Budget talks are likely to dominate this week, as the European Parliament holds a mini-plenary session in Brussels. The EU will also be heading to Brazil with a watered-down 2040 climate target as the main formal conference kicks off on Monday.

"The time for piecemeal or complacent solutions is over," centre-right German MEP Tomas Tobé, who leads the work of the European Parliament on the European Democracy Shield, tells the commission, ahead of its official presentation this week.

People's sexual orientation, ethnicity, or political views could be exposed in proposed EU changes to the 'GDPR' digital-rights laws, civil society experts warn, after a leaked draft.

EU states are struggling with upcoming border rules that critics say could led to detention-like centres. Under the new regime authorities will have only seven days to screen a prospective asylum seeker.

Today, we kick off an anniversary campaign to convince new supporting members to join EUobserver's mission of providing the information citizens need to safeguard EU democracy.

Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have a "higher risk appetite" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their plots.