NEW: The next EU and UK summit will take place on 20 November in Brussels, ending months of uncertainty about the event.

The two sides hope to sign three agreements:
* a food-and-drink deal to ease Brexit red tape
* a pact linking the EU and UK's emissions-trading systems, so avoiding European carbon taxes on British businesses
* a youth mobility scheme, enabling under 30s to live, work, study and travel for a time-limited period on both sides of the channel.

EU officials have also said the summit would be an occasion to discuss the future of the relationship, while stressing the UK needs to define what it wants.

One of the Burnham government's top priorities is to ensure the UK is not disadvantaged by the bloc's ‘Made in Europe’ laws that could favour EU manufacturers in strategic sectors, such as renewable energy, nuclear and electric cars - @JenniferMerode reports

I am really looking forward to talking to @howardamos about his fascinating and deeply-researched book on Russia. We are at Waterstones Brussels next week on Thursday 10th. (Free) reservation info here.

I will be in Brussels on Sept. 10 to talk about my book 'Russia Starts Here' with the @guardian's brilliant @JenniferMerode. Do come along! You can reserve a (free place) by emailing events.brussels@waterstones.com:
waterstones.com/events/howard-…

The EU could deny new member states the right to veto foreign policy and other decisions requiring unanimity.

The no-veto clause could be written into Montenegro's accession treaty, which would serve as a template for others.

theguardian.com/world/2026/may…

▫ UK seeking single market for good - but EU says no

▫Exclusive: Top British official presented idea in Brussels but sources say it was rebuffed
▫@JenniferMerode @rowenamason
▫tinyurl.com/2yyfouvd

@guardian #frontpagestoday #UK 🇬🇧

First #EU-#CentralAsia summit starts today.

EU leaders should not turn a blind eye to Central Asian states’ repressive practices.

Rights protections and the rule of law are essential to secure the EU’s own interests.

theguardian.com/world/2025/apr… @vonderleyen @eucopresident

My respect for President Zelensky was already huge. I’m now in awe at how he’s taking on Putin and Trump at the same time. This man’s principle and above all his courage is something that all other european leaders, north, south, east and west should reflect on and learn from

My colleague @julianborger on "the new world where the foreign policy of the most powerful country on Earth has been rapidly reorganised around the fragile ego of a sullen and resentful old man"

theguardian.com/world/2025/feb…

"Poland says it is under attack from its eastern neighbour, and its razor-wire fence reflects EU’s harsher migration stance"

@JenniferMerode reports from the Poland-Belarus border. theguardian.com/world/2025/feb…

The shocking story of the tiny children taken from their mothers in Belgium's colonies because they were mixed race.

Now five women have taken the Belgian government to court, alleging crimes against humanity.

theguardian.com/world/2024/dec…

Why the Guardian is no longer posting on X theguardian.com/media/2024/nov…

German chancellor Olaf Scholz to address Bundestag for the first time since collapse of his government - live

theguardian.com/world/live/202…

The Kaja Kallas hearing was a missed opportunity, as these sessions are. So many repetitive questions from MEPs, almost no follow ups, so the person at the front repeats their talking points. Not a criticism of KK, but the hearings don't work as they should do.

Too many MEPs are given time to ask. It’d be more useful if a smaller group of MEPs were selected so they could follow up and press harder, creating a more cross-examination atmosphere.

I like this idea, although I also remember the time a small group of MEPs (group leaders) questioned Mark Zuckerberg and completely missed the chance to probe his answers.

Kellas was very good though, I thought? Wooden scripted intro but then very good spontaneous (sounding!) answers....

She was very assured and fluent, with a few spontaneous jokes, but she was never really put on the spot.

Fully agreed. It seemed like a lot of MEPs were gathering clips to post on social media rather than looking for substantive answers.

The depressing thing is that they were just as bad before social media.

China must face ‘higher cost’ for backing Russia - the Kaja Kallas hearing.
theguardian.com/world/2024/nov…

Watched the Sefcovic session and each MEP who got to ask a question had their prepared question probaly agreed with their party, committee or group etc so they could not adapt to what he had said in previous answers and it was very repetitive.

Agree, all pre-cooked in advance and too many MEPs want their Q to be a mini speech. Very little collegiality even within the same group.

after 3 hours of grilling the new EU foreign policy chief Kallas in the EP there have been several questions on Africa, Latin America, even Arctic - fine. and the final question was finally about Balkans - perhaps THE place where 🇪🇺 has the biggest influence. priorities...

Kaja Kallas references historian Timothy Snyder in her hearing with MEPs. "In order for a country to become better it has to lose its last colonial war." The EU has to do everything to ensure "Russia loses its last colonial war".