Germany led the way on protection of human rights this year, but Hungary, Italy, and Poland "undermined the EU's moral standing" on the world stage, a leading NGO said.

The May 2019 European parliament elections will take place in a context which make a very promising ground for protest votes and extreme views, aided by bots and algorithms.

Three EU leaders and the president of the ECB travelled to Strasbourg this week to debate with MEPs, but attendance was poor.

EU countries have signalled they might accept a delay to Brexit as British prime minister Theresa May began cross-party talks on how to avoid a no-deal outcome.

A large majority rejected an amendment which would have called on the ECB to "put an end to the president's membership of the G30".

A trade deal with Morocco was endorsed by the European Parliament but is likely to end up challenged at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.