As the US and Israel prepare for war, the EU sinks into irrelevance
The drums of war are sounding again across the Middle East.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
‘Regulate platforms, not children’: Council of Europe criticises ban on social media for teens
Going against several European Union countries' moves to ban social media for teenagers, the Council of Europe criticised a possible blanket ban on social media,…
Hungary accuses Kyiv of election meddling via Ukraine’s Druzhba pipeline strike
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting the Druzhba oil pipeline to interfere in Hungary's upcoming April elections
German army cuts minimum term for stint at eastern front amid volunteer shortage rumours
Germany’s Bundeswehr has cut the minimum contract term for soldiers who volunteer to serve with the army’s 45th Armoured Brigade in Lithuania, Brussels Signal…
German police launch investigation against pensioner for calling Chancellor Merz ‘Pinocchio’ online
The police in Heilbronn in Southwestern Germany have launched an investigation against a pensioner who referred to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as “Pinocchio”…
High tobacco taxes risk fueling illicit trade and undermining health goals, EESC says
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has cautioned that abrupt or excessive increases in excise duties on tobacco and nicotine products could drive…
Germany’s ruling CDU wants to stop Gaza payments via UNRWA
Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has unanimously adopted a resolution at its federal party congress in Stuttgart demanding an end to German and European…
‘Merz is the new Merkel’: German Chancellor sets course leftwards at party convention
The big party convention of Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) has ended well for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but may bode ill for the country as a whole.
US diplomats collide with Belgian and French Governments
US ambassadors in both Belgium and France have been summoned by their host governments over pointed criticisms and perceived interference in domestic affairs.
Polish Government says President’s rule of law proposal would mean ‘Polexit’
The Polish Government has accused President Karol Nawrocki of leading the country towards "Polexit" with his proposal to make questioning of judicial appointments…
EU ire as Hungary stalls new Russia sanctions over Ukraine
The EU's top diplomat said she did not expect to get a deal on new Russia sanctions Monday after Hungary vowed to block them unless Ukraine re-opens a key oil pipeline.
US diplomatic decline and the lost European mind
Donald Trump and his administration have a problem: As I have outlined elsewhere, I think that the United States is pursuing a strategic foreign policy – often…
German state broadcaster recalls US correspondent over AI clip of ICE arrest
German state broadcaster ZDF has called back its US correspondent in New York, blaming her for an incident in which an AI-generated clip was aired in the company’s…
Fears of extremist violence: After Deranque, how can National Rally officials stay safe?
Fears over the safety of France's National Rally (NR) party have led the party president, Jordan Bardella, to bar all elected party officials from public tributes…
Musk’s X to challenge €120 million DSA fine in top European court
Elon Musk’s social media platform X has launched a landmark legal challenge against a €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission under the Digital…
The death of Quentin Deranque
On February 14, 23-year-old Catholic French student Quentin Deranque died in a Lyon hospital from brain injuries sustained during a violent assault two days earlier.
EPP leader Weber pushes for EU army over ‘rising threat of right-wing governments’
The President of the European People’s Party, German MEP Manfred Weber, has spoken out in favour of further integrating European Union member states in military…
NATO: ‘US renegotiating the price of its protection,’ leaving EU uncertain
As the Trump administration presses NATO to rethink its doctrine and assume greater European responsibility, unease is spreading across the continent about both…
Banned Brazilian hormone-tainted beef slipped through EU’s control system
The integrity of the European Union’s food safety protocols has come under scrutiny following the detection of several shipments of Brazilian beef contaminated…
Polish President Nawrocki blocks PM Tusk’s attempt to take over judiciary
The Polish opposition Conservatives (PiS)-aligned President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed legislation that would have placed a judicial body responsible for recommending…
Expensive Audi lands leader of German left-wing party in hot water
The leader of Germany’s left-wing Die Linke party, Heidi Reichinnek, has been accused of double standards after she was caught getting out of an Audi A8 limousine…
French Némésis activist says group traumatised after supporter killed in Lyon
An activist from the right-wing feminist Némésis Collective has said the group’s members are “deeply traumatised” following the death of a 23-year-old man…
Poland to pursue reparations from Russia for Second World War and Cold War
Poland is preparing a lawsuit against Russia for reparations for crimes committed during Soviet rule in the country during the Second World War and the Cold War.
Samurai or Kamikaze? Japan’s rearmament and insecurity in the name of security
As the 80th anniversary of Japan’s capitulation is approaching, a strange and unsettling ritual is unfolding in the East.
Ukrainian ex-energy minister accused of corruption caught trying to leave the country
Ukraine's former energy minister, Herman Galushchenko, was dramatically detained aboard a train as he attempted to flee the country.
Macron criticises Meloni over solidarity statement on Deranque killing
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she expressed solidarity regarding the killing of 23-year-old…
Austrian President criticised for seeming to say Ramadan more important than Lent
Austria’s President Alexander van der Bellen has incurred the wrath of many constituents by publicly congratulating Muslims on the start of Ramadan – while seemingly…
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and homes searched over Epstein files
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York and brother to King Charles III, was arrested at his residence on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
‘Green’ means industry leaking out of Europe, a burden intolerable for investors
Over the past few years, the world has changed more dramatically than at any time since the end of the Cold War.
Polish court issues European warrant for opposition MP
A court in Warsaw has issued a European Arrest Warrant for an opposition Conservatives (PiS) MP.