‘Europe cannot afford to disengage’: Šuica on the EU’s new Mediterranean pact
09 Dec Member States
‘Europe cannot afford to disengage’: Šuica on the EU’s new Mediterranean pact
The European Commission's Dubravka Šuica sat down with The Parliament to discuss how Brussels is trying to rebuild ties in the EU’s “southern neighbourhood,” amid mounting labour shortages and soaring energy costs. 
COP30’s turning point: No roadmap, no US, no easy wins 
08 Dec Energy & Environment
COP30’s turning point: No roadmap, no US, no easy wins 
With the United States absent and emerging powers asserting themselves, Europe faces and a new era when climate progress hinges less on grand agreements and more on coalitions.
Women still work 15 months to earn men’s annual pay, EU index shows
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.
Shein's expansion in France underscores Europe's addiction to cheap Chinese goods
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.

Europe’s defence reliance on the US runs deeper than hardware
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.
Op-ed: The EU must link enlargement to raw materials strategy
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.
Europe’s uneven rush to rearm
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.
Op-ed: Why Europe should build ships with Indo-Pacific allies
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.
The Czech mining town saying ‘no thanks’ to Europe’s critical raw materials push
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.
UN official warns that US-led peace plan in Gaza could imperil the creation of a Palestinian state
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.
EU Mediterranean Commissioner: 'We want to be players and not only payers'
19 Nov Member States
EU Mediterranean Commissioner: 'We want to be players and not only payers'
With Brussels set to host the inaugural Palestine Donor Group on Thursday, Dubravka Šuica is calling for the bloc to play a more strategic role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Could oil-rich Norway save Ukraine?
18 Nov Foreign & Security Policy
Could oil-rich Norway save Ukraine?
Norway could leverage its sovereign wealth fund to back a loan to fund Ukraine’s defence — but Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg isn’t eager to reach into the country’s deep pockets.
Op-ed: Europe’s chance to lead on critical minerals
17 Nov Foreign & Security Policy
Op-ed: Europe’s chance to lead on critical minerals
Critical minerals power Europe’s green transition and defence industries, but export bans and resource nationalism threaten supply chains. The EU should lead an International Materials Agency to ensure transparency and cooperation.
Op-ed: Why the Green Deal should be seen as a growth plan
14 Nov Energy & Environment
Op-ed: Why the Green Deal should be seen as a growth plan
As climate politics harden, Europe risks forgetting what the Green Deal was built to be: a growth plan for a fairer, more resilient and sovereign economy — not an environmental burden.
How neutral can Switzerland remain?
13 Nov EU Institutions
How neutral can Switzerland remain?
Once a source of strength, neutrality is now dividing the Swiss — between those seeking deeper ties with the EU and those determined to lock neutrality into the constitution.
How Orbán holds EU enlargement hostage
12 Nov Member States
How Orbán holds EU enlargement hostage
As Brussels pushes to bring the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova into the fold, Viktor Orbán has turned the EU’s unanimity rule into a tool of leverage — and Europe’s credibility is paying the price.
Op-ed: Europe must be a climate policy leader for the sake of its society
10 Nov EU Institutions
Op-ed: Europe must be a climate policy leader for the sake of its society
Political pressure and shifting priorities risk taking away from Europe’s focus on climate policy, but at a time of global irresponsibility it must remain strong.
How Ukraine is losing the Donbas
07 Nov Foreign & Security Policy
How Ukraine is losing the Donbas
After years of fierce resistance, Ukraine’s Donbas region is falling through attrition. Russia’s relentless advance has turned the country’s industrial heart into a symbol of exhaustion and loss.
EU defence commissioner calls for ‘rationality to prevail’ in frozen asset dispute
06 Nov Member States
EU defence commissioner calls for ‘rationality to prevail’ in frozen asset dispute
In an exclusive interview, the European Commission's Andrius Kubilius said he still hopes EU member states can agree to tap frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine, rather than handing the bill to European taxpayers.
Op-ed: To be an AI continent, Europe needs innovation and simplification
04 Nov EU Institutions
Op-ed: To be an AI continent, Europe needs innovation and simplification
The EU’s digital legislation keeps its citizens and businesses safe, but it requires revision if the bloc truly wants to become a digital innovator.
Inside Sweden’s gang war: How digital platforms are fuelling youth violence
04 Nov Member States
Inside Sweden’s gang war: How digital platforms are fuelling youth violence
Encrypted apps and social media have turned Sweden’s gang war into a digital enterprise — drawing children into contract killings and forcing Europe to confront how far it can go in policing technology without breaching privacy rights.
How Europe became 'collateral damage' in the US-China trade war
03 Nov EU Institutions
How Europe became 'collateral damage' in the US-China trade war
Beijing's decision earlier this year to weaponise rare earths in its trade dispute with Washington has made clear how dependent Europe's economy is on the two superpowers.
The EU’s funding plans for Kyiv hit a Belgian wall — now what?
31 Oct Foreign & Security Policy
The EU’s funding plans for Kyiv hit a Belgian wall — now what?
With Belgium blocking the use of frozen Russian assets, the European Commission is floating joint EU debt. But the idea may be more leverage than lifeline.
The Netherlands turns the page on far-right rule
30 Oct Member States
The Netherlands turns the page on far-right rule
In an election dominated by migration and housing, Rob Jetten’s centrist liberals emerged victorious, signalling Dutch fatigue with Geert Wilders’ hardline approach.