Today, November 6, 2025. Brussels is openly grappling with a shifting power structure in the European Parliament where two working majorities are now acknowledged: one centrist (EPP, S&D, Renew) and one leaning rightward (EPP plus conservative and far-right groups).

This fragmentation is fueling speculation that the EPP’s Roberta Metsola may be preparing for a third term as Parliament President with right-wing support, possibly secured through a complex deal, dubbed the "Metsola-Costa ticket," where Socialists (S&D) would back her in exchange for keeping António Costa at the helm of the European Council.

This internal dynamic highlights a broader trend, as the political gravity for key files, especially concerning green policy, migration, and social issues, continues to pull rightward. Concurrently, the EU is taking decisive external action by preparing to tighten visa rules for Russian citizens, aiming to restrict movement by ending multi-entry Schengen permits in most cases as a further measure against Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

Major domestic and international challenges are dominating the headlines across Europe, notably centered around the high-stakes COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, where attendance features a host of leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer’s presence is notably brief and low-key, lacking a traveling press pack.

His visit is complicated by the Treasury’s refusal to contribute taxpayer money to the major new Tropical Forest Forever Fund, drawing sharp criticism regarding the U.K.'s green credentials. Compounding Starmer’s international difficulties is a major scandal at home, as his deputy faces intense scrutiny over a row involving the accidental release of prisoners. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz is driving a domestic economic pivot, holding a crucial "Stahlgipfel" (steel summit) today to address trade concerns and signal a potential shift toward protective measures, including possible tariffs against Chinese steel dumping.

Lastly, in Paris, the debate over the 2026 budget has erupted into a "War of the Lefts" in the National Assembly, as the hard-left La France insoumise aligned with the far-right National Rally to reject Socialist proposals aimed at raising the CSG tax on capital revenues.