Is Europe kaput? Washington says this is Europe’s last chance to choose
The Trump administration's 2025 National Security Strategy dropped last week, and if you are in Brussels or Berlin, you might want to pour yourself a stiff drink…
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
German parliament quietly lifts ban on business-class flights for MPs
Germany’s 630 MPs may once again book business-class tickets at the taxpayer’s expense – if the flight lasts more than two hours.
European Commission opens anti-trust probe into Meta
The European Commission has launched an anti-trust probe into Meta Platforms targeting the company’s rollout of new artificial-intelligence (AI) tools inside WhatsApp.
Blasphemy law victim thanks God — and European Parliament — for release
Pakistani blasphemy law victim Shagufta Kausar thanked both God and the European parliament for her release from a Punjabi prison while in Brussels yesterday.
Four EU countries pull out of Eurovision as Israel’s place confirmed
Four European Union nations have pulled out of the Eurovision Song Contest after organisers opted not to vote on Israel's future participation, allowing it to take…
EU climate regulations show it can’t compete in ‘pugnacious new world’
The recently completed COP-30 in Brazil begat no roadmap for a fossil fuel phaseout, disappointing an EU delegation that had hoped to rope the rest of the world…
Hungarian foreign minister says ‘relationship with Austria better if FPÖ ruled’
During a visit to Vienna, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said the relationship between Hungary and Austria would be better if the right-wing Austrian…
German State bans AfD members from running for mayor
The German State of Rhineland-Palatinate has banned members of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD) from running for mayor.
College of Europe rector Mogherini resigns amid fraud scandal
The College of Europe rector and former top European Union diplomat Federica Mogherini has resigned amid an ongoing fraud scandal.
Most German welfare recipients ‘not looking for work’, study finds
Most recipients of the German Bürgergeld (citizen’s stipend) are not actively looking for work.
Top brands suspected in Italy sweatshop probe
Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent are among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited Chinese workers in Italy, according to documents…
Poland’s Supreme Court rejects EU attempts to regulate judicial system
A joint session of two chambers of the Polish Supreme Court has adopted a resolution that rejects the right of the European Union to regulate Poland’s judicial…
Defiant conservatives gather to ‘battle for soul of Europe’
The Brussels Mathias Corvinus Collegium’s (MCC) two-day Battle for the Soul of Europe conference attendees gathered in Brussels yesterday to challenge what they…
A new tripolar world order is emerging without Europe
Europe has had a good run.
Belgian PM: ‘We’ll not saddle Belgium with billions of debt over Russia’
Belgium says the European Union pushed ahead with the plan to use frozen Russian assets without properly addressing the country's financial and legal risks.
Belgium says No: Confiscating Russian frozen assets could bankrupt Belgium
Today the European Commission finally revealed its proposed legal texts on how to finance a new round of at least €90 billion of support for Ukraine.
Three top EU figures formally charged for alleged corruption
Three senior European Union figures have been officially charged for alleged fraud involving EU funds.
Poland bans fur farming
Poland has become the 17th European Union member state to ban fur farming .
Switzerland breaks tradition on arms exports, tests neutrality in Ukraine war
Switzerland has taken a historic step away from its traditionally restrictive stance on arms exports.
Danish EU Council’s presidency pushes for sweeping tobacco tax hikes
The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, pressured by hard-line NGOs, is making a bold, last-minute push to significantly increase taxes on most…
Police raid College of Europe and European External Action Service
Belgian federal police executed a series of searches in European Union institutions across Brussels and Bruges and detained three people for questioning, including,…
European Commission disregards Belgian PM’s fears over Russian assets fund plan
Europe's leaders and Belgium continue their collision course over European Commission plans to tap into €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s…
Thousands of ammo rounds stolen from German lorry park
Unknown individuals stole thousands of rounds of ammunition from a lorry in an unsecured parking lot used by Germany’s military.
Germany’s Young Union MPs ‘will not back’ Merz’s pension reform
Germany's Young Union, made up of 18 younger Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MPs, will not vote in favour of a pension reform championed by their leader.
The blackmailers at the EC complain the US is blackmailing them
I had to laugh when I read last week that Teresa Ribera, one of the many vice-presidents of the European Commission, had been complaining about American “blackmail”…
Polish PM says government will pay WW2 compensation if Germany does not
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, that if Germany does not start paying compensation to victims of the Second World War, his…
Canada joins EU’s €150bn defence programme
The European Union and Canada announced an agreement allowing Ottawa to join a €150 billion European defence financing programme called Security Action for Europe…
Merz can look West, look East, or look at the moon, Germany is hammered
It’s a worrying sign - perhaps one of irreversible senile decay – when one finds oneself admiring not merely a senior politician, but one who is chancellor…
In Italy, UN envoy Albanese accused of justifying violence against journalists
In Italy, Francesca Albanese, the UN envoy responsible for the occupied Palestinian territories, is at the centre of a political firestorm.
Germany subsidised film glorifying Greens party politician with €270,000
German taxpayers have involuntarily co-financed a movie on former vice chancellor and economics minister Robert Habeck of the Greens Party.