The EU Commission wants to create new partnerships with the private sector to plug the gaps left by falling aid budgets. But it still lacks imagination.

EU and Indian leaders signed a landmark trade pact on Tuesday, with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen describing it as “a tale of two giants", at a signing ceremony in New Delhi. 'We have sent a signal to the world that rules-based cooperation still delivers great outcomes,' she added.

The EU’s plan to finally cut off Russian gas imports is facing mounting resistance from within the bloc, as legal threats, long transition periods and enforcement loopholes risk prolonging Europe’s financial ties to Moscow years after the invasion of Ukraine.

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.