In a right-leaning EU, Meloni poised to be bridge to Trump
31 Dec 24 EU Institutions
In a right-leaning EU, Meloni poised to be bridge to Trump
In Trump's second term, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni has a good chance of keeping the EU in his good graces — if she can think beyond her own interests.
A fragmented defence industrial base is holding back EU armament
24 Dec 24 Foreign & Security Policy
A fragmented defence industrial base is holding back EU armament
As long as EU members go their separate ways on military procurement, the bloc will never reach its bolstered defence goals.
Estonia’s move to strip Russians of their right to vote rehashes complicated questions of belonging
11 Dec 24 Member States
Estonia’s move to strip Russians of their right to vote rehashes complicated questions of belonging
The government says Russian and Belarusian citizens are a security risk, which has some of them rethinking their place in Estonian society. 
Von der Leyen's new mandate is one of contradictions and competing interests 
10 Dec 24 EU Institutions
Von der Leyen's new mandate is one of contradictions and competing interests 
The European Commission president's efforts to appeal to the left and far right have her allies calling her savvy. Her critics would call it duplicitous. Getting her agenda through will be a difficult balancing act. 
Q+A: French government collapses at pivotal moment for EU
06 Dec 24 Member States
Q+A: French government collapses at pivotal moment for EU
Michel Barnier is out. Macron is on the hunt for another PM. What's next for the EU's second-biggest member?
The EU wants to boost its sluggish economy. Could Spain offer a roadmap?
02 Dec 24 Member States
The EU wants to boost its sluggish economy. Could Spain offer a roadmap?
Von der Leyen’s new mandate is likely to be consumed by an old problem: Promoting growth and innovation despite resistance to more spending.
Q+A: With historic LGBTQ+ rights case, 'The Commission is asking Hungary: Do you really want to remain part of the club?'
21 Nov 24 EU Institutions
Q+A: With historic LGBTQ+ rights case, 'The Commission is asking Hungary: Do you really want to remain part of the club?'
The case against Hungary's Child Protection Act goes to the heart of EU treaty values. How the ECJ rules may determine Hungary's EU future — and how strictly member state violations are policed.
National interests derail EU train travel's full potential
31 Oct 24 EU Institutions
National interests derail EU train travel's full potential
Ursula von der Leyen wants to make going by rail more attractive. But her solution may be no match for older and more complicated problems.
Gulf to Europe: We’re just not that into EU
15 Oct 24 EU Institutions
Gulf to Europe: We’re just not that into EU
The first-ever EU-GCC summit this week follows decades of missed opportunities. But do the Gulf countries care?
How AI energy consumption challenges EU climate policy
04 Oct 24 EU Institutions
How AI energy consumption challenges EU climate policy
The EU wants to sharpen its AI capabilities and honour its climate commitments. Can it really do both?
How sexually explicit deepfakes undermine democracy and women’s role in the EU
02 Oct 24 EU Institutions
How sexually explicit deepfakes undermine democracy and women’s role in the EU
Female politicians have been disproportionately impacted by AI-generated pornographic content.
Microchip supply chains: The key to the EU's AI competitiveness?
30 Sep 24 EU Institutions
Microchip supply chains: The key to the EU's AI competitiveness?
With semiconductors at the core of AI and consumer tech, Europe faces intense competition for crucial supply chains. But amid US-China tensions, the bloc has a unique opportunity to carve its own path.
What happens to Schengen in an era of renewed border control?
19 Sep 24 EU Institutions
What happens to Schengen in an era of renewed border control?
The visa-free Schengen Area is meant to realise the EU goal of freedom of movement. But new border security measures could jeopardise that project.
Meet the new European Commissioner hopefuls
18 Sep 24 EU Institutions
Meet the new European Commissioner hopefuls
Ursula von der Leyen has presented her second-term priorities and commissioner lineup. Here's a first look at her priorities for her second mandate.
Ireland’s €13 billion windfall: Has the EU’s Apple ruling unleashed legal ‘chaos’?
17 Sep 24 EU Institutions
Ireland’s €13 billion windfall: Has the EU’s Apple ruling unleashed legal ‘chaos’?
‘The judgment totally contradicts precedent,’ says King’s College London’s Stephen Daly in a Q+A that digs into the European Court of Justice’s recent decision ordering the tech giant to pay back taxes.
Unpacking the Draghi report: ‘We need to have more investments, period’
11 Sep 24 EU Institutions
Unpacking the Draghi report: ‘We need to have more investments, period’
Mario Draghi's EU competitiveness report is out, and there is something for everyone to criticise. For one economist, it ‘comes down to productivity.’
EU steps up NATO engagement as it looks to its own defence
09 Sep 24 EU Institutions
EU steps up NATO engagement as it looks to its own defence
After decades sheltering under the US security umbrella, European leaders are beginning to take defence seriously, increasing military spending and strengthening NATO ties.
As NATO countries spend more on defence, Poland leads by example in the EU
04 Sep 24 Foreign & Security Policy
As NATO countries spend more on defence, Poland leads by example in the EU
More than half of NATO allies are set to spend over two per cent of their GDP on defence in 2024 – a record number. Poland is the front-runner and could be the leading voice on defence in Europe.
What did the war in Afghanistan mean for NATO – and the EU?
28 Aug 24 EU Institutions
What did the war in Afghanistan mean for NATO – and the EU?
NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago was chaotic and deadly. How much that changed the alliance remains up for debate.
How a new president changes Iran-EU relations — and not
16 Aug 24 Foreign & Security Policy
How a new president changes Iran-EU relations — and not
Masoud Pezeshkian has promised reform and a possible reset with the West, amid rising Mideast tensions and long list of unresolved diplomatic issues.
NATO at 75: Looking back at the alliance's biggest moments
13 Aug 24 Foreign & Security Policy
NATO at 75: Looking back at the alliance's biggest moments
NATO turned 75 this year. Here are some of the events that impacted the transatlantic military alliance the most.
Greens play the role of ‘kingmaker,’ as Von der Leyen nabs a second term
18 Jul 24 EU Institutions
Greens play the role of ‘kingmaker,’ as Von der Leyen nabs a second term
Strong support from the parliamentary group proved crucial to Von der Leyen’s reelection as European Commission president on Thursday.
Orbán’s Kyiv visit was more style than substance, analysts say
04 Jul 24 EU Institutions
Orbán’s Kyiv visit was more style than substance, analysts say
Viktor Orbán’s visit to Kyiv this week took everyone by surprise, given his repeated efforts to block EU aid to Ukraine. But people on the ground weren’t convinced that he had changed his spots – a caution that analysts say is warranted.
The Parliament's latest print issue is out
27 Jun 24 EU Institutions
The Parliament's latest print issue is out
Our July edition unpacks the results of the EU elections, while looking ahead to key policy priorities for the upcoming mandate.