This episode explores the hidden costs of fast fashion and Europe’s response to this crisis with EU-wide regulations aimed at promoting circularity, reducing waste, and addressing microplastics.

The European Commission on Wednesday finally unveiled its long-awaited plan to fund Ukraine’s budget and defence needs using profits from frozen Russian assets, aiming to shift the burden from EU taxpayers. But Belgium, home to Euroclear, where most of the assets sit, remains unhappy, saying its concerns were not “heard”.

Slovakia saw a month of political unrest and upheaval in November, which analysts at the Future Slovakia Forum argue was a "crystallization moment" against the government of Robert Fico.

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.