Opinion
Could we found a new EU without Hungary and Poland?
Mark Rutte's comment is the first time the leader of an EU country has publicly considered the possibility of the EU integration project continuing without recalcitrant states.
News in Brief
- Italy to cut number of MPs by one third
- World's richest 1% 'fuelling climate crisis'
- Polish government at risk over animal-rights law
- UK 'could see 50,000 new corona cases a day'
- EU cuts carbon market compensation for industry
- Russia and US could scrap another nuclear arms treaty
- Turkish president sues Greek newspaper over headline
- Hungarian ministry wanted list of journalists' foreign trips
Merkel warns of gaps as Germany takes EU helm
Germany took over the EU's rotating presidency with chancellor Angela Merkel pushing for an agreement on the coronavirus rescue package and EU budget.
Opinion
On toppling statues
The internationally-acclaimed author of King Leopold's Ghost, Adam Hochschild, writes on Belgium's problems with statues, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Exclusive
Azerbaijan ambassador to EU shared anti-George Floyd post
Azerbaijan ambassador to EU Fuad Isgandarov shared a virulent rant against George Floyd. Asked why, Isgandarov told this website he doesn't recall the message and forgot how he had responded to it.
France wants rule-of-law sanctions on recovery budget
France's Europe minister Clément Beaune tells the Financial Times that rule of law and fundamental rights cannot be compromised under the new €750bn EU budget recovery fund.
Six 'LGBTI-free' Polish cities left out of EU funding
Six Polish cities that declared themselves as "LGBTI-free zones" have been denied funding under the EU's Town Twinning programme for failing to meet the standards of "equal access and non-discrimination".
EUobserved
Von der Leyen's State of Union through a speechwriter's eyes
How convincing was Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union of Europe address? A speechwriter's analysis on the length - and the messages - of the speech.
MEPs call on capitals to act on Poland's breaches
A damning report on the deterioration of rule of law and democracy in Poland is to be adopted by MEPs on Thursday, while Warsaw's supporters cry 'double standards'.
Opinion
Why am I not seeing this ad?
The micro-targeting of narrow, homogenous groups of people with very specific messages that exploit their vulnerabilities, makes it easier than ever to distort political debate, pushing people deeper into their echo chambers and stimulating single-issue voting.
Hungary heads EU anti-fraud investigation list - again
New fraudster schemes in Europe include EU funds for environmental or sustainability projects and using the procurement and tendering process to get access to EU funds for illegal purposes.
Analysis
19 years after 9/11: did Osama bin Laden achieve his goal?
The consequence of the attacks of 9/11 was not a more united, but a more divided West. Today, divisive and populist leaders are gaining ground. But this year, the tide can be turned.
Parliament wants funding and legal pledges in budget talks
Additional 'top-ups' requested by the parliament could amoung to €110bn, an EU source estimated, while member states are giving very limited room for manoeuvre in budget talks with the parliament.
Alarm raised on possible Supreme Court purge in Poland
Poland is preparing to throw out the last independent judges from its Supreme Court, a Polish judges' association fears.
Irish MEP picked as new finance commissioner
Mairead McGuinness's nomination will have to be signed off by the European Parliament, where the Irish MEP is a well-respected first vice-president of the assembly.
Column
The Grand Vote Theft - or why the East is so unstable
Russian government propaganda likes to pretend the post-Soviet space is a harbour of stability compared to the tumultuous politics of central and western Europe. The facts show the opposite.
Opinion
Five Istanbul Convention myths - and why Poland is wrong
In recent weeks, we have seen worrying news that Poland is now planning to withdraw from the Convention. There is an ongoing debate in Turkey which might lead to withdrawal. This development puts women's safety at high risk.
MEPs fearful of 'red zone' Strasbourg plenary
Parliament president David Sassoli is to make the final decision on travelling to Strasbourg ahead of the leadership and parliamentary group chairs meeting on Thursday.
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Latest News
- Borrell gives EU four weeks to save foreign policy
- Belarus opposition leader urges EU to be 'braver'
- Kyrgyzstan cannot paper over death of Azimjon Askarov
- 'Big Three' EP groups nominate homophobe for Sakharov prize
- Cyprus leaves EU ministers red-faced on Belarus
- EU seals new Covid-19 deal amid global distribution fears
- German court hears harrowing testimony of Syria torture
- Turkey, Belarus and migration in the EU spotlight This WEEK
Feature
Beyond Salvini: the rise of Eurosceptic Giorgia Meloni
There is only one woman among Italy's most-powerful politicians: Giorgia Meloni, 43, president of Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), an ultra-conservative party allied with Matteo Salvini's League and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Forward Italy).
Opinion
Portugal sees spate of racist street attacks
In the last months, there has been a very concerning rise of racist attacks of the far-right in Portugal.
Coronavirus
EU unveils Covid-19 'colour-code' travel zones
The European Commission has unveiled recommendations, including common criteria for member states on coronavirus epidemiological risks and harmonised 'colour-coding' of risk areas.
Protestors blame provocateurs, as Bulgaria demos turn violent
Protesters outside the parliament building in the capital Sofia clashed with police last week, in one of the most violent episodes of the two-month long anti-corruption demonstrations taking place across Bulgaria.
Coronavirus
MEPs worry over lack of common Covid-19 criteria
MEPs have raised concerns about lack of common Covid 19-related criteria among member states, while the EU virus-alert agency said priority should be given to harmonisation of testing.
Coronavirus
Commission: Hungary barring some EU citizens is illegal
The EU Commission told Hungary that its move to admit visitors from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia but not from other EU member states is discrimination and was not in line with EU rules.
Flemish prime minister under fire over police killing
Flemish prime minister Jan Jambon appeared before a Belgian parliamentary committee to explain the arrest and death of Slovak citizen Jozef Chovanec in 2018.
Coronavirus
EU warning after Hungary unilaterally shuts borders
The European Commission warned closing borders was not an "efficient" measure to fight the coronavirus pandemic, after Hungary decided unilaterally to shut down its borders to all foreigners. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries are considering different approaches.
EU trade chief Phil Hogan resigns in 'GolfGate' scandal
EU trade commissioner resigned after Irish government accused him of undermining "the whole approach to public health in Ireland" by flouting anti-coronavirus rules.
Erdoğan on Mediterranean dispute: 'We will not compromise'
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is not giving up on Turkish claims in the eastern Mediterranean, he said in a fiery speech.
Turkey and Greece to hold rival military exercises near Crete
Turkey and Greece have announced they will both hold military exercises in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, increasing tension between Nato allies.
EU trade chief ignores call to resign in corona-fiasco
EU trade chief Phil Hogan has ignored his own government's appeal to resign for flouting anti-coronavirus rules.
Merkel and Macron offer Belarus mediation, help for Navalny
French president Emmanuel Macron and Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel offered EU mediation to Belarus, while also offered health care and asylum to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny who is suspected of being poisioned.
Michel: Special EU summit on Turkey in September
All attention was on Belarus at Wednesday's video-summit, but EU leaders decided to hold special talks on the maritime dispute between Greece and Turkey next month.
EU leaders urge Putin to push for Belarus dialogue
European Council president Charles Michel, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel had each one of them a call with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (18 August) on the situation in Belarus, calling for dialogue.
Opinion
How Covid-19 is changing the European Union
The past six months of Covid-19 response have changed the EU, but has it learnt the lessons for the crises left to come - migration, conflict, and a second wave?
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