Von der Leyen assures Africa of EU support: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised that the European Union would stand by Africa at the next world climate conference in Dubai in early December. She reiterated that public funds are not enough for ecological change. The issue must therefore be how to mobilise private investment for Africa. In addition, she said, it was important to talk about a CO2 price and setting global targets for the energy transition. politico.eu, tagesschau.de

EU diplomat held in Iran for over 500 days: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has confirmed that Johan Floderus, a Swedish citizen working for the European Union, has been held captive in Iran for over 500 days. To secure his release, the European Union’s diplomatic services have put the issue on the table relentlessly in all meetings with Iranian counterparts, Borrell said. The New York Times first reported on Floderus’s imprisonment on Monday, describing his detention as hostage diplomacy. dw.com

EU expects one million asylum applications by the end of the year: Asylum applications registered in EU countries, Norway and Switzerland surged by almost 30% during the first half of 2023, compared with the year before. Some 519,000 asylum applications were lodged in these 29 countries between January and the end of June, the EU’s Asylum Agency said. The main applications came from Syrians, Afghans, Venezuelans, Turks and Colombians, accounting for 44% of requests in total. euronews.com

• Coast Guard intercepts more than 200 migrants in the Aegean Sea – one dead. tagesspiegel.de

Less Russian gas in the EU: According to estimates by Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, the European Union will purchase only 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia this year – about half the usual amount. Sefcovic told German newspaper „Handelsblatt“ that the EU states needed to find new partners. However, it would be almost impossible to do without Russian gas altogether. handelsblatt.com

• EU proposes permanent scheme for joint gas purchases. reuters.com

Confusion over Russian attack on Romania: Romanian territory was not hit by Russian drones or debris in an overnight air strike on a Ukrainian port across the Danube River, Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu said on Monday. Ukraine had previously said that during the Russian attack on the Danube port of Ismajil, drones also fell and detonated on Romanian territory. reuters.com

Facebook is getting rid of the News tab in Europe: Facebook users in the UK, France and Germany will no longer see a dedicated section for news articles starting in December. Meta said that it plans to spend more time and money on short-form video, as best exemplified by its TikTok-like Reels product. cnbc.com

Almost 900,000 people are homeless in Europe: A new study raises the alarm about how unfit housing conditions, such as overcrowding, mould, dampness, exposure to pollution and poor sanitation, affect the poorest segments of the population, exacerbating poverty and perpetuating social exclusion. euronews.com

Margrethe Vestager temporarily withdraws from EU Commission: Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s longtime antitrust czar, announced that she has gone on leave from the Commission, having been assessed as a fit candidate for the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The next EIB president will take up their role in January 2024. The choice is expected in mid-September, when EU finance ministers — who represent EIB shareholders — meet to discuss the appointment. politico.eu

New Bulgarian commissioner smoothly passes grilling in EU Parliament: Iliana Ivanova, Bulgaria’s commissioner-designate for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, successfully sailed through an almost three-hour European Parliament hearing on Tuesday, winning applause from MEPs. euractiv.com

EU considers reopening wolves high protection status: The EU Commission has hinted it might review the high protection status of wolves on the back of increasing tension around the predator in rural areas. Wolves and other large carnivores are currently under strict protection according to the EU habitats directive, which prohibits all forms of the deliberate capture or killing of the wolf in the wild. But farmers have repeatedly warned growing populations pose a threat to farming and local communities and that their status should be reconsidered. euractiv.com