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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13925
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 25
NEWS BRIEFS / Trade

Germany is ready to take tougher line on China and will finalise its position by October

27/08/2026 (Agence Europe) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Wednesday 26 August that Germany is ready to adopt a tougher stance towards China as the European Union’s trade imbalance with Beijing widens by the day. “We recognise that German industry has apparently changed its position regarding global trade imbalances,” the Chancellor told journalists after a cabinet meeting in Berlin, according to Bloomberg (https://aeur.eu/f/n5m ). The German Chancellor specified that his coalition would finalise its position before the European summit of 15 and 16 October, during which the EU is expected to present measures aimed at protecting its industries. Last June, the EU27 instructed the European Commission to strengthen dialogue with Beijing while drawing up new trade defence instruments (see EUROPE 13892/4). (JV)

Contents

INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: six ‘frugal’ countries call for post-2027 EU budget to be cut by “several hundred billion euros” compared with initial draft
EXTERNAL ACTION
ICELAND: Icelanders to vote on Saturday 29 August on whether to resume accession negotiations with EU
AUSTRALIA: Australia’s main opposition party questions EU free-trade agreement
HUMANITARIAN AID: Nepal hit by severe flooding—EU releases €1 million in emergency aid
Russian invasion of Ukraine
RUSSIA: Sweden, Spain, Poland and Netherlands call for greater use of Russian assets frozen in EU for benefit of Ukraine
SECTORAL POLICIES
COMPETITIVENESS: Ursula von der Leyen promises French business leaders further regulatory simplification and action against unfair global competition
DIGITAL: European Commission defends its action after transatlantic agreement limiting teenagers’ time on Facebook and Instagram
FISHERIES: EU struggles to improve methods for allocating fishing quotas, according to a study for European Parliament
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission updates frequently asked questions on implementation of EU Deforestation Regulation
CLIMATE: information integrity is essential for clean energy transition, says think tank E3G
HOME AFFAIRS: EU museum burglars harden methods and target increasingly valuable objects, Europol observes
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
NATO: US consults NATO allies on reassessment of US forces in Europe
SPACE: signing of first contracts for ‘European Launcher Challenge’
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: ‘Group of Six’ proposes pan-European dimension by targeting ESMA supervision of trading venues under MISP package
EIB: EIB approves over €9 billion in financing to boost businesses and strengthen energy autonomy
STATE AID: Dutch scheme to produce hydrogen from renewable energy sources given green light
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: according to Eurofound, not all corporate managers have skills and support required to manage new forms of hybrid work
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: ILGA-Europe calls on Spain to better protect LGBTI people arriving in Ceuta
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Disability Forum claims responsibility for progress made on 11 European policies in 2025
NEWS BRIEFS
TRADE: Germany is ready to take tougher line on China and will finalise its position by October
ECONOMY: credit recovery and money supply in euro area continue to grow in July 2026
GREENLAND: European Commission president to visit territory on 6 and 7 September
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office indicts two individuals over suspected €240,000 fraud involving Erasmus+ funds
JUSTICE: five suspects arrested in Czech Republic as part of European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into €20 million VAT fraud
TÜRKIYE: members of European Parliament call for Osman Kavala’s release