could be just as seismic.

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EU warns Trump against ‘illegal’ bombing of Iran’s power stations The American president has warned Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day” if Tehran does not ease its maritime blockade.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to bomb power plants and bridges across Iran if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be a war crime, European Council President António Costa cautioned today, hours before Washington’s deadline expires.

EU enlargement chief Marta Kos has called on capitals to present plans to enable new countries to join the bloc after they rejected proposals to streamline the process.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/eu-e...

War is like a love affair, says EU’s Kallas. It’s hard to get out of. The bloc’s top diplomat expressed concerns over a potentially complicated arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz.

The EU’s top diplomat warned leaders at a summit today that the bloc could easily become entangled in a toxic conflict in the Middle East that could be difficult to extricate itself from.

🚨 BREAKING: EU leaders have failed to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to drop his opposition to a €90 billion loan to fund Ukraine’s war effort, according to four diplomats and officials.

Full story: www.politico.eu/article/eu-n...

EU leaders soften call to send naval ships to Middle East Vessels should be sent to the Middle East — but only to support existing European operations, a draft leaders’ statement reads.

The EU's 27 member countries are set to back a push to send more ships to the Middle East as conflict paralyzes shipping routes.

But only to support existing European operations "in line with their respective mandates."

EU agrees on rollover of Russia sanctions Two names were removed from the list to secure an agreement on Saturday, diplomats told POLITICO.

EU countries today struck a deal to ensure the bloc's framework of sanctions against Russian businesses and oligarchs don’t expire over the weekend, which would have led to restrictions on thousands of companies and individuals being abruptly relaxed.

Zelenskyy slams Orbán for ‘blocking everything’ Presented by Amazon By GABRIEL GAVIN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser On today’s Brussels P…

Budapest is still blocking the €90 billion loan to Kyiv.

The issue may have turned into a personal spat between the Hungarian and Ukrainian leaders — one that likely won't be resolved before Hungary’s election next month.

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Red rebellion Presented by Amazon By GABRIEL GAVIN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser On today’s Brussels Playboo…

Ursula von der Leyen faces a grilling from Socialist MEPs this morning over accusations she has abandoned the rules-based global order.

It’s the latest clash threatening the Commission president’s ability to see out her term.

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The battle to staff Brussels The EU is hiring its next generation of senior officials — and countries want their citizens to be the ones pulling the levers of power.

A rare chance for thousands of aspiring officials to secure jobs at the heart of the EU is turning into a scramble for member countries to place their citizens in influential roles. Full story 👇

US, Russia, China tearing down rules-based order, EU Council chief Costa warns European Council president said the bloc should not stand for “violations of international law” by any power, friend or foe.

The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran are driving instability across the Middle East and ushering in a new, more dangerous geopolitical era that only helps the EU’s adversaries, António Costa has warned in a speech.

Von der Leyen doubles down in face of energy crisis criticism EU member countries have been spooked by stubbornly high prices and a new war in the Middle East.

The EU today sought to reassure national capitals concerned over its handling of the energy crisis that started after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and has ramped up as conflict spreads across the Middle East.

Iran war challenges Cyprus’ time in the EU hot seat The tiny island nation finds itself under fire just after taking over the reins of the EU for a six-month stint.

Cyprus is scrambling to keep its six-month turn leading the EU’s lawmaking work on track after it had to hastily reschedule major meetings when Iranian drones targeted the country.

Europe is at war with Iran whether it likes it or not, Israel’s EU ambassador says The bloc’s hopes for diplomacy with the regime are doomed to fail, Avi Nir-Feldklein told POLITICO.

European countries are already in the crosshairs for Iran’s aggression and should drop their insistence on finding diplomatic solutions to the crisis, said Avi Nir-Feldklein, Israel’s ambassador to the EU.

Hungary’s Orbán leverages oil price shock from Iran war in his election battle The prime minister’s party accuses the opposition of conspiring with the EU and Kyiv to deprive Hungary of access to cheap Russian oil — a cushion against price spikes.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seizing on fears of an energy price shock from the Iran war to try to claw back ground against his challenger Péter Magyar ahead of an April 12 election.

From dealing with Donald Trump to turning around industrial decline, the EU's formation of the most powerful national representatives has come into its own.

Here's an inside-the-room look at how they operate 👇

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/cris...

Investigate oil pipeline damage to unblock Ukraine funds, Orbán tells EU Hungary and Slovakia are pushing for a fact-finding mission to determine whether the Druzhba pipeline can be repaired, correspondence shows.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán suggested he could drop his veto on the EU sending €90 billion to Kyiv if the EU assesses damage to an oil pipeline in Ukraine.

Persuasion not pressure will sway Orbán on Ukraine loan, EU hopes EU leaders want to avoid a legal blowup with the Hungarian prime minister that could feed into his reelection campaign.

EU leaders are looking for ways to grant Hungary's Viktor Orbán a face-saving win that would allow him to climb down from blocking funds for Ukraine while avoiding a full-blown legal fight between Brussels and Budapest, according to three EU diplomats.

The crisis corps running the EU From dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump to turning around industrial decline, the Coreper II “bunker” has come into its own.

EU ambassadors permanently based in Brussels are playing a bigger role than ever in shaping the bloc’s response to the biggest challenges of our time.

We take you inside the EU’s crisis “bunker”:

EU Council chief warns Orbán against backtracking on €90B Ukraine loan The Hungarian leader is threatening to block the EU cash to Kyiv, despite agreeing to the plan in December.

Hungary must lift its blockade on a €90 billion loan to Ukraine and abide by the commitments it made to other EU leaders in December, European Council President António Costa warned in a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hitting the brakes on the Accelerator Presented by Neste By GABRIEL GAVIN PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Contact us on X @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser On today’s Bruss…

The European Commission is due to present the text of the Industrial Accelerator Act next week.

But the divisions within the EU executive over the draft proposal mean that the deadline now appears unlikely to be met.

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After years of resistance, leaders finally say EU should go at different speeds  Summit in Belgian castle sees governments acknowledge Europe urgently needs to change the way it functions if it’s not going to be left behind.

The EU has always prided itself on its members all moving forward as one. That era is over.

The messy breakfast that delayed an EU summit Delays and invitation irritation got Thursday’s gathering off to a shaky start.

It was supposed to be a simple sit-down with like-minded countries. But an impromptu pre-meeting ahead of today’s EU summit led to leaders being delayed, arrive late and then trade accusations over missing invitations.

Ursula von der Leyen insists that EU capitals have no right to scapegoat Brussels for excessive red tape and single market failures.

🔗 politi.co/45XUaao

🔴 EU leaders are gathering at a Belgian castle today to brainstorm ways to boost Europe’s economy.

The overarching question for them:

How to keep the bloc competitive as it seeks to reduce dependence on Trump’s America?

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Europe’s push to go it alone exposes old fault lines The renewed drive to reduce reliance on Washington is bringing up familiar disagreements ahead of an EU leaders’ summit on Thursday.

EU leaders are gearing up for major fights as efforts to loosen Europe’s dependence on Donald Trump’s America lay bare deep divisions among the bloc’s 27 countries.