The EU has published its long-awaited toolbox of measures member states can use to help insulate their citizens and companies from soaring energy prices. The question now is whether it’s enough. Spain is already calling the measures insufficient, even before Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson starts briefing lawmakers in parliament today. Leaders will then gather at a summit next week to discuss the crisis. Energy ministers will follow up with an emergency meeting on Oct. 26. Sensing a golden chance to capitalize on the EU’s struggles, Russian President Vladimir Putin is making overtures from the sidelines. He says Moscow is willing to supply as much gas as Europe needs but — after the EU spent years ignoring Moscow’s concerns — he’s asking for the bloc’s gas-market rules to be rewritten, including a move toward the longer-term contracts favored by state-run Gazprom. -John Ainger

What’s Happening

Brexit Fight | The EU and the U.K. will talk in London over the coming days, after fresh concessions from the bloc signaled glimmers of progress in defusing tensions. Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s chief negotiator, proposed adjustments to the Northern Ireland protocol yesterday that would slash customs checks by half and cut sanitary inspections on many retail goods including ham and sausages by 80%. France meanwhile could take action against the U.K. next week over Brexit commitments on fishing.

Chancellor Plans | Germany’s Olaf Scholz said a Social Democratic-led government will drive forward an expansion in renewables and energy-infrastructure investment as he expressed certainty that he’ll be chancellor by the end of the year. Talks between the SPD, Greens and the FDP are set for a critical session tomorrow.

Cash Freeze | Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte will call on the EU next week to withhold 36 billion euros in recovery money earmarked for Poland following a controversial Polish court ruling that undercut a pillar of membership in the bloc. The Commission has already delayed an assessment and is still deciding if, and when, to release the money.

Czech Talks | Czech President Milos Zeman agreed to meet with the head of the Civic Democratic Party, which is leading a group of five political forces that have vowed to replace Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The aim is to sign a coalition agreement by Nov. 8. There’s one problem though: Zeman is currently in an intensive care unit.

Greenwashing Overhaul | For one London-based lawyer, the phones have been ringing off the hook as the world of finance urgently prepares for the far-reaching tentacles of EU regulation on their green investments. Read our deep dive into one obscure piece of legislation that has fund managers fretting.

In Case You Missed It

Data Breach | Belgium’s app that verifies coronavirus vaccinations reported a leak of sensitive health information, just days before Brussels is due to require people to prove they’ve been jabbed to enter restaurants.

Arctic Drilling | The EU is seeking an international ban on all new oil, gas and coal projects in the Arctic as part of its efforts to tackle climate change, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told us at the launch of the bloc’s new strategy. It comes as production booms in the contested region — bankrolled by some of the biggest names in finance.

Market Reform | Officials from EU member states met to discuss calls to delay sweeping reforms that threaten to drive up costs in Europe’s settled-securities market. Brussels is facing pressure from lobby groups to postpone the February start date of changes designed to help make settling securities safer and more efficient in the bloc.

Chinese Goodbye | German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the EU’s stalled investment accord with China, human rights and other issues in a “farewell” bilateral talk. Here’s what they talked about.

Hard Graft | Slovakia’s president joined intensifying calls for the resignation of Peter Kazimir, a member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council, who was charged with bribery in Slovakia. He’s the highest-ranking member of the previous Slovak cabinet to be caught up in an anti-corruption crackdown and has defied pressure to step down as an investigation unfolded.

Deadlier Outbreaks | Found yourself wondering why some nations are seeing more deaths as a result of the coronavirus than others, even though they’re using the same vaccines? We shed some light here.

Chart of the Day

Austria plans to cut next year’s budget deficit to one of the narrowest in the EU as it leads a lobbying effort to return to strict fiscal rules among member states. The nation aims for a gap of 2.3% of economic output, down from a 6% shortfall in 2021, according to a draft budget presented yesterday. Austria said it wants to tighten the deficit after the coronavirus pandemic to help rebuild stimulus capacity for future crises.

Today’s Agenda (All times CET.)

• 9 a.m. ECB supervisory board chief Andrea Enria and European Banking Authority chair Jose Manuel Campa appear before a European Parliament committee
• 9 a.m. Energy Commissioner Simson discusses energy prices before European Parliament panel
• 10 a.m. German economic research institutes publish joint forecasts
• 11 a.m. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen receives Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg
• 2:45 p.m. Telecommunications ministers hold press conference after virtual debate on proposed artificial intelligence law 
• 4:45 p.m. European Parliament Trade Committee debate on the EU’s draft position on the WTO ministerial conference
• Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni in Washington for IMF/World Bank meetings, participates in Brookings event