Good morning from Brussels. Mared Gwyn here with the key developments shaping Europe today.
Brussels is bracing for the European Commission's latest sanctions package against Russia, the 21st since February 2022, expected to be unveiled later today. The focus is squarely on the price cap for Russian oil, currently set at $44 per barrel. Under EU rules, the cap must be reviewed every two months to stay 15% below the average market price for Urals crude. However, the recent surge in oil prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz means the next revision, due on 15 July, would likely push the cap upward—a move no EU capital wants to make while Russian missiles pound Ukrainian cities.
To avoid providing Moscow any financial relief, the Commission is expected to either delay the revision or propose a fixed figure that locks in the current cap. As previously reported, hopes for a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers have faded, shifting attention back to the cap itself. The 21st package will also intensify efforts to dismantle the so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels used to evade sanctions, close loopholes, and blacklist entities aiding Russian sanctions evasion.
Another contentious item is alumina, the white powder at the center of a PR crisis for Aughinish Alumina in Ireland, just weeks before Dublin takes over the EU Council presidency. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is due in Dublin today for talks with Irish counterpart Helen McEntee, where the company's role will be discussed. Jorge Liboreiro breaks down the scandal in a separate analysis.
On individuals, the big question is whether Brussels will finally target Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia's Orthodox Church. Hungary, which shielded Kirill for four years, has signaled it may drop its veto under the new government. The Commission hopes the package will be approved by 15 July to avoid the automatic price cap review. Russia's intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities have strengthened collective resolve to squeeze the war machine, with European allies seeking an opening to push Vladimir Putin back to negotiations. For more on diplomatic efforts, see our coverage of UK, France, Germany backing direct Ukraine-Russia talks.
Taliban Talks Spark Backlash
Forty-seven MEPs from five political groups have written to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, urging him to deny visas to Taliban representatives scheduled to meet EU officials in Brussels this month. The letter, seen by Euronews, warns that allowing the Taliban to travel to Belgium could be seen as political recognition, incompatible with EU values. "Allowing Taliban representatives to travel to Belgium is a form of recognition that is incompatible with EU values," wrote Greens/EFA MEP Saskia Bricmont on social media. The planned technical talks on migrant returns from Afghanistan have drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates.
France and Germany Abandon Joint Fighter Jet Project
France and Germany announced on Monday they are scrapping the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, a flagship defence project launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale and the Eurofighter used by Germany and Spain. The programme, which also included drones and networked systems, was seen as a test of European defence cooperation amid a hostile Russia and strained ties with the US. Disagreements between the companies involved—Dassault Aviation and Airbus—proved insurmountable, dealing a blow to efforts for a united European defence front.
Other Key Stories
- Car emission targets: Seven EU countries, including France and Spain, have urged Brussels to resist weakening CO2 standards for cars and vans, arguing it would endanger climate goals and competitiveness, according to a document seen by Euronews' Marta Pacheco.
- Albanian protests: Plans for a luxury resort on Sazan Island, a former communist naval base, have sparked protests over conservation concerns. Known as "Kushner Island," the project raises questions about environmental protection.
- Lebanon strikes: Israeli strikes killed 14 in southern Lebanon on Monday, despite Iranian threats of retaliation. Emma De Ruiter reports on the ongoing violence.
Also on the radar: Kaja Kallas visits Dublin; European Commissioner Magnus Brunner presents the 2026 European Drug Report; EU transport ministers meet in Luxembourg for a telecom-focused council; and Commissioners Dubravka Šuica and Dan Jørgensen discuss Trans-Mediterranean renewable energy cooperation.
