Good morning from Brussels, 

Since Hungary took over the EU rotating presidency, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has irritated his EU partners with his “peace missions” in Moscow and Beijing. 

EU member states on Wednesday will ask for clarity about the results of the visits to Russia and China, Euractiv’s Alexandra Brzozowski has learned. Some are even considering options to rein in “destructive behaviour” that does not represent the bloc as a whole.

Budapest said the Moscow visit was merely ‘collect information’ about the possibility of a ceasefire. Meanwhile, regarding China, Orbán aims to ‘de-escalate’ trade tensions, the Hungarian ambassador to the EU told Euractiv’s Thomas Moller-Nielsen. 

Politically, Orbán formed with his far-right partners on Monday the “Patriots for Europe” group, in which, according to Czechia’s ANO, a common position on Russia is not crucial. 

The “Patriots” became the third largest EU Parliament group, overtaking Giorgia Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). 

From a potential “kingmaker” before the EU elections, Meloni is now seeking her role. ECR’s Nicola Procaccini said on Sunday that the group would be a “mediator” between the “Patriots” and the centre-right EPP. 

But after the formation of the new far-right group, there is radio silence in Rome. 

“Many of its [Patriots] members are actually revolutionary forces bent on upending the existing European and Atlantic framework”, analyst Federico Reho from the Wilfried Martens Centre told Euractiv. He added that “traditional conservatives” present in various groups should coordinate better against the “dangerous sirens of conservative radicalism”. 

“From this perspective, the refusal of all ECR parties - except - Vox to join the new group is an interesting sign”, he noted.

While not in Washington, incoming NATO chief Mark Rutte has only a few months to prepare for leading the Western military alliance amid stormy waters as members on both sides of the Atlantic look to impose their priorities on the ship's new captain. 

Here’s our profile, which looks at the tasks at hand.

NATO’s anniversary summit kicks off this evening, with leaders from both sides of the Atlantic descending on Washington, where the mutual-defence alliance was founded in 1949. Alexandra Brzozowski and Aurélie Pugnet are reporting on the ground.

Billions of euros in cohesion funds have been misspent in recent years due to the failure of the European Commission and member states to implement appropriate safeguards, according to a report published on Monday by the European Court of Auditors.

PARIS | BERLIN

Despite the German government’s “relief” at the defeat of the far-right in the French parliamentary elections, its ruling coalition fears that Franco-German cooperation may now suffer from a possible power vacuum in Paris, prompting some to look to Poland instead. Read more.

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BERLIN

German chemicals association: Industry past its rock bottom, but export-driven model might be over. Germany’s chemical industry has overcome its low point, but the previous model of exporting basic chemicals has ended, the sector’s umbrella association VCI said on Monday. Read more.

STOCKHOLM

Sweden nominates its first-ever centre-right EU commissioner. The Swedish government has nominated Jessika Roswall as Sweden’s next European Commissioner, making her the first member of Sweden’s Moderate Party (EPP) to be so nominated, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference on Monday. Read more. 

MADRID

VOX leader: Meloni will remain ‘friend and ally’ after switch to Patriots for Europe. Italian Prime Minister and European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR) leader Georgia Meloni will remain a “friend and ally” of Spain’s far-right VOX, the party chief Santiago Abascal has said, after his party decided to switch from ECR to the newly created Patriots of Europe. Read more.

WARSAW

Orlen CEO-turned-MEP testifies in visa scandal involving PiS officials. The former CEO of Poland’s state-owned petrol giant and newly-elected PiS MEP Daniel Obajtek will testify on Tuesday before the parliamentary committee investigating the visa scandal, in which former PiS officials are accused of fast-tracking visa applications for migrants in exchange for money when the party was in power. Read more.

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BRATISLAVA

Most Slovaks now pro-West as less favour a balanced geopolitical approach – survey. More Slovaks now favour a pro-Western geopolitical orientation for the country, according to a recent survey, which compared to the same survey last year, shows this group has now overtaken those who prefer a balanced position between Russia and the West. Read more.

SOFIA

Bulgaria has lost €0.7 billion this year alone – including €423 million in direct losses and €225 million in lost benefits – as a result of not being fully admitted to the Schengen area, said caretaker Economy Minister Petko Nikolov. Read more.

• EU: Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, and Managing Director of European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Pierre Gramegna hold meeting;
• Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit receives FoodServiceEurope, European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry and the Confederation of European Security Services;
• Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra hosts Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh Saber Hossain Chowdhury;

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor]