A plenary debate in Strasbourg on gender equality showed just how active and outspoken rightwing MEPs have become. Chair of the women's rights and gender equality committee, MEP Lina Gálvez Muñoz, is concerned about the power they now have.

Privately, most international observers are more grim about Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan — and for all their hope, they still expect the plan to collapse.  But the recent ceasefire itself has demonstrated that peace plans driven by external powers can be effective when backed by carrots and sticks.

Some EU embassies are instantly briefing hundreds of reporters 24/7 via WhatsApp groups, in a love-hate relationship with digital diplomacy.

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.