Is the EU’s cordon sanitaire beginning to crack?
Brussels is questioning whether the European Union’s long-standing cordon sanitaire is beginning to crumble.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
Russia-Poland relations plummet further after war graves ‘desecration’
The Russian authorities have removed sculptures of Polish military symbols adorning the graves of Polish officers at the Katyn cemetery in western Russia.
French military chief calls for France to prepare for ‘sacrifices’
France's chief of staff of the armed forces, General Fabien Mandon, has urged the country’s mayors to begin conditioning the population for "future conflicts".
State-owned bank Belfius pulls plug on Brussels region
Belgian State-owned bank Belfius has said it no longer wants to work with the Brussels Capital Region, citing the region's budget problems.
‘Don’t worry, we won’t poison you,’ Brazil tells EU
Brazil has told the European Union not to fear Mercosur imports, dismissing claims its products will “poison” the bloc's markets.
Spain’s top prosecutor guilty of media leak against opposition
Spain's Supreme Court on Thursday said it had convicted the top prosecutor of leaking confidential legal information against the conservative opposition in a fresh…
French public broadcasters lodge legal complaints against conservative outlets
French public broadcasters France Télévisions and Radio France have lodged separate legal complaints against three prominent conservative outlets.
Polish minister accuses President of preparing for EU ‘Polexit’
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki has been accused of fostering euro-scepticism and laying the groundwork for his country's departure from the European Union.
Russia’s pre-war demands may get another look
At the end of 2021, when Russia tabled its draft documents on “legal and security guarantees from the United States and NATO”, demanding a halt to NATO enlargement,…
Postal industry warns e-commerce and rural deliveries at risk without EU support
Europe’s public postal operators have warned they can no longer guarantee e-commerce delivery or rural connectivity without stronger political and financial support.
Poland closes Russian consulate after sabotage of railway lines
Russia’s consulate in the Polish city of Gdańsk has been closed in retaliation for explosions on railway lines, Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski…
Franco dead since 1975, but Spain still feels the hate, the honour, even the nostalgia
Spain is gearing up for a long year commemorating the death of dictator Francisco Franco and the beginning of democracy in the country.
Italian PM Meloni in the crosshairs? Alleged plot sparks political storm
An alleged plot to topple Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in favour of a centre-left coalition is shaking Italian politics.
Pressure on German minister mounts in alleged ‘pay-for-influence’ affair
Germany’s Minister for Culture and Media, Wolfram Weimer, is increasingly under pressure for being allegedly involved in a scheme offering personal access to government…
EU struggling to renew its ageing farming workforce
Europe’s farms are facing a growing generational crunch.
China’s climate envoy humiliates the EU
The European Union came to COP 30 in Belem confident that it could supplant the absent Americans and lead the world with the example of its own plans to achieve…
Brussels budget minister warns total shutdown a real threat
The Brussels region's new budget minister Dirk De Smedt has warned that a full shutdown of public services is a real threat as the region is struggling to find money.
Former Communist elected Speaker of the Polish parliament
The Polish parliament elected as Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the leader of the Left Party, which is part of the centre-left coalition government led by Prime…
The British establishment says Brexit is failing but they only offer zombie statistics
“Be wary or there’ll be woe Know your friend from your foe.”
Eight Albanian suspects arrested over alleged plot to kill Brussels prosecutor
In a series of co-ordinated dawn raids across Brussels and Leuven this morning, Belgian federal police arrested eight men suspected of plotting an attack against…
German AfD Vice-Mayor to be removed from office after ‘accidental’ election
The right-wing Vice-Mayor of a town in north-western Germany is facing removal from the post only two weeks after she was elected to the office.
Polish opposition PiS slams government after railway hit by saboteurs
Poland's opposition Conservatives (PiS) have criticised the centre-left government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk over its handling of national security.
Poles’ anger at German ambassador saying call for reparations ‘help Putin’
The German ambassador to Poland Miguel Berger has become embroiled in a row following his remarks on Poland’s reparations claim, calling the opposition Conservatives…
Austrian Government to outlaw ‘shrinkflation’ but inflation stays high
The Austrian government said it will introduce measures to curb so-called "shrinkflation".
Russia labels Russian ex-PM Kasyanov a ‘terrorist’
Russian authorities have added former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov to its official register of "extremists and terrorists", alongside prominent economist Sergei…
Germany’s Antifa among groups US sets sights on – but why?
When the US Government designated four left-wing European groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, many observers questioned whether they genuinely posed a threat…
Democracy slowing down Europe’s rare earth Cold War fight
Europe is losing the rare earths “Cold War” and one of the problems is democracy, an industry conference heard today.
China clamps down on exports of non-restricted materials, analysts warn
China is tightening its grip on materials Europe needs for sensitive technologies such as defence, despite those materials not being officially restricted.
Controversial EU-backed lithium mine in Serbia put on hold
Mining giant Rio Tinto has quietly placed its €2.95 billion Jadar lithium project in western Serbia on indefinite “care and maintenance".
French budget boosted by early debt repayment by Greeks
French budgetary woes have received some unexpected relief from an unlikely benefactor: Greece, once seen as the black sheep of the eurozone.