Why is Airbnb so at home with new Brussels regulations?
While many industries would rather Brussels keep its hands off their affairs, US-based rental platform Airbnb has raised eyebrows by celebrating its own European…
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
President of Veneto, Italy, supports foundation to fight femicide
Veneto, Italy Luca Zaia, President of Veneto region has said that his region is ready to support a foundation to combat femicide.
Push against geo-blocking ‘will hammer Europe’s entertainment industry’, sector warns
Attempts to ban the “geo-blocking” of audio-visual content within the European Union will hurt the bloc's entertainment industry, that sector has warned.
EXPLAINER: What Ukraine needs to do to keep its EU membership bid alive
The European Union's 27 leaders could decide at a summit this week whether to launch formal membership talks with Ukraine, a step that would provide a much-needed…
Is the short-lived Morawiecki government undemocratic?
On Monday November 27, Polish President Andrzej Duda appointed a new government led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, expected to last only until Monday (December…
Pirates’ MEPs pull support for EU Digital ID plan over ‘mass surveillance’ fears
"Over-identification will gradually erode our right to use digital services anonymously. Mark Zuckerberg should have no right to see our ID!"
AfD in Saxony classified as ‘extremist’
The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution Saxony (SOPCS) has designated the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party an “extremist”…
EU watchdog demands ban on Facebook and Instagram ‘behavioural advertising’
The European Union's data protection watchdog has demanded Facebook and Instagram owner Meta be banned from processing user data for “behavioural advertising”.
Spain’s Puigdemont locks horns with EU’s Borrell again, this time over ‘sexist speech’
Spanish Junts leader Carles Puigdemont has grilled the European Commission on "sexist speech" by Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat.
No backbone? No protection: Octopuses left high and dry under EU law
Octopus species are not protected under animal welfare rights in European Union law, the European Commission has confirmed.
Reliving the Odyssey among Greece’s vast island network
Few people appreciate just how enormous Greece’s network of islands is.
EU’s draft free-speech law ‘too weak’, say lawyers and journalists
The European Union's proposed free-speech legislation is "too weak" and does not reflect legal reality, lawyers and media professionals have told Brussels Signal.
EU aims to force Big Tech and others to make their products repairable
The European Union is to target so-called "planned obsolescence" in products amid the bloc's ongoing technology regulation efforts.
Meta hit with European consumer group complaint over users’ DSA access move
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has been hit with a formal complaint over its attempts to charge European users to access the European Union’s Digital Services…
Berlin’s spätis show how things tend to go right when Europe keeps it simple
Can the EU political establishment learn something from the späti, the late-night convenience store that is ubiquitous in the German capital?
Musk’s X says Irish minister McEntee’s ‘no-censorship’ claims are ‘inaccurate’
US tech billionaire Elon Musk's X social media platform has accused Ireland's justice minister Helen McEntee of making "inaccurate" statements in the Irish Parliament…
Not only minorities are victims: Violence is violence, even if those attacked are Right-wing and white
In a surge of violent attacks, conservative and far-Right politicians are being targeted by extremists all around Europe. The trend is becoming worrying.
Leftist leader like an ‘annoying uncle who talks nonsense’, says Macron spokesman
The chief spokesman for French President Emmanuel Macron's Government has mocked one of the country's most high-profile left-wing leaders, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, comparing…
Belgian terror expert: ‘Brussels not safe’ to celebrate Christmas and New Year in
According to Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a Belgian terrorism expert, the European capital will not be a safe place to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s…
Can the Left keep taking the Muslim vote for granted? There are early signs that Keir Starmer’s Labour is losing its grip
What does the Israel-Hamas war mean for the European Left?
‘Attempted assassination’ of Vox founder ‘planned months in advance’, police say
The attempted assassination of the Conservative Vox party founder Alejandro Vidal-Quadras was planned three months in advance, according to Spanish police.
EC wants fast refunds and clearer information for stranded travellers
The European Commission is advocating for travellers to have access to clearer information and swift reimbursement in the event of trip cancellations.
Lithuania’s Government may collapse over key budget vote
Lithuania's Government is at risk of collapse as Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's unruly coalition looks increasingly fractious ahead of a crucial December 5…
Belarus police raid premises of opposition activists and their families
Police in Belarus have raided the offices of opposition members as part of a crackdown on dissenters who revolted against the Government in 2020.
Euro MPs want regulation of music streaming to ‘protect diversity’
MEPs sitting on the Committee on Culture and Education bemoaned the lack of bureaucratic influence in the sector, voting in favour of demanding EU action by 23 votes…
Belgium buries terrorist murderer ‘under false name’ to deter ‘sympathisers’ from rallying there
The terrorist who killed two Swedes in Brussels in October has been buried under an unrevealed false name to prevent his resting place from becoming a rallying point…
The Left’s Goliath is beating the Right’s David where it really matters
“If voting could change anything they'd abolish it,” was once a catchy quip used by cynics to justify their apathy and non-participation in elections.
European Court of Justice approves banning of religious symbols at work
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favour of the Belgian Government banning religious symbols in the workplace in an apparent effort to create a “neutral…
Ruling reality is not enough! MEPs demand EU regulation of ‘virtual worlds’
Seemingly unhappy with just ruling Europe, MEPs have demanded that the European Union starts regulating "virtual worlds", such as Facebook's metaverse and Star Trek-style…
Meta Platforms’ paid ad-free service targeted in Austrian privacy complaint
Meta Platforms' paid no-ads subscription service launched in Europe this month faced one of its biggest tests as advocacy group NOYB on Tuesday filed a complaint…