Von der Leyen ‘trolled’ by phone upgrade offer

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that Budapest will file a lawsuit against the European Union in response to its decision to halt Russian gas imports. This move reflects Hungary's opposition to the EU's energy policies, particularly regarding the reliance on Russian gas. Orban's statement indicates a significant legal challenge to the EU's actions, which he views as detrimental to Hungary's energy security.

Negotiations are set to begin next week regarding administrative fees for linking to the EU carbon scheme. The discussions may depend on the scale of the UK's contributions to the EU's financial resources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing for Ukraine's EU membership before 2030, emphasizing the sacrifices of his people in the ongoing conflict. However, the process faces challenges, including a rise in far-right sentiments and budgetary concerns among EU member states, with some countries potentially using Hungary's veto as a shield against enlargement.

The European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, is reportedly planning to weaken the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which serves as Europe's safeguard against digital monopolies, child exploitation, and foreign political meddling. Leaked documents indicate that this move is driven by powerful interests within the Commission and the German government, who believe deregulation could enhance Europe's tech sector. However, critics argue that such actions will undermine European innovators and further entrench the dominance of US tech giants, leading to a loss of tech sovereignty for Europe. This situation raises significant concerns about the future of digital governance in Europe.