Spain’s PM Sánchez unveils ‘Hodio’ tool to combat ‘online hate speech’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced the launch of a new government tool designed to monitor and quantify so-called hate speech on digital platforms.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
Merz says Germany’s nuclear phaseout ‘irreversible’ but experts disagree
Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has called his country’s nuclear phaseout “irreversible”, contradicting both…
Is Peter Magyar panicking? Hungarian opposition suddenly looks shaky
Hungary is probably the only country in Europe where, just over a month before the elections on April 12, the picture might be so unclear, so foggy.
Dutch Farmer-Citizen Movement MEPs switch sides in European Parliament
Two members of the Dutch Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) have left the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament and joined the European Conservatives…
Poland starts human trafficking probe into Epstein ring
Polish prosecutors said today they were investigating human trafficking tied to Jeffrey Epstein they suspect took place in the country.
Hungarian seizure of Ukrainian cash and gold sparks money laundering allegations
A former Ukrainian anti-corruption prosecutor is alleging that the funds of a seized Ukrainian cash transport may be linked to a sophisticated money laundering scheme.
EU’s €44bn defence loan for Poland would mean it paying back twice that amount
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has submitted a bill to parliament that would enable Poland to avoid taking out a loan from the European Union’s Security Action…
Our man in Beirut reports: ‘EU spends billions but lacks influence in Middle East’
The European Union has minimal influence in Middle East events even as war rages there, despite the bloc's significant financial input into the region.
Meta hikes fees for advertisers in response to Europe’s digital taxes
Meta Platforms has notified advertisers of new “location fees” to offset digital services taxes (DSTs) imposed by several European Union countries and the UK
Major police operation targets France’s ‘DZ Mafia’ drugs gang
French authorities have launched what officials describe as the largest operation ever carried out against the criminal group known as the DZ Mafia, as part of an…
‘Belgium is becoming a narcostate’, another top magistrate warns
Belgium faces a grave threat from international drug crime that could destabilise society and transform the country into a "narco-state", according to warnings from…
Russia sole ‘winner’ in Iran war, says EU’s Costa
Russia is so far the only winner of the Iran war, EU chief Antonio Costa said today, lamenting that Moscow profited from soaring energy prices sparked by US-Israeli…
European Parliament group backs stricter migrant return rules with right-wing majority
In a significant victory for conservative forces in the European Parliament, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has adopted a mandate…
Romanian court says evidence against Georgescu ‘obtained unlawfully’
The Bucharest Court of Appeal has ruled that much of the evidence against former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was obtained unlawfully, effectively undermining…
Europe becomes world’s biggest arms importer as purchases treble
Europe has become the world's largest importer of major arms, with purchases more than trebling in recent years, according to new data from the Stockholm International…
Swiss vote to enshrine use of cash in Constitution, end tax penalty for married couples
Swiss citizens have voted on several contentious issues in four nationwide referenda – approving a constitutional right to use cash, ending tax penalties for married…
Pro-Iran demonstration in Frankfurt attracts hundreds shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’
Between 650 and 800 participants, mostly men, were at a pro-Iranian regime demonstration at Romerberg, Frankfurt, yesterday, organised by the Islamic Religious Community…
Germany’s CDU loses to Greens in state election, reversing polls
The German Greens Party has narrowly won the state parliament elections in the populous state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany.
Polish right-wing party leader signs book of condolence for late Iran leader Khamenei
Grzegorz Braun, an MEP and leader of the right-wing Polish Crown party, visited the Iranian Embassy in Warsaw and signed the book of condolence for Ali Khamenei,…
Poland’s opposition PiS unveils its candidate for Prime Minister
Poland’s largest opposition party, the Conservatives (PiS), unveiled the former education minister Przemysław Czarnek as its candidate for Prime Minister for…
Concerns grow over influence on EU of foreign propaganda and new media
A panel discussion hosted by MEP Dominik Tarczyński yesterday explored growing concerns about foreign influence in Europe and the role of new media in addressing…
Merz goes behind Trump’s back to mimic and mock him
Was German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s great show of respect for President Trump in the White House on Tuesday precisely that: Just a show?
Who are the mystery men shifting $80m in Ukrainian cash through Hungary?
Hungarian police have detained seven employees of Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank while they were transporting approximately $80 million in cash and gold through…
New AI tool developed by ECR Group and Patriots for Europe to monitor Immigration Pact
A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, developed by the ECR Group and Patriots For Europe, and meant to monitor the EU Immigration Pact, was launched on March…
Leading scientists accuse European Commissioner of ‘misleading statements’ on smoke-free nicotine products
A coalition of 23 leading European experts in medicine, toxicology, epidemiology and addiction science has accused European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare…
‘US will oppose any attempt by Poland to have nuclear weapons’
The US Undersecretary of War has said his country would “strenuously oppose” European nations such as Poland, Germany or the Scandinavian states from developing…
Threatening Orbán? Patriots for Europe condemn Zelensky’s ‘unacceptable’ remarks
The right-wing Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament has condemned remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Hungarian officials say…
Trump ‘calls PM Starmer loser who has no future’
US President Donald Trump has branded British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “a loser” in private conversations, claiming the Labour leader “has no future”.
Iranian regime “conservative”? Never, the mullahs are like 19th century Bolsheviks
Western pundits love to call the Islamic Republic of Iran “conservative.” This label is lazy, misleading, and fundamentally wrong.
Italy to send air-defence aid to Gulf countries: PM
Italy will send air-defence assistance to Gulf countries hit by Iranian strikes launched in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said…