Merkel survives election 'earthquake'
Christian-democrat leader set to rule Germany together with liberals and greens, but with a new troublemaker - the AfD party - on the scene.
May seeks EU grace period
Eagerly awaited Brexit speech was short on details, but May pledged to honour financial commitments while calling for a two-year transition deal after the UK left.
Analysis
Merkel-Macron: An EU motor in the making
Merkel's re-election is expected to revive the Franco-German EU motor, but the German leader and France's new ruler are still searching for a common vision.
News in Brief
- Merkel wins fourth term, exit polls say
- EU to hail 'aspirations' of former Soviet states
- UK says credit downgrade was wrong
- Dutch state appeals ban on taking air-polluting measures
- May proposes 2-year transition period after Brexit
- May to call on EU's 'sense of responsibility'
- Catalonia has 'contingency plans' for independence vote
- Last German polls confirm Merkel's lead
Quiet showdown in Barcelona
Thousands of Catalans have taken to the streets, in protest against the Spanish government's efforts to prevent the independence referendum. Both sides know that violence would go against their cause.
Hungary and Poland defy EU authority
Hungary and Poland have said they "don't want a mixed population", amid a tug-of-war with the Commission on migrants and rule of law.
Interview
Poland: Leave politics out of EU agencies debate
Health minister Konstanty Radziwill explains why he thinks Warsaw is the best future location for the European Medicines Agency.
German election: More of the same for EU?
Merkel's decision whether to govern with the social-democrats or with liberals and Greens will have an impact on the future of the EU.
Member states reject EU system of donating unsold food
According to information obtained by EUobserver, national governments have dismissed a proposal by MEPs to make a system for donating would-be wasted food to charity.
Visual Data
The Merkelisation of Europe
Angela Merkel, the EU's most powerful leader, is running for a fourth time in Germany's election on Sunday. But what has changed in Europe over the 12 years of her chancellorship?
Facebook helping Germany to stop Russian meddling
Facebook chief Zuckerberg has said he is helping to stop Russia from interfering in the German election, the way it did in the US and France.
Opinion
Time to de-escalate in Catalonia
Spain's apparent refusal even to allow for a dialogue on the referendum is giving the Catalan government less and less of an incentive to aim for a compromise.
Barnier: UK risks undermining trust in Brexit talks
A day before UK PM Theresa May sets out her Brexit strategy in Florence, top EU negotiator Michel Barnier told lawmakers in Rome: there can be no transitional deal for the UK without a withdrawal agreement.
EU 'embarrassed' by Catalan 'taboo'
Faced with the growing tension between the Spanish and Catalan governments, the member states and EU institutions would prefer not to get involved.
Opinion
EU-funded lobbying is expensive and undemocratic
In the year 2015 alone, the EU spent a total €1.2 billion in grants in order to support European NGOs, which lobby the EU institutions.
EU takes time to ponder tech giant tax
The EU commission published a paper that outlined several options on how to increase tax income from internet companies' activities, but fell short of proposing legislation.
Interview
Dieselgate disappointed car-loving commissioner
Industry commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska often finds herself on opposite sides to the car industry, referring to diesel engines as the "technology of the past".
Asylum seekers create EU 'limbo' nation
The number of asylum seekers "in limbo" in the EU is likely to be greater than the combined populations of Cyprus and Malta, estimates indicate.
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Latest News
Opinion
EU charting the wrong course in migration policy
European officials have faced strong criticism for prioritising security interests over the rights of vulnerable people, in their efforts to stem migration flows.
Letter
A letter from Turkey's ambassador to the EU
Turkey's envoy to the EU says accusations that Turkey stifles free press are "false claims".
EU hopes for clarity on Brexit payments
May to give first major speech on Brexit since notifying EU that the UK was leaving. Negotiations have stalled, but she could revive them with a financial offer.
Portugal not yet aboard 'Med alliance' on EU agencies
"The chess table will be much more complex and more sophisticated than a matter of regions in Europe," said Portugal's health minister.
Spain arrests Catalan officials
Armed Spanish police have arrested Catalan officials and seized ballots for an independence referendum, prompting appeals for EU help.
Opinion
Serbia and the EU: Stability over democracy
Brussels' reluctance to speak out about Serbia's human rights abuses has damaging consequences for the country and the wider Balkan region.
Police raids escalate Catalonia tension
Spanish gendarmes have raided at least four Catalan ministries amid escalating tension ahead of the independence referendum.
Focus
Finance ministers are 'toughest challenge' to education policies
The European Commission is trying to convince member states to pay more attention to youth and education policies.
Focus
EU businesses urge China to deliver on trade and access
European companies want Chinese leaders to be more open to foreign investment and live up to earlier pledges on free trade and globalisation against a more protectionist US.
Bank agency shuns EU invitations
The EU's banking agency is not visiting cities that want to host the agency post-Brexit "to ensure objectivity". The medicines agency has no such qualms.
Opinion
Do we still need political parties?
The question is a legitimate one, especially in a German election campaign that is avoiding pressing topics and leaving many voters helpless.
EU agency to fight election hacking
A new-model EU cybersecurity agency could help states defend their elections against "hybrid attacks", the Commission has said.
Sofia offers low-cost home for EU drugs agency
Bulgaria's capital has launched a campaign to prove that it could do as well as the other 18 contenders that want to host EMA - but for less money.
Opinion
Ukraine: NGOs need EU help
EU governments should stop Ukraine from hampering the work of NGOs in revenge against their anti-corruption work.
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