Coronavirus
Far right using pandemic to win friends in Germany
Far-right zealots in Germany are using the pandemic to "build bridges" with mainstream corona-deniers, in a sign of the political damage of Covid-19 in Europe.
News in Brief
- Study: Trust in EU up, but declines in governments
- Swiss voters reject anti-EU proposal in referendum
- Belarus protests continue despite arrests
- Mini-EU theme park to close in Brussels
- Macron increases pressure on Lebanon's politicians
- Greece accused of refugee push-backs
- Polish ruling coalition signs new deal
- EU scorns Lukashenko's ceremony
Opinion
Why so few women in EU missions?
Angela Merkel is only the seventh woman to chair the Council of the European Union's meetings. And in 2020 there is no woman leading any of the current 11 European civilian missions (let alone the six military operations).
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.
Podcast
Race and the von der Leyen Commission
With no non-white commissioners, just how well-equipped is the EU Commission to tackle race?
Opinion
How live music venues are emerging from Covid-19 crisis
It is becoming clearer that live venues are going to be the last ones to emerge from this crisis. So what now?
Black MEP: 'I have been a victim of police violence'
MEPs urged an end to structural racism and discrimination in Europe and the US, following the brutal killing of black American George Floyd by US police. Socialists and Green MEPs stressed the need to unblock the anti-discrimination directive.
Opinion
Why no EU progress on Black Lives Matter?
Months after Black Lives Matter erupted, for many EU decision-makers the problems of racism in policing and criminal legal systems - the issues that sparked the George Floyd protests - are still 'over there', across the Atlantic.
Coronavirus
Anti-mask protesters pose challenge for EU authorities
Recent weeks have seen a sudden flare-up in anti-mask protests and coronavirus-denial - posing questions on how to regulate social media.
Coronavirus
EU 'failed' to safeguard civic freedoms during pandemic
A new report details how the Covid-19 pandemic triggered bans on protests and demonstrations, censorship of free speech, and the weakening of democratic oversight on policy making.
Visual Data
Coronavirus: Will a second wave divide Europe again?
Experts are now warning of the "very serious" surge in Covid-19 cases in Europe - where new weekly cases exceede those reported in March. The worst-hit countries are Spain and France - while Italy is resisting the much-feared second wave.
Exclusive
'Big Three' EP groups nominate homophobe for Sakharov prize
The centre-right EPP, centre-left S&D, and liberal Renew Europe have all nominated a homophobe for the Sakharov prize - the prestigious annual prize handed out by the European Parliament to people who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Coronavirus
EU seals new Covid-19 deal amid global distribution fears
The European Commission sealed a second Covid-19 vaccine deal, amid fears over the fair distribution of supplies worldwide. So far Brussels has secured, or is negotiating, a stock of nearly two billion doses.
MEPs call for first-ever EU law on Romani inclusion
The European Parliament has adopted a report calling on the European Commission to propose the first-ever EU law to boost the inclusion of Romani people.
EU to have first-ever anti-racism coordinator
The European Commission is set to unveil an action plan to fight racism - which will address gaps in existing legislation and extend the list of EU crimes to all forms of hate crime and hate 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'.
Norway and Finland try to aid free press in Russia
The Norwegian foreign ministry has voiced support for a small news agency trying to get back online in Russia after a long ban.
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.
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Latest News
- Caucasus warfare prompts EU alarm
- Summit reloaded and last Brexit round This WEEK
- EU denies 'clandestine' mission on Venezuela election date
- Between the lines, Europe's new Moria unfolds
- Now's the time to give QMV a chance in EU foreign policy
- European hiccups on the way to West Africa
- Berlin repeats support for EU human rights sanctions
- China's carbon pledge at UN sends 'clear message' to US
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.
Opinion
How Big Tobacco bypasses EU lobbying rules
It's time for the EU Commission to get its house in order and close the doors to tobacco lobby influence once and for all.
Coronavirus
How EU aims - hopefully - to secure vaccine by end of 2020
The European Commission hopes to have 30m doses of AstraZeneca's potential coronavirus vaccine before the end of this year, to be distributed on a population-based pro-rata basis among the 27 EU countries - until the 300m doses negotiated arrive.
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.
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.
Opinion
Teleworking and the case for a new EU labour contract
For many workers, jobs have been decoupled from location. Now, the European Union must recognise that fact and adjust to it by adopting new rules.
Coronavirus
EU secures 300m of potential vaccines, as Covid-19 cases rise
The European Commission has secured at least 300 million doses of AstraZeneca's potential Covid-19 vaccine, as member states seem to be facing the much-feared second wave of the pandemic.
Coronavirus
EU virus-alert agency says new restrictions needed
The Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is recommending EU states imposes new restrictions to stem the transmission of Covid-19.
Rainbow flag protesters charged by Polish police
LGBTI activists are facing fines or prison for hanging rainbow flags on statues in Poland, amid hardening feelings on EU values.
Polish party roars back at EU on LGBTI fines
EU protection of LGBTI people in Poland has enraged members of the ruling elite, who hit back with apocalyptic rhetoric.
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".
Coronavirus
EU secures remdesivir supplies for 30,000 patients
The European Commission signed this week a €63m contract with the US-based biopharmaceutical company Gilead to secure batches of remdesivir for 30,000 patients with "severe" Covid-19 symptoms - after the US left Europe and most of the world without supplies.
Von der Leyen keen to hire more black EU officials
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to hire more people from racial minorities after meeting anti-racist MEPs on Tuesday
Turkey's new social media bill under immediate fire
According to a spokesperson for the UN high commissioner for human rights, the draft law "would give the state powerful tools for asserting even more control over the media landscape".
Opinion
Migrant healthcare must not be forgotten during Covid-19
Previous claims that migrants bring communicable diseases to host countries have been debunked by a review of the existing evidence carried out earlier this year. In fact, migrants are currently more at risk of contracting Covid-19 from Europeans.
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