EU’s chief prosecutor hints at US angle to Covid vaccines investigation
Laura Codruța Kövesi, head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), has hinted that the EU vaccine investigation has widened to the United States.
French far-left parliamentarian who railed against tax fraud investigated for tax fraud
French far-left deputy Carlos Martens Bilongo is being investigated by the Pontoise prosecutor’s office for tax fraud, a crime he campaigned against in parliament.
European flag and portrait of Macron to become mandatory across France
Town halls across France will be obliged to display both the French and the European flag under newly approved legislation.
Kremlin condemns Polish renaming of Kaliningrad, now Królewiec
Poland demands name change for Russian city named after war criminal
EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel tipped to become Bulgaria’s next prime minister
The European Commission looks set to lose a Commissioner now that Bulgaria’s biggest parliamentary group has asked Mariya Gabriel to become prime minister of her country.
Belgium approves of QMV in foreign affairs but wants an ‘emergency brake’
Belgium is in favour of moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting for foreign policy matters but wants safeguards.
The EU should not be a superpower, says German Chancellor
Olaf Scholz contradicted French President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of the EU as a potential superpower in a speech in the European Parliament to mark ‘Europe Day’, May…
French Parliament debates compulsory flying of EU flag
French deputies were on May 9 due to vote on a controversial bill to force all local government buildings to fly the EU flag.
Weber tops list of influential Euro MPs
German European People’s Party chairman Manfred Weber is the most influential MEP, according to a think tank report.
Prime Minister of Slovakia steps down amid EU subsidy scandal
Eduard Heger has stepped down as prime minister of Slovakia following an EU funding scandal.
EU eyeing sanctions against Chinese companies that aid Russian war machine
The European Commission has proposed sanctioning seven Chinese firms that are alleged to have sold equipment capable of supporting Russia’s military operation.
Sweden Democrats to push for more EU vetoes
The Sweden Democrats say they want more veto power over EU laws.
Von der Leyen could lose European Parliament ‘green deal’ vote
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) has taken aim at ‘green deal’ legislation championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
EU is ‘safe haven for corrupt money’
The European Commission should look closer to home with its new anti-corruption legislation, says a prominent Euro MP.
Rumours swirl around European Parliament future of Salvini’s Lega party
Italy’s Lega party is contemplating a departure from the European Parliament’s rightwing Identity & Democracy group because it wants “better relations” with the European…
Four-month-old corpse found at Ryanair hub in Belgium
The four-month-old corpse of a 54-year-old man has been found at Charleroi airport in Belgium. The man, named locally as Spanish national José A.T.
Turkish elections causing violence across Europe
The elections in Turkey are turning out to be very contentious and are leading to tense situations.
China, Russia and Iran lecture France on human rights
There were surreal scenes at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Drug shortages in EU cause for great concern
More and more, European countries are running out of medicines. Common medications like antibiotics or painkillers for children are in short supply.
China steps in to ease tensions after ambassador’s Soviet bloc remarks spark outrage
Carl Deconinck, April 24
Mayday-Mayday: Labour day turns violent in France
Labour Day in France was disrupted by protests against the controversial pension reforms pushed through by the Élysée Palace. In Paris, they degenerated into violent riots.
Belgian minister denies prisoner swap with Iran
Carl Deconinck, April 26 The Belgian minister of justice has denied press reports of a possible prisoner swap with Iran.
Finland heading for right-wing government
Petteri Orpo, leader of the centre-right National Coalition party in Finland, said on April 27 that he wants to work with the right-wing Finns party in order to form a Conservative…
Is Belgian Prime Minister De Croo set to launch bid for top EU job?
The EU's migrant pact will be forced upon the Belgian public by prime minister Alexander De Croo, according to MEP Tom Vandendriessche.
Advantageous treatment of Ukrainian refugees sparks ‘discrimination’ debate in Germany
The German Left is up in arms about what it sees as discrimination between government treatment of Ukrainian refugees and migrants or asylum-seekers from other countries.
Can’t pay your rent? In Brussels, the taxpayer will step in
The parliament of Brussels is planning legislation that will make it impossible for landlords to evict tenants who are behind on their rents.
New European sanctions could take aim at Russian luxury goods
The EU is devising new sanctions against Russia that are expected to close existing loopholes.
Pregnant trans man travels from Belgium to the Netherlands to have crowdfunded abortion
A Brussels-based trans man has had a crowd-funded abortion in the Netherlands after being refused an abortion in Belgium.
Parliament groups join forces in opposition to migrant pact
Parties in two groups in the European Parliament, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID), say the upcoming EU migrant pact is an “existential…
European countries scramble to evacuate citizens from violence-torn Sudan
European countries are hastily organizing the evacuation of their nationals from Sudan, where heavy fighting seems to be intensifying.