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World breaks hottest day record for second day in a row

Monday, July 22 was again the hottest day on record, according to preliminary data from a European Union monitoring agency, inching past Sunday, July 21 which had just taken the…

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EU warns Slovakia against foreign agent law for NGOs

The European Commission has warned Slovakia that it will launch immediate legal action if the government pushes ahead with a proposed law requiring NGOs that receive funding from abroad to…

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Athens tells von der Leyen that Greece must play a significant role in new Commission

Greece’s prime minister is adamant that his country get a very important job when Ursula von der Leyen puts together her top team. Kyriakos Mitsotakis might get what he wants,…

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Hungary to block EU funds for member states over spat with Ukraine

Hungary will block European Union refunds for member states that gave munitions to Ukraine until Kyiv allows the transit of oil from Russia's Lukoil through a pipeline over its territory,…

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World registers hottest day ever recorded on July 21

Sunday, July 21 was the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to preliminary data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average surface air temperature on Sunday…

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EU says it will start talks with Armenia on visa-free travel

The European Union has decided to open dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia, the EU said on Monday, in what Yerevan's foreign minister described as a "milestone" for the traditional…

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UPDATED: EU drops Hungary meeting over Ukraine war stance

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, stripped Hungary on Monday of its role as host of an EU foreign ministers meeting in a sign of widespread anger in the…

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Italy’s Meloni put domestic concerns first in rejecting von der Leyen

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's decision not to back Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission chief was driven by fear of losing rightwing grassroots supporters, analysts say, but may…

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Von der Leyen gets second term as EU Commission boss. What happens now?

Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. EU lawmakers…

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UPDATED: Von der Leyen re-elected Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected Commission President, with 401 votes. She needed 360 to secure a majority. Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as president of the…

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Europol reports on migrant smuggling, human trafficking challenges and digital adaptation.

The new report by Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) looks into the latest developments and main threats in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, based on the most…

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European Commission chief von der Leyen faces precarious vote on new term

Ursula von der Leyen has spent weeks trying to convince European Union lawmakers to back her for a second term as president of the European Commission. The European Parliament will…

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EU court criticises EU Commission’s handling of COVID-19 contracts

Europe's second-top court on Wednesday said the European Commission did not give the public sufficient access to the purchase agreements for COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, upholding a challenge brought…

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Metsola calls for renewed enthuasism in European dream in acceptance speech

In her acceptance speech, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Europe must be accessible to all, one which "everyone feels ownership of". She addressed the issue of political violence, lamenting…

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Metsola re-elected President of the European Parliament

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola was re-elected as President of the European Parliament for the next two years and a half. In the first plenary session of the tenth legislature, Metsola,…

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Eurogroup sees conditions for acceleration of economic activity

The conditions for a gradual acceleration of economic activity in 2024 and 2025 remain in place in the euro area, the Eurogroup said. Based on the Commission spring forecast, consumption…

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German Finance Minister calls for compliance with EU deficit rules

Every European Union member states should comply with fiscal rules, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in Brussels. "I expect every member state to be compliant with our fiscal rules,"…

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EP’s 10th legislature kicks off in Strasbourg

The European Parliament returns on Tuesday for its first plenary session for the 10th legislature, with the newly-elected 720 lawmakers convening in Strasbourg. This marks the beginning of a five-year…

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EU regulators say Musk’s X violated online rules

Elon Musk's social media company X has violated European Union online content regulations, and its blue checkmark misleads users, EU tech regulators have determined. This ruling could result in a…

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What’s Next In Terms Of EU Tobacco Legislation

The events following the results of the EU elections held this month and the various political appointments and allegiances in the European Parliament will present a crucial juncture for many…

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CSDDD – Whatever happened to Article 25?

The removal of article 25 of the original CSDDD proposal, which would have required directors to take sustainability factors into account when fulfilling their fiduciary duty would have been a…

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EC makes legally binding Apple’s promises on access to mobile wallet

The European Commission has made commitments offered by Apple legally binding under EU antitrust rules. The commitments address the Commission's competition concerns relating to Apple's refusal to grant rivals access to a…

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Draghi’s EU economic blueprint gets delayed again

Mario Draghi's highly anticipated report on enhancing the EU's economic competitiveness is likely to be delayed until September, according to sources close to the former Italian prime minister. Draghi, renowned…

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New Far-Right Group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, established in European Parliament

A new far-right group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, has been established in the European Parliament, its newly-elected leader announced on Wednesday. The alliance, which includes 25 MEPs, is spearheaded by…

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European innovation gathers pace, but Swiss continue to excel

The innovation performance of the European Union continued to improve at a steady pace, reaching a 10% increase since 2017 and a growth of 0.5% between 2023 and 2024. According to the 2024…

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Bardella to lead new far-right European Parliament group

The leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, will head a new right-wing grouping in the European Parliament, Patriots for Europe. The announcement came the day after Mr…

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EU freezes 30 million euros in aid to Georgian army

The European Union's ambassador to Georgia said on Tuesday that the bloc had frozen 30 million euros ($32 million) in military aid to Georgia amid what he said was "a…

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Sweden nominates EU minister as its next European commissioner

Sweden wants Jessika Roswall to be the country’s next European commissioner, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Monday. Roswall, from Sweden’s governing Moderate Party, is no stranger to Brussels, having served…

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New Orban-backed EU alliance says France’s RN to join

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) will join a growing new alliance in the European Parliament led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary's government spokesperson said on Monday.…

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Hungary’s Orban arrives in Moscow to meet Putin, drawing EU rebukes

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, drawing rebukes from fellow EU leaders and a warning that he did not speak…

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China-built EVs hit with duties in biggest EU trade case yet

The European Union will impose tariffs of up to 37.6% from Friday on imports of electric vehicles made in China, EU officials said, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing in Brussels'…

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EU takes aim at China’s Temu and Shein with proposed import duty, FT reports

The European Union is drawing up plans to impose customs duties on cheap goods bought from Chinese online retailers including Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday,…

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Hungary takes EU presidency

Hungary's nationalist government launches its presidency of the European Union on Monday with a Trump-like call to "Make Europe Great Again" after EU lawmakers questioned whether it should be allowed…

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EU membership talks start with Ukraine, Moldova; progress for Montenegro

War-torn Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova are now officially in accession talks with the European Union. Both countries were granted EU candidate status in 2022. The landmark move has been hailed…

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Von der Leyen, Costa and Kallas bag EU top jobs: What happens next

EU leaders on Thursday endorsed a second five-year term for Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. Now the German center-right politician faces a knife-edge vote in the European…

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EU leaders pick von der Leyen for second term as Commission chief

European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. At a…

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EU backs 650-billion-euro plan to help cities reach net zero by 2030

A group of 112 cities aiming to eliminate their net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will need a combined 650 billion euros ($695.83 billion) in investments to deliver the pledge,…

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Poland, Baltics call for EU defence line on border with Russia, Belarus

Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia called for the European Union to build a defence line along the bloc's border with Russia and Belarus to protect the EU from military threats…

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EU leaders to agree on top jobs, strategic agenda with focus on defence

European Union leaders are to agree on Thursday on the strategic course for the EU and on the people to run its institutions for the next five years, with special…

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Scholz confirms EU top jobs deal with von der Leyen as Commission chief

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Wednesday that the European Parliament's three main centrist groups would back Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as Commission president, in a…

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Italy’s Meloni says EU top jobs deal ignores voters’ wishes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised on Wednesday plans to share out the top jobs in EU institutions, saying they ignored the wishes voters had expressed during elections earlier this…

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Von der Leyen lined up for second term under EU top jobs deal

European political groups on Tuesday agreed to a deal on top European Union posts, selecting Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission,…

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EU to downgrade Georgia ties and mull finance freeze

The European Union will downgrade political contacts with Georgia and consider freezing financial aid to the government after it pushed through a controversial "foreign agent" law, EU foreign policy chief…

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Ukraine inches closer to EU dream

The European Union will formally begin Ukrainian accession talks today, rejecting Russia's attempts to force its former Soviet neighbour not to join Western alliances. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to give…

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EU targets Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ in new round of sanctions against Moscow

The EU has agreed a new package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. Among the measures is the targeting of Moscow’s shadow fleet of tankers moving liquefied…

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China wants EU tariffs on EVs gone by July 4 as talks resume

Beijing wants the European Union to scrap its preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by July 4, China's state-controlled Global Times reported, after an agreement by both sides to hold…

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UPDATED: EU can avoid Hungary block on Russian asset plan for Ukraine, Borrell says

The European Union has found a way to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to buy arms for Ukraine despite hold-ups from Hungary, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said…

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EU Budget 2025 aims to reinforce funding for Europe’s priorities

The Commission has proposed an annual EU budget just short of €20 billion for 2025. The budget will be complemented by an estimated €72 billion of disbursements under NextGenerationEU. This…

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EU sanctions target Russian gas for the first time

European Union countries agreed on a 14th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, diplomats said on Thursday, including their first restrictions on Russian gas. The package…

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Right-wing ECR group becomes EU Parliament’s third-largest force

The European Parliament faction that contains Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s MEPs announced 11 new members, pushing the grouping ahead of the one dominated by French President Emmanuel Macron’s MEPs.…

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UPDATED: Metsola officially becomes EPP nominee for European Parliament President; Weber re-elected to lead EPP

The President of the European Parliament and PN MEP Roberta Metsola has been officially nominated as EPP Group’s candidate for President of the European Parliament. The nomination was confirmed after…

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Ukrainians better treated than others displaced by war, Council of Europe says

Ukrainians who fled their homes to escape Russia's invasion have received better treatment than those displaced by other ongoing wars and emergencies, Europe's top human rights group said on Thursday,…

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Greens elect Eickhout and Reintke as co-presidents of parliament group

The Greens group in the European parliament elected Bas Eickhout and Terry Reintke as co-presidents today. “European citizens expect European solutions from us and many challenges lie ahead,” Reintke said.…

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European Commission proposes disciplinary budget steps for Malta, others

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed disciplinary steps against France and six other EU countries over running excessive budget deficits, but will announce deadlines for their reduction only in November.…

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EU summit ends without agreement on top jobs

European Union leaders ended a discussion on who should take the bloc's top jobs for the next five years without agreement on Monday, aiming instead for a decision at a…

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EU countries approve landmark nature law after delays

European Union countries approved a flagship policy to restore damaged nature on Monday, after months of delay, making it the first green law to pass since European Parliament elections this…

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EU agrees on start of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

European Union ambassadors agreed to formally to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the Belgian EU presidency said, adding this would take place at intergovernmental conferences on June 25.…

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