EU enlargement: two decades of promises, a 2030 deadline and a queue that keeps growing
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, told a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday that new member states should join…
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
Ombudsman calls for stronger transparency and accountability as EU complaints surge
The European Ombudsman has highlighted a sharp rise in complaints against EU institutions and agencies in 2025, while urging greater transparency and accountability…
Meloni insulted on Russian state TV: Italy summons ambassador as tensions with Moscow flare
Tensions between Italy and Russia have escalated sharply in recent hours, further straining already fragile relations between the two countries, after a Kremlin-linked…
No Orbán, no problem: Ukraine restarts Druzhba pipeline, EU preliminary approves €90bn loan
The European Union preliminary approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine after Hungary signalled it would lift its long-standing veto as oil started flowing through…
Former Finnish PM Marin: Europe cannot ‘rule out’ war with Russia
Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has said Europe cannot rule out the prospect of war with Russia.
Macron backs Lebanon as France is sidelined from Israel talks
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée Palace on April 21, in a highly symbolic diplomatic meeting held just…
Retailleau creates watchdog for LFI party-led towns
Bruno Retailleau, leader of France’s Les Républicains (LR) and already positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election, has launched what he calls an “LFI…
Romania nears OECD membership but its deficit is unwelcome in a club built on borrowed money
Romania has completed 24 of the 25 committee reviews required to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). One hurdle remains.
UK approves total smoking ban for people born after 2008
The UK Parliament has approved legislation that will prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January first, 2009, creating what the government…
EU rejects suspension of Israel Agreement amid internal divisions
The European Union has rejected a push by several member states to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.
ECR warns of population replacement in Europe
At a presentation hosted by Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers, of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament, by the political…
Vox defends ‘national priority’ as Extremadura regional coalition takes office
Spain's Vox party has taken its "nationals first" welfare policy from the negotiating table to the regional assembly floor, with spokesman Óscar Fernández defending…
French conservative media mogul Bolloré builds intellectual arsenal ahead of elections
Vincent Bolloré, the French conservative and Christian media magnate, is once again expanding his influence, this time with the launch of a Christian-inspired think-tank…
Greek parliament to lift immunity of MPs probed in EU farm scandal
Greece's parliament on Wednesday will vote on lifting the immunity of 13 lawmakers, a move demanded by European and Greek prosecutors investigating a multi-million…
US broadcaster Newsmax launches in Poland, against PM Tusk allies wishes
A Polish language service run by US broadcaster Newsmax has launched its news website, which is soon to be followed by a fully fledged TV news channel.
Is Berlusconi’s Forza Italia moving away from conservatism?
Two prominent Mediaset journalists have challenged the Berlusconi family, adding momentum to an ongoing debate about a possible strategic shift in their political…
Polish opposition split averted as Morawiecki and Kaczyński reach compromise
Appearing at a joint press conference the leader of the main Polish opposition Conservatives (PiS) and the former PiS prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki have announced…
EC proposes full revival of EU-Syria co-operation agreement
Von der Leyen travelled to Damascus in January, alongside European Council President António Costa.
‘Will not suffice to maintain standard of living’: Germany’s Merz urges pension reform
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has spoken out in favour of far-reaching reforms of the country’s creaking public pension system.
Brussels prepares to engage with Taliban on Afghan deportations
The European Commission is moving toward opening a direct channel of communication with the Taliban.
New Hungary PM Magyar invites Netanyahu but says he must be arrested if he comes
Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar has stated that his country would be legally obliged to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters…
Hungary ‘violated EU Law’ by banning LGBTI+ content for minors, EU court rules
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Hungary violated EU law after it banned the display and promotion of LGBT content to minors under…
Germany wants reservists up to 70 as troop shortage bites
The Reservist Association of the German Armed Forces has called for the government to raise the age limit for army reservists from 65 to 70 years.
Starmer is sinking, borrow the Bismarck!
The British Prime Minister awoke before dawn, this morning, April 21, 2026, sensing a strange presence nearby. He turned on the bedside light. No, nothing there.
Macron avoids meeting Polish President Nawrocki during Gdańsk visit
He did so yesterday, after Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who heads Poland’s centre-left coalition government, made it clear he did not wish the French head of state…
Spanish PM Sánchez launches global Left alliance in Barcelona, bypassing Brussels
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has used a two-day summit in Barcelona to launch a global Left alliance that turned its back on the European Union's main capitals,…
RN chiefs write to French business leaders amid concerns over economic programme
Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, the co-leaders of France’s Rassemblement National (RN), have sent a joint letter to business executives offering dialogue and…
Wife of Spanish PM risks up to 24 years in jail over alleged corruption
The popular prosecution in the long-running investigation into Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has requested a prison sentence of…
Milan rally shows European Right seeking unity amid Orbán setback
In Italian, there is a saying: “The elephant in the china shop” — something obvious and problematic that everyone can see but no one addresses for fear of…
‘Build Chinese cars in Volkswagen plants,’ says Lower Saxony’s PM
The Minister-President of Lower Saxony has suggested that Volkswagen should consider allowing Chinese manufacturers to produce vehicles in underutilised German plants…