Germany’s Young Union MPs ‘will not back’ Merz’s pension reform
Germany's Young Union, made up of 18 younger Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MPs, will not vote in favour of a pension reform championed by their leader.
From the capitals
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
Merz can look West, look East, or look at the moon, Germany is hammered
It’s a worrying sign - perhaps one of irreversible senile decay – when one finds oneself admiring not merely a senior politician, but one who is chancellor…
Polish President cancels meeting with Hungarian PM Orbán over Putin visit
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in protest against Hungary's leader's trip to Moscow to…
Belgian PM sends scathing letter to von der Leyen warning to back off frozen Russian assets
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has issued a scathing letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to abandon plans to tap into…
Russia sentences eight to life for 2022 Crimean bridge blast
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced eight people to life in prison over huge 2022 explosions that partially destroyed the Crimean bridge, an attack both Kyiv and…
‘Political earthquake’: Poll shows Bardella clear favourite for 2027 French elections
A new opinion poll conducted by Odoxa-Mascaret has projected that Jordan Bardella, President of France's right-wing National Rally (RN) party, would secure victory…
Polish President Nawrocki calls for end to EU ‘centralisation’
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said the European Union was “not a union of our dreams” because it was becoming over-centralised.
Poland sidelined in Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Poland was excluded from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Geneva at which Germany, France and the UK have played a role.
State-owned bank Belfius pulls plug on Brussels region
Belgian State-owned bank Belfius has said it no longer wants to work with the Brussels Capital Region, citing the region's budget problems.
Franco dead since 1975, but Spain still feels the hate, the honour, even the nostalgia
Spain is gearing up for a long year commemorating the death of dictator Francisco Franco and the beginning of democracy in the country.
Former Communist elected Speaker of the Polish parliament
The Polish parliament elected as Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the leader of the Left Party, which is part of the centre-left coalition government led by Prime…
Poles’ anger at German ambassador saying call for reparations ‘help Putin’
The German ambassador to Poland Miguel Berger has become embroiled in a row following his remarks on Poland’s reparations claim, calling the opposition Conservatives…
China clamps down on exports of non-restricted materials, analysts warn
China is tightening its grip on materials Europe needs for sensitive technologies such as defence, despite those materials not being officially restricted.
Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont pushes for ‘safe’ return to Spain
Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont has petitioned Spain’s Constitutional Court to suspend his outstanding arrest warrant.
With the bridge, Salvini seeks to revive Italy’s Lega party
When Italy’s prosecutors temporarily blocked construction of the bridge connecting Sicily with the mainland on October 29, the decision immediately shook the government.
Praising Atatürk on X: Wilders acquits Hitler’s role model
If a tweet can bury a genocide, Geert Wilders just posted it.
Polish President refuses PM Tusk’s nomination of judges
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has refused to sign 46 judicial promotions in cases where the individuals concerned questioned the validity of other judges appointed…
Is Putin a good strategist?
Recent footage of shabby Russian troops advancing in Pokrovsk on motorcycles, converted pickup trucks and other civilian vehicles has drawn comparisons with familiar…
BBC against Trump: Wrong man with whom to pick a fight
Theodore Roosevelt urged, Speak softly and carry a big stick. Donald Trump urges: Bellow like hell and swing a two-handed, double-edged, nuclear-tipped claymore.
Washington, not Europe, shapes Syria’s future
Twenty years ago, Ahmad al-Shara — once known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani — was locked up at the US-run Camp Bucca in Iraq, branded a terrorist and an enemy of…
Poland: Tensions rise between Tusk and Nawrocki
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk have clashed over appointments and access to security service chiefs.
Berlin to plant €3bn-worth of trees using national infrastructure funds
The city government of Berlin has announced plans to plant more than 500,000 new trees throughout the German capital by 2040.
Belgium government to resign if no budget by Christmas
The Belgian government has decided on a new deadline of Christmas to reach a budgetary agreement, failing which Prime Minister Bart De Wever will resign.
EU sidelined as Italy, France jostle for power in Libya
When Inter Milan played a friendly match in Benghazi against Atlético Madrid last month, it was not just about football.
AI: USA vs China heading for world domination, Europe of course forgotten
Before you read another word, ask yourself: A year on from the US Presidential election, would the world be a better, safer place if Kamala Harris were now in the…
Historic low approval rating for French President Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron has cemented his status as one of the Fifth Republic’s most reviled leaders, with a new poll showing his approval rating collapsing…
Spain’s pro-independence party Junts drops backing for PM Sánchez
The executive leaders of Spain's pro-independence party Together for Catalunya (Junts) voted yesterday to withdraw support from the Socialist Party PSOE.
Germany’s Social Democrats demand wealth tax as voters doubt government will last
Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is firing up the class struggle rhetoric.
Belgian councillor accused of being unable to speak French or Dutch
A local councillor in Molenbeek, a municipality in the Brussels region, is accused of not being able to speak French or Dutch, the official languages of the region.
EU could expand to Ukraine ‘even if Hungary resists’
The European Union should press ahead with its plans to expand to Ukraine, even if Hungary refuses to agree, the European Commission’s enlargement chief said today.