European Union

Warsaw Urges EU to Tighten Schengen Visa Rules for Russians

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the recent wave of Kremlin-backed hybrid attacks across Europe calls for tighter restrictions on Russian diplomats and citizens traveling within the bloc. “Russia is,…

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MEPs urge EU to act against Meta over protections for children online

European lawmakers are urging the European Commission to force Meta to change the “addictive” design of its platforms in Europe, arguing that children in the European Union should receive protections…

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Kallas calls Leipzig drone attack ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ as EU backs Germany

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Wednesday that a thwarted drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport bore “all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism” after Germany blamed Russia for the…

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11 EU countries demand end to ‘obstructive’ vetoes on foreign policy

A group of 11 European Union countries has joined forces to demand an end to the "obstructive" vetoes that have paralysed the bloc's external action in recent years, arguing that…

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Frontex-coordinated operation leads to 112 arrests for suspected migrant smuggling

Border and police authorities from 17 countries have arrested 112 people suspected of smuggling migrants into the European Union. The two-week operation, coordinated by Frontex, also uncovered 60 cases of…

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Iceland to seek new security partnerships after voters reject EU accession talks

Iceland needs to find new ways to strengthen its security after voters rejected restarting accession talks with the EU, the country's foreign minister told Reuters, including by seeking bilateral ‌cooperation…

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Von der Leyen to unveil Europe’s new vision for space policy

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a major speech dedicated solely to space at the International Space Summit in Paris on Sept. 10, two officials working on…

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European Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox under Digital Services Act

The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE), as well as Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), under the Digital Services…

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France, Germany make pitch to overhaul EU foreign policy

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, would gain far-reaching powers to coordinate the European Commission’s external-facing policy units, including on migration and development aid, under proposals being put forward by…

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Italy extends border curbs with Spain a month after migrant rush

Italy said on Monday it would suspend its open-border arrangements with Spain for another 15 days, extending restrictions it imposed ‌after a mass rush of migrants into the Spanish enclave…

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Iceland rejects EU-accession talks in close-fought referendum

Icelanders voted to stay out of the European Union, referendum results showed on Sunday, as they rejected a government push to reopen membership talks and sided with those who said…

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Iceland weighs its European future

Gylfi Geirsson and Sigurbjorn Svavarsson cut British fishing trawl wires and dodged Royal Navy frigates on board small Icelandic coastguard vessels 50 years ago, using guerrilla-like tactics to keep foreign…

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Canada’s Carney to attend EU’s State of the Union

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will join European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the most high-profile political moment in the EU's calendar, amid a worsening rift between the…

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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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Swiss government urges parliament to reject initiative opposing EU deal

The Swiss government on Thursday recommended that parliament reject an initiative aimed at blocking a new agreement between Switzerland and the European Union that would mark ‌the biggest overhaul in…

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Putin says Russia will respond in kind if EU nations seize Russian vessels

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia will respond in kind if European countries ‌seize ussian merchant vessels, the TASS state news agency reported. The comments come as…

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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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Sweden’s top court clears way for transfer of seized ship to Ukraine

Sweden's top court said on Thursday it has upheld a ruling that a cargo vessel seized in the Baltic Sea this ‌year can be handed over to Ukraine, where it…

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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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Italy to make full use of EU budget leeway for energy spending, FinMin says

Italy intends to make full use of budget leeway allowed by a European Union "escape clause" from the bloc's budget rules to fund measures aimed at softening energy ‌costs, Economy…

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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 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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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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Britain and EU formally sign Gibraltar treaty, easing border crossings

Britain and the European Union formally signed a treaty on the status of Gibraltar on Tuesday, following an agreement struck last year aimed at easing border crossings and ending years…

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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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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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UPDATED-Bomb attack rocks Damascus during Macron visit

Two bombs exploded near a hotel ‌in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the night, but his office said he did not hear the explosions and he met…

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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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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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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 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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Coffee firms ill-prepared for EU rules on living wages, report finds

None of the world's top coffee roasters and traders have committed to paying farmers a living income even though ‌this is set to become a legal obligation for large companies…

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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 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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