The EU Commission has closed its second call for projects aimed at diversifying and expanding the bloc's access to critical raw material — receiving more than 160 applications for strategic projects.

Belgium voiced fears that the US was becoming a "monster," but most EU leaders were less confrontational at a summit in Switzerland on Tuesday. In Strasbourg, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas told MEPs that the bloc has "no interest in picking a fight," but that any European response should be "realistic."

The European Commission's updated Anti-Racism Strategy has drawn sharp criticism from civil society, who say it failed to target anti-immigrant rhetoric.

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.