Monday, 17 August 2026Europe · Analysis
Independent · Brussels & Berlin
Person
Prime Minister of Belgium, Belgian Federal Government
Germany and Sweden lead calls to end unanimity as Hungary blocks €90 billion Ukraine loan and West Bank settler sanctions, exposing a system unable to match the speed of geopolitical crises.
With the Strait of Hormuz blocked and Asian buyers outbidding Europe for LNG, the EU faces its most severe supply test since the Ukraine invasion, forcing ministers to ask citizens to cut consumption while industry warns of factory shutdowns.
Four years after vowing to end reliance on Russian gas, the EU finds itself dependent on US LNG and Norwegian pipeline gas, with prices surging 20 percent after the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen rules out any reversal of Russian fossil fuel bans as Hungary and Belgium push for cheaper supplies amid Iran conflict disruption.
Belgian prime minister argues Brussels has stifled innovation while the US builds trillion-dollar tech giants, as leaders prepare for informal castle meeting with Draghi and Letta.
The Belgian capital has surpassed the country's own 2010-11 record as 14 parties fail to form a coalition, leaving a €1.6bn budget hole and frozen investments across a city that hosts the EU and NATO.
The newsletter
Delivered to your inbox on the days we publish. No daily digest, no push notifications, no advertising.