European Union

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has visited US President Donald Trump at the White House. There had been much speculation ahead of the meeting, especially after Trump's heated discussions with his Ukrainian and South African counterparts, but the atmosphere during the talks was decidedly amicable and hot topics were avoided.

Estonia and Sweden have announced plans to transfer Swedish prisoners to Tartu Prison, two-thirds of which currently stands empty. Up to 600 low-risk inmates are to be accommodated there, which will secure 400 jobs, Estonian Justice Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta explained. Sweden was actively looking for ways to expand its prison system capacities, Pakosta's Swedish counterpart Gunnar Strömmer told reporters.

Telecom ministers adopted today the EU Blueprint for cyber crisis management, which gives guidance for the EU’s response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents or cyber crises.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about the EU potentially banning kids from social media, the Commission wanting Emiratis off money laundering list, the Slovak parliament backing an anti-Russian sanctions stance – by accident, and so much more.

Czech officials are keen to avoid a repeat of the situation in Romania, where TikTok played a role in amplifying the pro-Kremlin candidate Calin Georgescu.

Low turnout could sink five Italian referendums – and the government may not mind.

Hilary Benn did not give a timeline for a final sanitary and phytosanitary deal to ease trade frictions.

A surprise pro-Russia resolution passed Slovakia’s parliament with just 51 votes—after the opposition accidentally helped it through by walking out too soon.

Switzerland’s glacier collapse is a chilling sign of Europe’s warming crisis – and a warning for alpine communities.

“What certainly is not happening is that the EU will say: ‘Oh, it’s too bad that it's not working with the US, we're just going to switch to China',” Trade Minister Michał Baranowski told Euractiv.

There had been tense anticipation in Berlin about Merz's first visit to Washington.