Commission says it is not convinced by Warsaw's defence of a new law on Poland's Supreme Court, which forces the early retirement of some 27 judges.

The relatively-new Spitzenkandidat process means the commission will be led by a political candidate, and thus it instantly becomes more political. But is that the desired effect?

The US oil and gas giant hosted Cypriot MEPs, Cyprus' highest EU diplomat and EU commissioner Christos Stylianides at a dinner in a private club in Brussels.

It seems as if the EU and some member states are trying to 'sell' European external action in Italy, Austria, Poland and Hungary as a key to solving internal issues – and thus pulling these missions into today's populist debates.

EUobserver has asked for any minutes relating to 14 meetings with lobbyists held by commissioners Guenther Oettinger and Miguel Arias Canete. None exist.

Most UK voters in a YouGov survey said they would remain part of the European Union should a second referendum be held now. The poll follows reports the EU is willing to make a concession on British exit demands.