Three years after Qatargate scandal broke, court cases still paralysed
Almost three years after the Qatargate corruption scandal erupted, the judicial process shows little sign of resolution.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
Netherlands to end ‘perverse’ carbon emission tax
The Dutch caretaker government is preparing to dismantle its controversial carbon emissions tax on major industrial companies, using a legal workaround to avoid…
Eurovision Song Contest faces more boycotts if Israel participates
The Netherlands has become the latest country to threaten withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate.
General Court annuls EU fine for right-wing Patriots party
The General Court has annulled a decision of the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF) fining the Patriots for Europe…
Poland rebuffs Trump suggestion that Russian drone incursion a ‘possible accident’
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday rejected speculation that the incursion into Polish airspace by around 20 Russian drones was accidental.
Trump secures release of 52 political prisoners from Belarus
A total of 52 political prisoners have been freed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following an intervention by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Albanian PM appoints world’s first AI-generated minister
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he had appointed the world's first AI-generated government minister to oversee public tenders, promising its artificial intelligence…
Spanish parliament torpedoes plan to cut working week
In a blow to Spain's Socialist government, the country's Parliament has voted down a bill to reduce working hours.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro given 27-year term for coup plotting
Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced firebrand ex-president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for coup plotting at the end of a landmark trial that divided…
Incompetent technocracy: The EU miscalculated on Google
The European Commission has not had the best year. It started off with the man they all hoped would go away, Donald Trump, returning to the American presidency.
Unions slam state-owned France 2 for bias in “block everything” demonstration coverage
France's CGT union slammed state-owned France 2 and its news anchor Léa Salamé for a "pitiful newcast" covering widespread 10 September demonstrations across the…
Meta and TikTok defeat European Commission in court on DSA fees
The European Commission has suffered a major defeat in court over its plans to make large tech platforms pay it to enforce the Digital Services Act.
De-throne Von der Leyen: Will Left and Right support each other’s confidence motions?
Two censure bids landed within hours of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech.
Belgian festival cancels German orchestra concert over its Israeli conductor
The organisers of the Flanders Festival in the Belgian town of Ghent have cancelled a concert by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra – because, they said, it was…
European leaders fail on immigration and growth, the only way up is Trump
The collapse of the French government in the National Assembly this week and the very extensive demonstrations in Britain against over-indulgence of immigrants and…
Macron still doesn’t get it: All France agrees Macronism must go
The collapse of French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government did not seem to trouble President Emmanuel Macron.
‘Possibly politically motivated’ arson attack leaves 20,000 Berliners without electricity
Thousands of households in the German capital Berlin have been left without electricity following an arson attack.
Anti-austerity protests in France limited but grim
Nationwide protests in France under the banner of Bloquons tout! (Block everything) have caused difficulties for the police.
France’s ex-prime ministers cost millions and citizens foot the bill
France's former prime minister, François Bayrou, freshly ejected from parliament, insists he will keep “no advantages” relating to his lost position.
Race to bring down EC chief von der Leyen
Left and right-wing MEPs are in a race to unseat the European Commission ahead of a midnight deadline.
Hysterical reactions over Russia’s drone incursion are a disservice to NATO
Europe’s war-party has been hard at work online trying to stir up some kind of “Article 5 response” (i.e.
Poland activates Article 4 of NATO treaty in response to drone incursion
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced Poland is triggering NATO’s Article 4 in response to the violation of Polish airspace by drones shot down by Polish…
Sea of red greets Von Der Leyen in European Parliament
Around 50 Members of the European Parliament and several European Commissioners wore red in Strasbourg on September 10 as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with civilians…
The imperious ECJ tells Poland that all rulings from its upper courts can be ignored
On 4 September, in case C-225/22, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declared that Polish courts must disregard rulings of higher courts if these…
Swedish defence minister targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, found himself pursued through the streets of Stockholm by a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and…
MEPs ‘regret EU military strategy in Ukraine’, they say – by mistake
Absent-minded MEPs passed a stern motion criticising their own European Union's failed "militaristic strategy" in Ukraine - many of them by mistake.
‘Thousands of fake language and integration certificates circulating in Germany’
Research by German media has revealed that thousands of counterfeit certificates attesting language skills and successful integration into German society may be…
Belgian forces get more ammo, ‘can fight for 20-25 days now’
Ex-Lieutenant General Marc Thys, former Belgian Vice-Chief of Defence, has told local media that the ammunition shortage in the Belgian army has improved.
‘EC paid €600,000 to activist journalists’
After the European elections in 2024, the European Commission transferred more than €600,000 to the journalists' network Project on Reporting on Organised Crime…
‘We are the people of England, and we have not spoken yet’
This summer has been one of simmering tension in parts of Britain, if, happily, not to the extent many predicted before the break.