European Union

Riots broke out during protests against the Bulgarian government in Sofia on Wednesday. More than 120 demonstrators were arrested and at least 60 people were injured. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov had offered to have his government resign in reaction to the protests, but so far he has not made good. Is escalation imminent?

The president of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil has drawn the ire of China with a visit to Taiwan. He is an "enemy of the 1.4 billion Chinese citizens" and will pay "a high price" for his behaviour, Beijing threatened. Commentators at home and abroad, however, applaud Vystrčil's initiative and hope others will follow suit.

Tim Davie took over as Director-General of the BBC on Wednesday. The British public service broadcaster is facing considerable pressure to reform, also because the Conservative government accuses it of leaning to the left and being biased towards the EU in its reporting. Commentators also call for more diversity among the editorial staff - for various reasons.

The European Commission announced on Thursday a strategy for critical raw materials to diversify supply chains and improve resource-efficiency and circularity. The list of raw materials was also updated - adding lithium, essential for a shift to e-mobility, for the first time. "Europe is highly dependent on non-EU countries, [but] a sustainable supply of raw materials is a prerequisite for a resilient economy," EU commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said.

The European Commission has not ruled out a future ban on the use of facial recognition technology in Europe, as the EU executive mulls the findings of a recent public consultation on Artificial Intelligence.

Delfly
Transport
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled or subject to a long delay may demand payment of the compensation provided for under EU law in the national currency of their place of residence

Vivendi
Approximation of laws
The provision of Italian law preventing Vivendi from acquiring 28% of the capital in Mediaset is contrary to EU law

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier saying he would miss the former Irish Commissioner Phil Hogan, a group of neo-fascist Slovak MPs being kicked out of parliament for failing to wear face masks, and so much more.

EU high representative Josep Borrell, and the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajčak will host the next high-level meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti in Brussels on 7 September, the European...

Defence Minister Mario Banožić said he would push for keeping his ministry’s budget for 2021 the same as this year “so that we can retain the current material rights and make additional steps forward in projects for the modernisation and...

Attempts by former White House adviser Steve Bannon to export President Donald Trump's brand of populism to Europe are on the rocks, according to several of his current and former political partners in Italy and Belgium.