The EU Commission envisages its rule-of-law report as a buffer against authoritarianism and a tool to strengthen democracy in the EU. In theory, this sounds promising (and desperately needed). But in practice, the commission’s reporting cycle risks becoming ornate window dressing. 

EU and African Union officials have vowed to step up their cooperation on health ahead of a key bilateral summit in November, with vaccine manufacturing set to be a priority for Brussels’ multi-billion euro infrastructure programme. 

The EU Wine Package — a broad reform of the rules for how wine should be produced, marketed, and labelled across the EU — is moving forward with unusual speed and limited transparency.

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.