The EU’s supreme court on Union law
The UK and EU have finalised a draft agreement to remove red tape for food and agricultural exports, signalling a broader Brexit reset. The text is described as settled and circulating among EU ambassadors ahead of a Brussels summit on 20 November. The deal aims to cut costs and delays for British exporters, with dynamic alignment to EU rules and a potential £5.1 billion annual boost while preserving some checks, especially for Northern Ireland.
The EU Court of Justice has ruled that Vlaams Belang cannot rely on freedom of expression to justify using IKEA trademarks in its 2022 “IKEA Plan” campaign. The decision requires a Belgian court to decide the final outcome, with the court noting the branding could damage IKEA’s reputation and commercial interests.
The European Commission has fined X €120 million for deceptive blue‑check practices under the Digital Services Act. The U.S. Justice Department has filed to support X’s bid to annul the case at the EU General Court, marking a second recent intervention by the DOJ in Musk-owned ventures. The case tests EU tech rules and transatlantic regulatory frictions.
Hungary’s government has unlocked 16.4 billion euros in EU funds after rapid reforms; Prime Minister Magyar pledges accountability for past misuses while keeping migration policies. Dignitaries including von der Leyen visit Budapest to mark the 1956 revolution anniversary.
Poland has entered a constitutional crisis after judges backed by the parliamentary majority have suspended Constitutional Tribunal president Bogdan Świeczkowski. Street protests, police deployments and the return of President Karol Nawrocki from a foreign trip have followed. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has defended the move as necessary to restore judicial independence; opponents call it a coup.