Also in this newsletter: Friedrich Merz finally throws his hat in the ring for German chancellor
America has cultural and structural advantages that governments can’t close
Brussels claims Facebook is breaking the law and undermining rivals with its free Marketplace services
Margrethe Vestager’s comments come as successor told to be ‘more supportive’ of companies
His report on competitiveness presents the EU with an ‘existential challenge’
France, Italy and Spain to share influential portfolios in next European Commission
Also in this newsletter: floods in central and eastern Europe flesh out reality of climate change
Stéphane Séjourné has backed French president since 2017 and replaces European Commission’s biggest rebel
I’ve had a letter from HMRC; does this mean I've made a mistake on my last tax return?
UK trade deal with EU has led to ‘profound and ongoing’ impact on goods flow
Brussels drafts alternative funding solution to circumvent a Hungary veto on extending Russian assets freeze
Consolidation and harmonisation would help lenders reap the benefits of scale
Meloni has reduced the flow, but some methods are controversial
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warns of disruption to commerce from EU and other unilateral green taxes
Keir Starmer’s talks with Italy’s rightwing PM came after eight people died trying to cross English Channel on Sunday
Von der Leyen offered France a more powerful job ‘as a political trade-off’ in return for replacing Thierry Breton
Also in this newsletter: EU asylum applications stable amid frenzied immigration debate
Ministers urged to bring forward start date of British scheme to 2026 to align with Europe
British premier has promised tougher border measures and to ‘smash the gangs’ that smuggle people
Deputy prime minister could face prison over episode in which vessel carrying rescued migrants was forbidden from docking
Doubling of flat-tax regime does not dissuade global super-rich from shifting residency to the country
French government laments this year’s ‘terrible’ toll, said to be worst since 2018
The former Italian prime minister believes the bloc is facing an existential challenge
How should a government with too much money handle a surprise €13bn rebate?
The former ECB chief’s report on competitiveness ought to be an economic reality check for Berlin
