The Parliament Magazine

On Friday, Belgium’s King Philippe demanded that Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s government continue to search for a budget agreement. But this isn’t the first time that the King has played an important role in Belgian politics.

“The prime minister and the king are betting on the fact that political leaders will find it more difficult to say no to the king than to the prime minister,” said Caroline Sägesser, a researcher at The Center for Socio-Political Research and Information (CRISP) in Brussels. “It’s kind of a new thing in the 21st century for the Belgian monarchy, because normally this kind of role is only played by the king after elections.”

Read the newsletter by Peder Schaefer: buff.ly/xgdcSDF

Ukrainian forces adapt drones, electronic warfare systems and software to new battlefield realities, often in weeks. In much of Europe, buying military equipment takes years.

@MichalSzczerba argues that Europe must close that gap by learning from Kyiv.

He calls for faster procurement, cheap interceptor drones and jammers beneath advanced air defenses, joint production with Ukrainian industry and quicker troop movement across borders, with strong oversight and a credible EU budget.

The critical shift, he writes, will be decided in national capitals.

Read the essay: buff.ly/Hd7q75b

Somone keeps hacking Europe's refrigerators. That's due to poor enforcement of existing cybersecurity regulations, according to Sven Herpig, the lead for cybersecurity and emerging threats at Interface.

Read the Q+A with Peder Schaefer: buff.ly/VDsjnGR

Democrats won big in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, but that doesn't mean Trump's foreign policy toward Ukraine and Europe will change.

Read the full story by @pedersschaefer: buff.ly/MaWWMoU

The European Commission will present its yearly enlargement package tomorrow, showing which candidates are on track for membership and which are lagging. It also introduces a new tool: roadmaps with action plans and finish timelines for the frontrunners.

Its 2026 review comes at a complicated moment.

Right-wing parties are gaining ground ahead of a string of national elections next year, which could shift political winds carrying the EU’s enlargement push.

Here’s what to watch before the reports drop: buff.ly/lLp2Nc0