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EU sees Iceland vote as potential boost for enlargement optics

European Union officials are hoping a referendum in Iceland on whether to restart membership talks will help boost support within Europe for other less wealthy states to join the bloc,…

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Six countries want EU talks in September on taxing windfall profits of oil companies

Six European Union countries want the 27-nation EU to discuss in September a mechanism to tax windfall profits of oil companies triggered by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,…

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EU approves further €6.1 billion for Ukraine’s defence

The European Commission on Monday approved a further €6.1 billion ($7.12 billion) ‌in financial aid for Ukraine to procure new defence systems, such as air defence, missiles, ammunition and radars.…

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Rising US Debt Puts EU Borrowing Costs and Budgets Under Pressure

The surge in US government debt, now above $40 trillion, is increasingly affecting Europe as global borrowing costs rise and governments compete for investor capital. Germany’s 10-year borrowing costs recently…

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EU moves to ease subsidy rules for small media

EU countries will be able to fund small local media without asking Brussels for permission, according to a draft of the bloc’s revised state aid rulebook obtained by POLITICO. Government…

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Latvia wants €7B from EU to cope with fallout from Russia’s war

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs wants Brussels to hand over €7 billion to help cover the military and economic costs of confronting Russia, as pressure grows over the price of…

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EU to propose tougher sanctions on Russia this autumn

The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc will seek tougher sanctions on Russia this autumn, signalling a fresh push to ramp up pressure on Moscow. In…

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EU Moves to Keep Strategic Raw Materials in Europe with Tougher End‑of‑Life Vehicle Rules

The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation enters into force on Thursday, revising the rules that govern the design, production, collection, and end-of-life treatment of vehicles. It aims to strengthen circularity in…

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EPP head backs African return hubs amid renewed EU migration crackdown

European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber has called for the swift establishment of migrant return hubs in Africa after tens of thousands of unauthorized migrants surged into the Spanish exclave…

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Metsola’s re-election drive puts Socialists under pressure

Momentum is building behind a third term for conservative European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, a prospect set to disrupt an informal agreement among centrist political forces and to put the…

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EU migration chief urges stronger internal border management instead of dependence on neighbors

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner warned on Thursday the bloc is vulnerable to unauthorized migration if control of its external borders depends on the goodwill of neighboring countries. Brunner’s remarks…

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Former European Parliament President Klaus Hänsch has died

Former European Parliament President Klaus Hänsch has died, current Parliament President Roberta Metsola confirmed. “His Parliament mourns the loss of a champion of Europe, who took office at a time…

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EU to use €1.4 billion from interest on frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine

The European Union will use €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) taken from interest generated by ‌frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, the European Commission said on Wednesday. The money, transferred to…

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Junts joins European Democratic Party, expanding EDP presence in Spain

The European Democratic Party said it has welcomed Junts per Catalunya into its political alliance, a move that strengthens the party’s presence in Spain and deepens cooperation on a federalist…

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Europe’s Biggest Firefighting Force Deployed as Wildfires Expose Prevention Gap

As wildfires sweep southern Europe, the EU has deployed its largest-ever shared firefighting force, but the escalating crisis highlights a widening gap between emergency response and long-term wildfire prevention. Portugal…

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Greek PM Mitsotakis urges EU to use all available tools against ‘weaponized’ migration

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the European Union to make full use of existing legal and operational tools to counter what he described as the “weaponization” of migration, arguing…

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EU Socialists accuse governments of politicising Ceuta and undermining Schengen

The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene immediately to clarify the rules governing any suspension of the…

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EU agrees rescue centre in eastern Libya as migrant departures rise

The European Union has agreed plans to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando said, as ‌the…

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Spain and Italy in diplomatic dispute on Schengen rules

Italy and Spain have become embroiled in a diplomatic dispute after thousands of migrants reportedly entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The incident prompted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia…

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EU Considers Scaling Back Business Tax Plan Amid Budget Dispute

The European Commission is considering reducing the scope of a proposed tax on large companies aimed at generating new revenue for the European Union’s next seven-year budget, as it faces…

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France abstains over appointment of new EU political parties watchdog chief

France declined to support the appointment of Philippe Musquar as the new head of the EU body overseeing the financing of pan-European political parties, citing concerns over the speed and…

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Iceland opposition leader urges EU to stay out of referendum on membership talks

Iceland’s opposition leader has called on European politicians to avoid influencing the country’s upcoming referendum on whether to reopen negotiations on EU membership, arguing that the decision should be made…

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EP Greens highlight 10 climate solutions as Europe faces rising heat and extreme weather

As Europe faces more frequent heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and extreme rainfall, the Greens group in the European Parliament is arguing that climate action should focus not only on the scale…

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France and Germany Seek ‘Made in Europe’ Deal to Boost Industry

France and Germany are working on a major industrial agreement aimed at strengthening European manufacturing and reviving the bloc’s struggling automotive sector. The proposed deal would see Berlin support stricter…

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ECB Unveils New Euro Banknote Designs Featuring Icons, Rivers and Birds

The European Central Bank has unveiled shortlisted designs for the first major overhaul of euro banknotes since their introduction in 2002, giving the public a choice between famous European figures…

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MEPs to Get Official AI Platform Amid Concerns Over AI-Generated Laws

As more MEPs and parliamentary staff turn to artificial intelligence to draft speeches, parliamentary questions and legislative amendments, the European Parliament is preparing to launch its own official AI platform…

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Brussels fines Google €890 million under Digital Markets Act

The European Commission has fined Google €890 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA), accusing the tech giant of giving its own services an unfair advantage in search results…

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Socialists Push for Fairer Electrification to Cut Energy Costs and Boost EU Competitiveness

The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are calling for a socially fair energy transition, arguing that electrification must deliver lower energy bills, stronger energy security and greater competitiveness…

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EU Prepares for New US Tariffs as Trade Tensions Resurface

The European Union is preparing to accept a new wave of US tariffs on European goods, despite considering the measures unjustified, as Brussels prioritises maintaining the limits agreed under last…

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EU seeks breakthrough on Russia sanctions as Venice Biennale challenges funding cut

European Union ambassadors are due to meet on Wednesday in an effort to break a deadlock over a 21st package of sanctions against Russia, while the Venice Biennale has launched…

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EU softens carbon market to ease pressure on industry

The European Commission proposed an overhaul of the EU's Emissions Trading System on Friday, allowing industries to emit CO2 longer while offering more financial support to invest in clean technologies…

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Ireland Outlines EU Presidency Priorities Before European Parliament

Irish ministers have presented the priorities of Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union to European Parliament committees, outlining an agenda centered on competitiveness, security, support for Ukraine,…

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EU reaches deal on €115 million defence innovation fund for startups and SMEs

The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional political agreement on a new €115 million defence innovation programme aimed at accelerating the development of…

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Power struggle intensifies as European Parliament prepares for midterm reshuffle

EU lawmakers are heading into recess with a stack of political homework: whether the Socialists should challenge Roberta Metsola, what her political family is prepared to offer to keep her…

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European Parliament committee advances overhaul of EU organic food rules

European Parliament lawmakers have backed updated rules governing organic food production, labeling and imports, aiming to strengthen consumer confidence while shielding EU producers from what they describe as unfair competition…

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Ten countries urge EU to rethink new carbon price on fuel

Ten countries, including Italy and Poland, have urged the European ‌Union to reconsider a new carbon price on fuel, as part of a separate revision of the bloc's carbon market,…

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ECB picks 36 payment firms for digital euro pilot

The European Central Bank has picked 36 payment service providers, including some of the euro zone's biggest financial firms, to join the pilot programme for its digital euro project, it…

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EU Commission examines plan to place staff in national governments

The European Commission is considering stationing its officials in EU capitals, speeding up recruitment and getting the institution “AI-ready,” according to a sweeping set of proposals unveiled in an internal…

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Swedish MEP accuses Danish lawmaker of hate speech

A Swedish MEP has filed a police complaint against a fellow European lawmaker, accusing him of racist hate speech after she was targeted on social media for condemning far-right, anti-immigration…

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Children’s social media curbs planned across EU, von der Leyen says

The European Union will move to limit young children's access to social media across the 27-member bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, in what ‌would…

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EU considers tariffs on imports from illegal Israeli settlements

The European Commission is proposing tough measures to reduce imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as part of options presented to national capitals this week. A paper…

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MEPs support Ukraine and Moldova’s EU path while warning Serbia over reform gaps

The European Parliament has reaffirmed its support for the European Union accession ambitions of Ukraine and Moldova, while warning that Serbia's membership process remains hindered by shortcomings in democratic reforms,…

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Malta among nine EU states seeking flexibility on new border checks

A coalition of nine European countries is urging Brussels to prolong emergency flexibility for the Entry/Exit System, arguing the bloc is not yet ready to phase out the current safeguards.…

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European Parliament backs negotiations on digital euro as lawmakers stress cash will remain protected

The European Parliament has given the green light for negotiations with the Council on plans to introduce a digital euro, marking a significant step towards creating an EU-backed digital payment…

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Western Europe records hottest June on record

Western Europe just experienced its warmest June on record, EU scientists confirmed on Thursday, after an extreme heatwave at the ‌end of the month smashed temperature records, disrupted power supplies…

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European Parliament hears Irish Presidency’s plans for the next six months

Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday outlined the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, telling the European Parliament that its programme would focus on…

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European Parliament approves €144.1 million in disaster aid for Spain, Romania and Cyprus

he European Parliament on Tuesday approved the release of €144.1 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to support recovery efforts in Spain, Romania and Cyprus following major wildfires,…

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MEPs back proposed expansion of EU carbon border mechanism ahead of negotiations

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has adopted its position on proposed changes to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), backing an expansion of the scheme to cover a wider…

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EU Commission considers creating a stronger EU foreign relations unit

The European Commission is considering combining several units into one powerful department for external relations, three EU officials told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook. The idea — one of several options being considered…

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Europe targets shadow fleet tankers falsely using Cameroon flag

Europe is taking tougher action against tankers falsely using Cameroon's flag registry to transport Russian oil, including boarding vessels at sea, prompting Cameroon to dump 39 such vessels from its…

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EU strikes deal on haulage tolls, dropping trailer-based emissions discounts

EU countries and the European Parliament have agreed draft changes to the Eurovignette directive, the EU framework that governs road tolls and user charges for heavy-duty vehicles. The provisional deal…

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Google faces EU top court ruling on record €4.1 billion fine

The European Union's top court is set to rule on Thursday on Google's appeal against a record €4.125 billion ($4.67 billion) antitrust fine over alleged anti-competitive practices. The European Commission…

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Ireland faces packed agenda as it takes over rotating EU Council presidency

Ireland has assumed the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, succeeding Cyprus, with a packed agenda that includes new sanctions on Russia, EU enlargement, negotiations on…

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Europeans see EU more positively as concerns over world affairs increase

Europeans are increasingly pessimistic about the state of the world, but their belief in the EU is riding high, according to polling published Wednesday. A Eurobarometer survey found 74 percent…

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MEPs endorse fast-track EU defence innovation programme

European Parliament committees have backed plans to establish a new EU programme aimed at accelerating defence innovation in response to the changing security environment created by Russia's war against Ukraine.…

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Dublin hosts European Parliament leaders before Ireland assumes EU Council presidency

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the leaders of the Parliament's political groups met in Dublin this week to discuss priorities ahead of Ireland assuming the rotating presidency of the…

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EU names ex-Dutch defence minister as EEAS secretary-general

Former Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren has been appointed secretary general of the European External Action Service, the EU’s foreign policy wing. The move, announced in an email to staff…

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