Opinion split in EU quarter as terrace smoking ban looms
The imminent smoking ban applying to all Belgian restaurant and cafe terraces has split opinion among waiting staff and bar managers, particularly in Brussels' European…
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Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
France approves assisted dying bill that seeks to avoid ‘suicide tourism’
France's National Assembly has taken a big step toward legalising assisted dying, passing a bill on its first reading that would allow patients to seek medical help…
Polish security services ‘investigated PiS presidential candidate’
Poland’s internal security service (ABW) spokesman has gone on the record to state that several years ago the service investigated opposition Conservative (PiS)…
US Congress queries EC chief over election campaign funding in Poland
The chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Brian Mast, has demanded that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarify…
Ukraine could collapse. What will that look like?
A scenario European leaders would do well to consider, as Kyiv enters the Washington-sponsored peace process with profound frustration: with the White House determined…
NGOs file complaint against Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein’s ‘irregular’ lobbying
Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have filed a complaint against Chinese-owned fast-fashion group Shein's lobbying practices with the French High Authority…
‘Wind energy more expensive, less stable and less secure,’ Swedish report finds
A new study by Swedish think-tank the Scandinavian Policy Institute (SPI) has warned that the promotion of wind power as being cost-effective and reliable was misleading…
Meta shuts out identitarians and nationalists across Europe
Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, has closed down pages from identitarians and nationalists across Europe.
Poland’s PiS candidate tilts Right ahead of presidential election decider
Poland's Conservative (PiS) presidential election candidate Karol Nawrocki has pledged that he would oppose abortion and “stop the Ukrainisation of Poland” in…
Romania’s Călin Georgescu retires from politics
Călin Georgescu, who was the leading candidate in last year's Romanian presidential elections until the courts barred him from running, has said he will quit politics.
Austrian lawfare tried to wreck him, but honest Kurz gets up again
The Austrian People’s Party is the Western hemisphere’s longest-serving government party, having been in the government as a senior or junior coalition partner…
Polish presidential challenger to sue news outlet over ‘pimp’ allegations
Polish Conservative (PiS) presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki says he will sue the liberal-leaning portal Onet for alleging he had at one time been a pimp.
Germany says allies lift range ties on weapons for Kyiv
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany along with Ukraine's other key Western backers have lifted range restrictions on weapons they send to Kyiv to fight…
Euro-champions to be built on subsidies, but where can the EU find markets?
Moving with its usual lightning speed, the European Commission has pencilled in the end of 2027 for new guidelines designed to relax competition rules and permit…
Want to become a Brussels Signal foreign correspondent? We’re hiring!
Remedia Europe is hiring reporters with strong on-the-ground knowledge of their country or region to contribute to Brussels Signal, our fast-growing, Brussels-based…
‘Green investing rules could be legally exploited to weaken EU firms,’ report warns
Hostile foreign powers no longer need hackers or armies to target the European Union — they can now do it with investment portfolios, shareholder votes and sustainability…
Another U-turn: Trump lets the EU off the hook – for now
US President Donald Trump has once again reversed course on a steep tariff hike for the European Union.
Austrian ex-chancellor Kurz acquitted of perjury allegation that led to his resignation
Sebastian Kurz, the chancellor of Austria from 2017 until 2021, has been acquitted of perjury accusations.
EU pours money into Pakistan and enables authoritarianism
The EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) is a golden ticket. It offers developing nations duty-free access to European markets. The catch?
Bi-partisan beer gathering stirs up a storm in Poland’s presidential election
A storm has erupted in Poland after right-wing Confederation party presidential candidate Sławomir Mentzen shared a beer with the ruling party candidate Rafał…
Polish PiS presidential challenger targeted for alleged football hooliganism
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has entered the election fray in Poland to accuse the opposition Conservatives (PiS) candidate Karol Nawrocki of having been involved…
Council of Europe denounces ‘politicisation’ of ECHR by governments over migration
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has reacted negatively to a letter from nine heads of state who asked the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)…
France’s Macron calls for world order ‘based on law’ in Vietnam
France's Emmanuel Macron called in Vietnam on May 26 for the preservation of a world order "based on law", as he started a tour of Southeast Asia, a region caught…
From the man who knows: Starmer surrenders the Brexit deal in return for nothing
The Labour government’s “reset deal” with the EU has dominated British news past this week. It has reopened the wounds of Brexit and re-ignited the arguments.
Denmark first to raise pension age to 70, in a fast greying EU
Denmark became the first country in the EU to raise its retirement age to 70, after its parliament passed the measure on May 22.
Nine EU leaders call for curbing ECHR protections for criminal migrants
Nine EU leaders, including Giorgia Meloni, Donald Tusk, and Mette Frederiksen, have called for more flexibly interpreting the European Convention on Human Rights…
Shadow fleet ban ‘could trigger escalation’
EU measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet could risk triggering an escalation in response, experts have told Brussels Signal.
Dollars and the old clerical flaws: does Leo XIV have questions to answer?
Now the questions start.
Polish PiS presidential candidate takes poll lead, says no to Ukraine in NATO
On the same day as he took a lead in polls, Polish PiS presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki pledged to block Ukraine's entry into NATO.
Angela Merkel criticises tightening of border controls
Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised the border policies of the new CDU-led government led by her former rival, Friedrich Merz.