The Brief: Europe has only one option with Iran

Every so often history forces us to take decisions we rather wouldn’t. We reached another such hinge moment today, courtesy of Iran.

As much as it would like to, Europe cannot stand on the sidelines of the war between Israel and Iran. It must choose a side – Israel’s.

Israel’s overnight attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was more provoked than “pre-emptive”. It was the inevitable outcome of a years-long escalation by Tehran involving countless foreign acts of terror by Iranian paramilitary proxies and hit squads operating from Columbia to the kibbutzim.

Though Israel has borne the brunt of this campaign, Europe hasn’t been spared. Time and again, the mullahs have dispatched their henchmen to strike fear into the hearts of Europeans with terror plots, kidnappings and the implicit threat of nuclear annihilation.

For years, Europe’s leaders have confronted this threat by engaging and negotiating with the terrorists, most notably with the now-defunct “Iran nuclear deal”.

Though Europe often joined the U.S. in condemning Iranian crimes and imposing sanctions, its policies towards Tehran behind the scenes were formed out of fear.

Whenever a European was taken hostage in recent years, for example, their home country would eventually get weak-kneed and cut a deal with the mullahs for their release.

In 2023, Belgium went so far as to enlist the help of its king to trade a convicted Iranian terrorist for a Belgian aid worker held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison under fabricated espionage allegations.

Not all Europeans have been so lucky. In October, the regime executed Jamshid Sharmahd, a German national who had been kidnapped by Iranian agents during a stopover in Dubai a few years earlier. His crime was to have been a vocal critic of the regime abroad. Germany’s response? It recalled its ambassador and shuttered three Iranian consulates.

Israel’s bold action against Iran, which was censured by the UN only on Thursday over its nuclear programme, presents Europe with an opportunity to redeem itself. Instead of resorting to tired declarations that both sides should “de-escalate”, as Berlin did on Friday, the Europeans should help Israel close the deal.

Israel has presented Europe with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help defeat one of the greatest threats to both its security and the stability of the Middle East.

Hoping for an Indian summer – Brussels has this year trained its sights on the South Asian nation, whose booming economy, burgeoning workforce, and stable democracy make it an enviable trade partner.

In the ongoing effort to secure a free trade agreement – which saw von der Leyen and commissioners visit New Delhi earlier this year – India's External Affairs Minister spent the week in Brussels, and spoke to Euractiv.

He was optimistic about a deal finally being concluded by the end of the year, but plenty could still go wrong, with potential hurdles in the EU carbon tariffs (CBAM), agricultural duties, and mismatched expectations. And though India's labour market and manufacturing prowess are growing, it cannot plausibly replace China, analysts point out.

Europe's most expensive roundabout – Brussels had grand designs for Schuman roundabout, aiming to turn the uninspiring axis for cars into a "democratic meeting space".

This has arguably been achieved, as the roadworks render this central node a navigational nightmare for all transport modes. But it's a far cry from the sleek plaza promised in architectural mock-ups. And without a bailout from EU institutions, it could become one more of the great infrastructure cock-ups that the Belgian capital is infamous for.

Oil sanctions show of strength – Just weeks after hitting the Kremlin with the 17th round of sanctions, the Commission is once again talking about new measures to "ramp up the pressure". This 18th round could lower the cap on crude oil from $60 to $45 per barrel.

"Oil prices have gone down (...) so we need to adapt," von der Leyen said. But the proposal must overcome opposition from Hungary and Slovakia and also will need support from the US. The issue will be discussed in the upcoming G7 talks, which start in Canada on Sunday.

Italy referendums scuppered by low turnout – Motions to overturn key labour and citizenship laws ran aground as participation fell far below the 50% threshold for the results to be valid.

It was a win for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party, which taunted opposition parties for a failed attempt to undermine the government.

Sánchez snared in corruption probe – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is on thin ice after a police report alleged he was aware of corruption within his Socialist Party.

As high-ranking colleagues resign, far-right opponents are hounding the premier and calling for early elections. Sánchez has so far dismissed these calls, instead announcing a restructuring and external audit of his party’s financing scheme.

Putting a price tag on smashing atoms – The EU pendulum is swinging back towards nuclear energy, after years of staunch opposition from Germany's previous administration, Austria, and green parties across the bloc.

With Merz's government taking a new tack on the low-carbon technology, and a wider realisation that Europe's industrial future depends on reliable, cost-effective energy solutions, the question remains: At what cost?

A new report estimates €241 billion will be required to achieve the bloc's nuclear ambitions over the next 25 years. This does not include new technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion.

Brought to you by ... Matthew Karnitschnig .