European Union news, politics and policy from Brussels

11 Dec EU Institutions

The EU's X fine shows its tech rules still have teeth

As Elon Musk and the US government rail against the €120 million penalty, EU officials say the move proves Europe is still willing to deploy one of its last major sources of leverage over American tech giants.

by Peder Schaefer

09 Dec Member States

‘Europe cannot afford to disengage’: Šuica on the EU’s new Mediterranean pact

10 Dec Member States

Op-ed: Europe must arm for reality

08 Dec Energy & Environment

COP30’s turning point: No roadmap, no US, no easy wins

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05 Dec EU Institutions

Women still work 15 months to earn men’s annual pay, EU index shows

The 2025 Gender Equality Index highlights slow, uneven progress across member states, prompting calls for deeper reforms and stronger engagement of men and boys in equality policies.

04 Dec Member States

Shein's expansion in France underscores Europe's addiction to cheap Chinese goods

With the Chinese fast-fashion firm setting up shop in one of Paris’s landmark department stores, the EU is wrestling with how to protect its ailing textile industry.

02 Dec Foreign & Security Policy

Europe’s defence reliance on the US runs deeper than hardware

Europe’s surge in defence spending, layered on to an American-centric security architecture, is deepening its dependence on Washington — just as the continent seeks greater strategic autonomy.

Why Europe’s digital sovereignty depends on edge AI

Partner Content

11 Dec Member States

Why Europe’s digital sovereignty depends on edge AI

Europe’s AI edge will be won on devices, not slogans. If policymakers back hybrid setups that keep data local and give developers usable tools, AI will connect cloud with devices that reflect European values

01 Dec Member States

Op-ed: The EU must link enlargement to raw materials strategy

The EU’s green and industrial transition depends on secure supplies of critical minerals. The Western Balkans need investment, trust, and value-chain integration. Aligning enlargement with raw materials policy is no longer optional — it’s strategic.

28 Nov Member States

Europe’s uneven rush to rearm

While front-line states have embraced rapid militarisation, major economies like Spain and Italy are still falling short — risking the creation of a two-tier security model.

26 Nov Foreign & Security Policy

Op-ed: Why Europe should build ships with Indo-Pacific allies

As Washington deepens industrial ties with Japan, South Korea and Australia, Europe risks being left out unless it partners with its Asian allies.

25 Nov Member States

The Czech mining town saying ‘no thanks’ to Europe’s critical raw materials push

As Brussels races to secure raw materials and cut its reliance on China, it's facing resistance from a Czech region that's thought to hold a significant lithium deposit.

Inside the Information War: Journalism on Europe’s Frontline

Partner Content

01 Dec

Inside the Information War: Journalism on Europe’s Frontline

In the latest episode of the Eastern Frontline Podcast, host MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Petras Auštrevičius are joined by Sarah Wheaton, Chief Policy Correspondent at Politico Europe, to explore the role of journalism in times of crisis

05 Dec Member States

The Parliament's December print edition is out now

This month's edition explores the EU's quest for lithium to power its defence build-up and energy transition; the bloc's addiction to cheap Chinese goods, despite its re-industrialisation push; how Hungary is thwarting the bloc's enlargement agenda; and much more.

03 Dec Foreign & Security Policy

Policy report: Defending Europe

Europe’s defence is under growing strain as Russian aggression intensifies and US reliability wavers, exposing the EU’s heavy dependence on external security guarantees. Record spending has not overcome fragmented procurement, depleted stockpiles, or slow support for Ukraine, while divisions persist over how fast — and how far — Europe should rearm and integrate.

21 Nov EU Institutions

UN official warns that US-led peace plan in Gaza could imperil the creation of a Palestinian state

The Palestinian Authority should be 'at the centre of the conversation' concerning any plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, a UNRWA official said in an interview.