Statue of Merkel on horseback collapses after two years
A statue of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on horseback has collapsed under its own weight. The 2.70 metre high, 1.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
EC ‘sought to cover up request by former Commissioner Neelie Kroes to lobby for Uber’
The European Commission hushed up an attempt by former Commissioner Neelie Kroes to secure an exemption to ethics rules that would allow her to lobby on behalf of…
Fury in Beijing as EU announces Chinese electric-car probe
A forthcoming EU probe into Chinese electric cars entering Europe has angered Beijing, with officials and state-run media outlets lambasting the Commission for attacking…
France iPhone 12 ban could apply to entire EU, says Brussels
The French ban means other EU Member States will have three months to object to the country's findings, with a bloc-wide ban being a possible result if none are…
Seven charged amid visa-issuing corruption probe in Poland
Polish prosecutors have charged seven people in the visa-issuing corruption scandal that has led to the dismissal of a deputy foreign minister and calls for the…
Labour leader Keir Starmer’s new immigration plan is not about tackling small boats – it is about cosying up to Europe
The Labour leader and near shoo-in as the next UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is feeling pretty confident of victory.
Special report: Inside Bulgaria’s gas deal
Bulgaria is ploughing ahead with a gas deal that will create a European “backdoor for Russian gas”, despite European Union objections.
UK would be ‘dumping ground’ for EU’s unwanted migrants under Labour, says Home Secretary
Immigration plans unveiled by UK opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer would see the country become the European Union's "dumping ground" for migrants the bloc did…
UK ‘in final stages’ of agreeing border-control deal with EU
The UK Government is about to agree a new border-control agreement with the European Union, according to British media outlets.
AI-generated EU policy? Could be closer than you think
The European Commission is plotting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the formulation of its policy documents, it has confirmed.
Trust Brussels to manage Africa coup outbreaks, von der Leyen says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked for individual EU Member States to trust Brussels to deal with the surge in coups in Africa.
Germany suspends deal to accept migrants from Italy
Germany is no longer accepting refugees from Italy on the grounds that Italy is not respecting the Dublin III Regulation on returnees, thereby suspending its participation…
EU lifts sanctions on Russian businessmen after legal challenges
The European Union has lifted sanctions on three Russian businessmen and one Russian government official amid legal setbacks.
Poland rebuffs von der Leyen on Treaty change
Poland’s ruling Conservative (PiS) party has signalled that a deal involving enlargement of the European Union in exchange for treaty changes that expand the powers…
Western statecraft is failing: We need a new strategic mindset
The current drift of Western statecraft is not sustainable.
Spain: Partido Popular calls for street protest against Puigdemont amnesty demand
Spain’s centre-right Partido Popular (PP) has called for citizens to take part in a major protest in the capital Madrid.
Ability to shut down undesirable social media is ‘proportionate’, EC insists
The European Union's power to unilaterally shut down certain social media websites deemed problematic is "proportionate", the European Commission has insisted.
State of Disunion: Parliament dissension follows von der Leyen’s call for unity
Her Strasbourg speech touted achievements under her Presidency and exhorted the assembly to pull together, though it was quickly overshadowed by political groups…
EU ban on payment for sperm, blood and breast-milk donations moves forward
The European Parliament has approved a draft regulation banning payments for breast milk, sperm, blood and other "substances of human origin" (SoHO).
EU ‘devil-dancing’ with Tunisian migration deal
European Parliament members clashed in the plenary in Strasbourg on September 12 over the European Union's controversial migration deal with Tunisia, with some calling…
Europe needs new leadership: von der Leyen has been a failure
Ursula von der Leyen has this morning delivered her State of the Union speech. Despite what she said, the picture is not pretty.
Climate-loving EC President von der Leyen took almost 60 private-jet trips in two years
The European Commission's climate-loving President Ursula von der Leyen took almost 60 separate private-jet trips over the past two years, German news outlets have…
Breton takes victory lap after Apple finally bows to EU regulations
Brussels internal market supremo Thierry Breton has taken a victory lap online after Apple bowed to European Commission demands that all smartphones ship with the…
Why has James Bond turned into a hectoring EU technocrat?
James Bond is back. But rather unexpectedly he seems to have adopted the attitudes of a vexed Left-leaning European Union lawmaker.
The State of the Union is this: it is a sham democracy
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will use her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg today to laud her achievements over the last four years and…
‘Humiliated’ European Council chief Charles Michel ‘eyeing a return to Belgian politics’
While he is expected to profile himself as saviour of his troubled homeland, the frequent clashes with von der Leyen are said to be the real motive for the switch.
EC considering new limits on fast-growing chicken
The European Commission is considering the possibility of imposing limits on the farming of certain types of chickens, it has confirmed.
EC distances itself from leaked plan to weaken Israeli control of West Bank
The European Commission has distanced itself from leaked plans aimed at undermining Israeli control of parts of the West Bank.
Forced sterilisations in the EU: MEP calls for action
The European Union must take action against the forced sterilisation of disabled people within the bloc, an MEP has said.
‘Shortest Hague career ever’ for spokesman of Dutch NSC party
On September 12, Onno Aerden was installed as the new spokesman for Pieter Omtzigt and his newly formed New Social Contract (NSC) party in the Netherlands.