Inside EU ambassadors’ crisis ‘bunker’

Politico Europe · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Brussels is adjusting to a shifting geopolitical landscape. Coreper meetings — regular gatherings of EU ambassadors — are becoming more frequent and offer clear evidence of how the bloc is adapting. What was once largely preparatory now plays a central role in shaping negotiations before leaders ever sit down. Then, the energy saga continues. The European Commission, responding to Hungary’s warnings over disruptions to Russian oil flows through Ukraine’s Druzhba pipeline, says there is no immediate supply risk and that alternative routes are available. So is this a genuine squeeze — or a political ploy ahead of elections in Hungary? And finally: The former tech commissioner, Thierry Breton, who faces U.S. sanctions over his role in drafting the Digital Services Act, makes his case before the European Parliament. Lawmakers have largely rallied behind him, framing the dispute as a test of Europe’s digital sovereignty and of the bloc’s complex relationship with Washington. But not everyone agrees — some argue the sanctions were predictable, given Breton’s earlier warnings to U.S. platforms. Plus: a cleansing confession from a Swedish minister. We’d love to hear from you — tell us where and when you listen to the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Send us a note or a voice message on our WhatsApp at: +32 491 05 06 29. **A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.**