| Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present proposals today to stem the uncontrolled spread of the virus across the continent ahead of a call with the bloc's leaders tomorrow. The measures include improving the flow of real-time data between member states, implementing rapid testing (the Commission will actually buy kits to distribute), expanding the use of mobile tracing apps, nudging member states to speed up vaccination strategies and creating common protocols to restore safe travel. The Commission's plans won't be the silver bullet that kills the bug. But they are good practices, and Europe could use a few of them. — Alexander Weber and Nikos Chrysoloras What's HappeningBudget Talks | Negotiations between EU lawmakers and governments resume today over the bloc's 1.8 trillion-euro budget and recovery fund, as pressure on the economy mounts following recent restrictive measures. EU capitals, meanwhile, are polishing off plans to make use of the emergency funds once they become available, with the most indebted nations trying to figure out how to utilize cheap loans without further derailing their finances. Trade Tools | EU governments and the European Parliament will seek a deal today on bolstering the bloc's trade-sanctions powers. The aim is to overhaul a 2014 law, so that the EU can impose penalties against countries that illegally restrict commerce and simultaneously block the World Trade Organization's dispute-settlement process. Wage Proposal | The Commission will present a long-awaited proposal on how to ensure fair minimum wages across the bloc. While the plan has been in the works since before the pandemic struck, it's also billed as a way to make the recovery from the coronavirus recession more robust and fight against inequalities that were exacerbated by the crisis. Eastern Spike | Despite having beaten back the initial wave with some of Europe's fastest and strictest lockdowns, countries from the Baltic to the Black Sea are suffering an explosion of new cases. Their early advantage squandered, governments across the region are struggling with the same issues as their western counterparts -- or often worse. Virus Update | Germany was looking at closing restaurants and prohibiting large events as governments across Europe seek to tackle rising infections and fatalities while avoiding full-scale lockdowns. France is also likely to announce more restrictions today while Italy is planning more aid for businesses hardest hit by restrictions. Here's the latest. In Case You Missed ItSearch Complaint | DuckDuckGo and other smaller rivals to Google urged Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to bring them into EU talks with the U.S. tech giant aimed at injecting competition into the market for mobile search engines. A remedy implemented by the company, offering a choice to users, isn't working, they said in a letter seen by Bloomberg. Abortion Fight | Poland's ruling party tried to fight back against an unprecedented wave of female-led civil disobedience after the country's top court practically banned abortions. A nationwide strike by women has been called for today along with a protest in the capital on Friday. German Row | Senior officials in Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union dismissed accusations by Friedrich Merz that a Dec. 4 convention to elect a new leader was canceled to stop him from winning. The new party chief would be in pole position to run as Merkel's potential successor in next year's elections. Struggling Airports | Many European airports will struggle to stave off insolvency without state help unless travel recovers from its pandemic slump by the end of the year, according to the continent's main industry group. Airports Council International Europe predicts that 193 out of 740 airports in the region will soon struggle to pay their bills. Chart of the Day European Union governments face mounting pressure to adopt punitive measures against Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a boycott on French goods. Greece has asked for an arms embargo in response to Turkey's maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean and Ankara's stance in the Cyprus dispute. Such a move would hurt Germany the most, arms export data this week from the European Commission show. Today's AgendaAll times CET. - 9:30 a.m. The EU's top court hears a case in which UPS is claiming compensation for damages and additional taxes incurred following the EU's 2013 botched veto of its takeover bid for TNT Express, which was annulled by a court in 2019
- 9:30 a.m. The EU's top court rules in a challenge from Pirelli against its inclusion in a fine by EU antitrust regulators in 2014 for colluding with rivals to fix prices of high-voltage power cables sold to energy providers
- 3 p.m. Commission President von der Leyen participates in debate titled "Internet, a new human right"
- Von der Leyen gives press conference on new coronavirus measures after college meeting
- EU negotiators continue talks aimed at reaching a deal over the bloc's next multiannual budget and recovery fund
- Commission unveils minimum wage proposal for EU workers
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