If Europe wants to remain a symbol of democratic, open spaces, it must defend its values not only with hard power but with imagination and empathy. This means positioning culture at the heart of EU policy.

Chinese officials have indicated that they will file a complaint to the World Trade Organisation against the EU’s new carbon levy, which came into force on Thursday (1 January), describing it as "unfair" and "discriminatory." 

The EU has warned that Israel’s decision to suspend dozens of international aid organisations in Gaza risks cutting off life-saving assistance as winter conditions and displacement deepen the humanitarian crisis.

Across Europe, mayors and local councillors are facing a disturbing rise in harassment, threats, disinformation, and even physical violence. These aren’t isolated incidents — they are a growing pattern. And they’re not 'just politics'. They are deliberate attempts to silence, intimidate, and push people out of public life, warns the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.

A French banker inside Euroclear, who flew to Russia 155 times for "private" reasons, allegedly tried to connect the company's CEO, Valérie Urbain, with Russian spies and threatened her when she declined, according to an investigation by EUobserver, Humo, De Morgen, and Dossier Center.

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.