EU budget clash, end of US ambassador's dinners, Orbán think tank trouble
EU budget negotiations intensify, while the disappearance of the US ambassador's exclusive diplomatic dinners and troubles for the Orbán-linked think tank MCC Brussels draw attention.
European affairs ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss the European Union's next seven-year budget. The Cypriot presidency proposed concrete figures, but the backlash was almost immediate. The main sticking points remain unresolved.
One of Brussels' most valuable diplomatic gatherings in recent years has been the exclusive dinners organized at the U.S. ambassador to the EU's residence in Uccle. These intimate meetings, which fostered open dialogue among officials, are now ending, and diplomats feel their absence.
Meanwhile, MCC Brussels, a think tank linked to former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is facing difficulties. The timing is awkward as Orbán visits the city this week.
This summer, the Brussels Playbook Podcast celebrates its 100th episode, with an opportunity for listeners to register for a live taping.
