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EU hosts Taliban for migrant return talks in Brussels

An Afghan Taliban delegation met EU officials in ‌Brussels on Tuesday for the first time, an event rights groups denounced as legitimising the Islamists but the EU has defended as…

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Digital euro clears key hurdle as EU seeks to break free from U.S. credit cards

The European Central Bank secured key parliamentary backing on Tuesday for the launch of a digital euro, an electronic means of payments aimed at making the euro zone less reliant…

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Arrest warrant issued for former EU Commissioner Avramopoulos over Qatargate

Belgian authorities issued a European arrest warrant for Greece’s former European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in connection with the Qatargate scandal, according to two senior Greek officials involved in…

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Two MEPs face hate speech complaints after EU deportation vote

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (EPP,MT) must decide whether to sanction two MEPs accused of hate speech following last week's vote on new EU migration rules. Valérie Hayer (Renew,FR), leader…

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IATA slams revised EU passenger rules as missed opportunity

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticised the latest revisions to Europe’s passenger rights rules, saying the changes fall short of the meaningful reform needed to address long-standing flaws…

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Zelenskiy: Best way to guarantee Europe’s future would be fast-track EU membership for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told an EU summit on Thursday the future of Europe was being shaped by the defence of Ukraine and the best security guarantee for the bloc's…

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EU Council opening communication channels with Kremlin

The office of European Council President Antonio Costa has made "brief contacts at diplomatic level" with the Kremlin in recent weeks "to open communication channels", an EU official ‌said. "Nothing…

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EU parliament backs law allowing offshore detention centres

The European Parliament approved on Wednesday an overhaul of migration policy aimed at ramping up deportations and allowing member states to set up detention centres abroad, in what critics describe…

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EU countries scale back plan to fund power grids

Governments have cut back the European Union's proposal to spend national ‌funds on the bloc's energy infrastructure after Sweden threatened to restrict power exports over the plan, an internal negotiating…

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Freed Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut receives Sakharov Prize at European Parliament

Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who was imprisoned in 2021 before being released in April 2026, addressed the European Parliament in a formal sitting on Wednesday after receiving the 2025 Sakharov…

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European Parliament backs new rules to strengthen farmers’ contracts and incomes

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved new rules aimed at strengthening the contractual position of farmers and helping to stabilise their incomes. MEPs adopted the legislation by 560 votes in…

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EU lawmakers clear US trade deal to avert return to trade conflict

The European Parliament approved on Tuesday cutting duties on many U.S. goods imports to fulfill the European Union's side of a trade ‌deal struck last year, and avert a new…

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European Parliament tests shorter sittings and revised debate format

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola opened the June 15-19 plenary session in Strasbourg by announcing a series of procedural changes that will be tested during the sitting to improve the…

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EU plans tougher safeguards against democratic backsliding by future members

The EU is developing robust safeguards to ensure future member countries cannot backslide on reforms or use their veto power to obstruct the bloc after joining, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos…

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EU agrees fast-track rules to boost defence investment and cut red tape

European Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a deal on a package of EU measures aimed at speeding up defence investment and improving the bloc’s ability to respond to security…

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European allies push Moscow for talks as Crimea fuel crisis deepens

Ambassadors from the UK, France and Germany – the so-called E3 group – have urged Russia to enter direct negotiations with Kyiv during a rare meeting at the Russian foreign…

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Lagarde defends ECB interest rate hike as ‘robust across three scenarios’

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has defended the decision to raise interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, insisting the move remains justified under a range of economic scenarios…

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European Parliament Trials Shorter Debates to Improve Attendance

The European Parliament is set to test new rules in its upcoming June plenary session to avoid empty seats during debates and improve engagement between lawmakers and EU Commissioners. The…

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Europe faces growing synthetic opioids risks as drug market evolves, EU agency warns

Europe's illicit drug market is undergoing a rapid shift, with synthetic opioids emerging as a concern, although the region still experiences far fewer fatal overdoses than North America, the European…

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EU Moves to Strengthen Defence Industry as Security Challenges Mount

European Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on a package of measures designed to strengthen the European Union's defence readiness by accelerating investment, simplifying procurement procedures and…

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Brussels Unveils Fresh Russia Sanctions Package, Drawing Sharp Rebuke from Moscow

The European Union is moving to tighten pressure on Russia through a new package of sanctions targeting oil exports, cryptocurrency channels and individuals who fought in Ukraine, while Moscow has…

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Fewer Swedes want to join euro, poll shows

Support in Sweden for adopting the ‌euro has declined over the past year, while a majority of Swedes opposes joining the currency used by a majority of European Union nations,…

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‘Short, sharp and more strategic’: the EU’s new approach to climate talks

The EU wants to target fewer, clearer goals at the world's annual climate ‌summit in November, building alliances in advance to avoid a repeat of last year's bruising talks where…

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EPP Group to Focus on Transatlantic Ties and Global Security at Galway Meeting

Over 100 leading EU lawmakers, policy and business experts will gather in Co Galway, Ireland, for the EPP Group’s Summer University taking place on 10-12 June. Transatlantic relations, the economy,…

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Turkish forces harass aircraft carrying European defense ministers to Cyprus

Turkish forces interfered with a military aircraft carrying European defense ministers to an EU meeting in Cyprus on Monday, the Cypriot government said, adding it will lodge formal complaints over…

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EU launches major tech push to break US and China dependence

The European Commission has presented a sweeping tech sovereignty package to boost homegrown technologies and reduce dependency on American and Chinese companies. Whether it will make a meaningful difference —…

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Socialist group presses defector to relinquish Parliament leadership role

The European Parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats wants Pina Picierno, who recently quit their group, to resign from her post as Parliament vice president. “While we acknowledge that…

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EU considers limiting protection for Ukrainian men of fighting age

EU ministers on Thursday broadly supported a proposal to limit access to temporary protection for Ukrainian men of military age, Sweden’s migration minister said. The European Union ‌activated the Temporary…

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EU Parliament to switch to French search engine from Google in tech sovereignty push

The European Parliament will switch to French search engine Qwant from Google, ‌it said on Wednesday, underscoring Europe's push to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology in favour of local…

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EU preparing economic support package for Armenia after Russian pressure on it

The European Union is preparing an economic support package worth an ‌initial amount of €50 million ($58.1 million) for Armenia after Russia hit Armenia with some trade restrictions, European Commission…

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European Parliament and Council Seek Compromise on Passenger Rights Package

Co-legislators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU paused negotiations on the air passenger rights reform on Wednesday morning without reaching a deal, but agreed to resume…

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EU Green Transition Sparks Fears of Factory Closures and Employment Losses

EU countries risk mass job losses in the coming years as high energy costs, industrial restructuring and the green transition weigh on the economy, the European Commission is set to…

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EU paves way to allow migrant deportations to centres outside bloc

European Union lawmakers and governments agreed on Monday on new rules allowing countries to send ‌migrants ordered to leave the bloc to centres in third countries, a move that has…

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Poland criticises ‘insane’ EU climate policy

The speed at which the EU is pushing its industry to cut carbon emissions under the Emissions Trading System is "insane," according to Poland’s deputy climate and environment minister. Speaking…

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Europe beefs up Ebola detection as Congo epidemic surges

Europe is increasing surveillance of potential Ebola symptoms among airline passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo as the deadly virus spreads faster than health workers can contain it.…

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Kallas warns against ‘trap’ over European negotiator debate with Moscow

European Union foreign ministers said on Thursday that Russia would not decide who represents Europe in any future negotiations over Ukraine, as the bloc sought to present a united position…

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EU governments clear US trade deal legislation

European Union governments cleared legislation on Wednesday to remove import duties on many U.S. goods, an EU source with knowledge of their meeting said, a move that should avert President…

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France, Italy and Spain urge EU to toughen and hasten trade defences

France, Italy, Spain and two other EU countries are pushing for the European Union to revamp trade measures to defend itself more effectively against excessively cheap imports that threaten to…

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UK could join $4.65 billion EU startup fund, EU official tells FT

The UK could join a European Union equity ‌investment fund for startups worth 4 billion euros ($4.65 billion) this year, the ⁠EU Commissioner for startups Ekaterina Zaharieva told the Financial…

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Influencer-Turned-MEP Stays in European Parliament, Declines Cyprus Seat

MEP Fidias Panayiotou on Monday said he will remain a lawmaker in the European Parliament and decline to take the seat to which he was elected in this weekend’s legislative…

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EU Agrees Major Upgrade of Rights and Support for Crime Victims

The European Parliament has backed a significant reform of European Union rules designed to strengthen the rights, protection and support available to victims of crime across member states, marking one…

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MEPs Back European Commemoration Day for Victims of Work-Related Fatalities and Accidents

In remembrance of victims of accidents at work and of occupational diseases, MEPs are asking for 8 August to be designated the European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of…

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EU Lawmakers Approve Expanded Protection Measures for Crime Victims

The European Parliament has approved new European Union rules aimed at strengthening support, protection measures and rights for victims of crime during criminal proceedings. On Thursday, Members of the European…

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EU can freeze Russian assets held by trusts, court rules

The European Union can freeze assets linked to Russians sanctioned over the war in Ukraine, even if those assets are held by a trust ‌and there is no direct legal…

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EU fails to agree on migrant returns law

EU negotiators on Thursday failed to back rules to increase deportations from the bloc amid continued disagreement on a start date. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has referred to the returns…

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Greens chief Bas Eickhout quits EU Parliament

The co-chair of the Greens group in the European Parliament, Bas Eickhout, announced he will step down as an MEP with immediate effect after acknowledging he had “relationships” that weren’t…

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German leader Merz pushes associate EU membership model for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested making Ukraine an "associate member" of the European Union to bring it closer to the bloc before it completes the process of qualifying for…

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EU Commission Considers Sweeping Overhaul of Departments Managing Funds

Every European Commission department that handles EU cash could be in the firing line as part of President Ursula von der Leyen’s restructuring plans, according to five officials familiar with…

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Slovakia: MEPs demand action to protect EU values and the EU budget

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday with 347 votes for, 165 against and 25 abstentions, MEPs say they are deeply concerned about the deterioration of respect for democracy, the rule…

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EU advances negotiations on migrant returns deal

The EU is closing in on a plan designed to increase the number of failed asylum seekers leaving the bloc. Described by Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner as the “missing piece”…

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EU Reaches Deal to Avoid Trump Tariff Escalation

The European Union reached an agreement early Wednesday to implement a long-delayed trade pact with the United States, likely avoiding threatened tariff hikes by President Donald Trump. After more than…

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EU Divided Over ‘Trump-Proofing’ Trade Deal With Washington

European Union negotiators are racing to finalise a transatlantic trade agreement with the United States, but divisions within the bloc over how to safeguard the pact from future policy shifts…

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EU activates crisis mechanism to monitor hantavirus outbreak

The Cyprus Presidency has activated the EU’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements as part of efforts to monitor the hantavirus outbreak that has prompted increased vigilance among member states.A…

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Mario Draghi awarded 2026 Charlemagne Prize for services to European unity

Former European Central Bank president and former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi has been awarded the 2026 International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, one of Europe’s most prestigious honours recognising contributions…

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European Parliament reaches deal on support rules for adults needing assistance across EU

The European Parliament and EU government negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on new rules aimed at improving support and legal protection for adults requiring assistance in cross-border cases within…

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Final stretch begins for Montenegro on road to European Union entry

Montenegro’s EU bid moved a step closer to the finish line on Wednesday as EU officials began working on the accession treaty that would bring the Western Balkan country into…

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EU Commission considers overhaul of regional policy department in spending shake-up

The European Commission is considering a major restructuring of one of its oldest departments as President Ursula von der Leyen seeks more direct control over EU spending. The Directorate-General for…

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