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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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Influencers offered access to EU summits — provided they back the European project

Influencers will be able to film content while top EU leaders meet in Brussels — as long as they don’t question the bloc’s values. That’s according to guidance sent by…

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EU Tax Simplification Plans Spark Debate Over Impact on Tax Avoidance

The European Commission has unveiled an ambitious package of tax reforms aimed at simplifying tax rules across the European Union, reducing compliance burdens for businesses and strengthening the competitiveness of…

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EU to require air con installers to tell buyers how energy efficient their systems are

Installers of air conditioning units will be obliged to ‌tell customers how energy efficient these systems are, under a European Union law proposed on Wednesday, in an attempt to help…

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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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