Scandals, silliness and sloth: The best of EU incompetence 2023
As 2023 draws to a close many are looking ahead to what promises to be a big year in European Union politics.
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Jacques Delors (1925 – 2023)
Jacques Delors, former European Commissioner, French politician and "architect of the modern European Union", passed away in his sleep on December 27, 2023 at home…
Europe deserves more than a team of political lightweights
War and struggle is the new normal, writes Brussels Signal reporter Carl Deconinck in his end-of-year review.
EU Ombudswoman Emily O’Reilly: ‘EC must answer my questions on Tunisia migration deal’
The European Commission has not answered questions regarding the failed migration deal between the EU and Tunisia, says ombudswoman Emily O'Reilly
EU Treaty change plan kicked into long grass
The plan, spearheaded by arch-federalist MEP Guy Verhofstadt, aims to abolish national vetoes and hand more power to the Brussels institutions
Make no mistake: The EU’s war on X is a war on free speech
After months of potshots, the EU's war with Twitter / X has now officially begun.
It’s the polls that swung it: EU leaders watered down the Green Deal in fear of Europe’s populist tide
Abraham Lincoln’s saying that you can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but never all of the people all of the time…
OSCE security platform ‘hardly functioning’ amid Russian vetoes and multiple boycotts
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is no longer fit for purpose, some say, amid Russian vetoes and multiple boycotts.
Dutch Parliament wants opt-out from EU’s asylum and migration policy
A majority in the Dutch Parliament voted to strive for an opt-out on migration and asylum policy-making in future European negotiations.
Berlin lowers local voting age to 16
Berlin's local government has lowered the voting age for its regional elections to 16 years.
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…
EPP chairman Weber slams Spanish Government
Manfred Weber, the chairman of the European People's Party (EPP), has made it clear he thinks the Spanish Government is failing in its European duties.
‘Brussels rules Ireland and that’s OK,’ says Irish MEP
An Irish MEP has claimed it is “not a problem” that Brussels is responsible for the vast majority of legislation passed in the country.
Qatargate: European Parliament needs to do more to restore trust, says Ombudsman
European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has questioned the willingness of the European Parliament to address ethical weaknesses brought up by the cash-for-influence Qatargate…
Is Donald Tusk really the most influential person of 2023? Why Politico has called it wrong
Listening to and reading the Western media, one can get the impression that a new European legend has been born: Donald Tusk, almost certain to return as Poland's…
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.
The kids are not alright: Most EU pupils’ educational results tumble in PISA rankings
The latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), one of the most prominent student-ranking organisations in the world, are causing…
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?
Brussels won’t support Spain in diplomatic spat with Israel
The European Commission has said it is unwilling to support Madrid in a row with Israel over its war with the Hamas terrorist group.
European Union now ‘needs to become a State’, Draghi says
The European Union needs "to become a State" to survive in the modern world, former Italian prime minister and European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi has claimed.
EU to unlock part, but not all, of frozen Hungary funds
Hungary is on track with its judicial reforms and can therefore expect some of its frozen funds to be released, European Commission officials said on November 30.
Hungary’s Orbán says EU should first sign strategic partnership accord with Ukraine
The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungary's Viktor Orbán…
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…
Spanish amnesty fight reaches the Committee of the Regions
The fight over the recent amnesty deal in Spain has reached even into one of the EU's smaller institutions.
EU cancels Congo election observation mission
The European Union has cancelled its election observation mission for the Democratic Republic of Congo's December 20 general elections, saying it would not be able…
European Ombudsman ‘amazed’ by media ‘leniency’ on von der Leyen Pfizer texts
European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said she is "amazed" at how "such a prominent figure as von der Leyen isn't questioned harder on her missing Pfizer texts".
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.
Has the EU project just imploded in Dublin?
The failures of the EU project took on a tragically tangible form in Dublin with a knife attack that injured three children and a woman, precipitating some of the…
China tries ‘divide-and-conquer’ approach to EU with visa move ahead of Beijing-Brussels summit
In a surprise move, China has waived visas for citizens of the European Union's five largest economies, which analysts say is designed to split bloc members ahead…
Kallas’ ‘days are numbered’ as Estonia falls out of love with former star
One third of her Reform party abstained from re-electing her as its leader in a November 18 vote