Today in the EU EURACTIV

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) announced on Wednesday they've overtaken the liberal Renew group to become the third-largest political group in the European Parliament. This shake-up impacts the negotiations for EU top jobs as - at least in theory - it makes the ECR entitled to one of them. 
But is ECR really interested in one of the top jobs? How is Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni planning to use her power? And what next for Ursula von der Leyen? 
To discuss this further, we’ve invited in our studio our politics editor Aurélie Pugnet. 

France's budget has breached EU fiscal rules, according to the European Commission’s latest report. In response, the Elysée has until September to present a plan to quell Brussels’s fears over its growing budget deficit and its high levels of debt.
The excessive deficit procedure's timing could not be worse — France is going through an unexpected political campaign where both far-left and far-right parties have promised to their electorate generous economic measures. Is it the start of a fiscal struggle between Brussels and Paris?
In this episode, host Giada Santana and Paris reporter Theo Bourgery-Gonse sum up the highlights of the first roaring week of the French electoral campaign.

The work of the new EU legislature unofficially kicks off in Brussels as per the post-election choreography. 
Freshly elected members of the European Parliament are now confronted with the choice to join existing political groups or form new ones. Groups have less than a month, until July 15th, to recruit newcomers and get re-grouped for the first European Parliament’s plenary.  
In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics reporter Max Griera review the latest moves in Brussels’ high-stakes game of musical chairs.  

Members of the EU now have to respect legally binding targets, regarding national efforts to restore degraded land and sea ecosystems, compiling with the newly endorsed Nature Restoration Law. 
It was highly politically controversial, with the text risking failing to be approved multiple times in the past few months. Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler, even voting in favour, sparked a national political crisis.  
In this episode, host Giada Santana and Agrifood reporter Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro analyse how the Nature Restoration Law became such a controversial issue and the latest developments in the trade war tensions between the EU and China.  
Additional reporting by Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro.

Today, the heads of state and government of the 27 European Union member states will meet at an informal European Council dinner, and one of the topics on the agenda will be who will take the EU top jobs.
The meeting comes at a crucial time, just after the European Parliament Elections which have shaken up the balance of power and will see new, and old faces vying for key positions in the bloc's various institutions.
In this episode, host Giada Santana and politics hub editor Aurelie Pugnet discuss the power games that could take place over the dinner table.

The European Commission announced new trade tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles on Wednesday (12 June), in the hope of opening negotiations with China. So far, the anticipated decision has only managed to irk Beijing's ire. Will Europe’s move trigger an expensive domino effect for its industrial market? 
In this episode, host Giada Santana and economy and transport reporter Jonathan Packroff analyse the costs and likely outcomes of the EU-China's head-to-head.