Europe at odds with US over Ukraine — and itself
18 Feb Foreign & Security Policy
Europe at odds with US over Ukraine — and itself
First a call, now a meeting. The Trump administration is pushing ahead on negotiations with Russia over Ukraine. The EU is trying to find its way to the table.
How bureaucracy and underfunding undermine EU military mobility
17 Feb Foreign & Security Policy
How bureaucracy and underfunding undermine EU military mobility
An internal audit finds serious shortcomings in the bloc's efforts to improve military mobility. Defence experts warn that the slow response time could undermine readiness and deterrence.
Europe’s humiliation: How Trump and Hegseth caught NATO off guard
14 Feb Foreign & Security Policy
Europe’s humiliation: How Trump and Hegseth caught NATO off guard
NATO-Europe scrambled this week to respond to Trump's effort to cut it out of talks with Russia's Putin. Ukraine now looks vulnerable to US interests in ending the war.
After months of stalemate, Belgium has a government
04 Feb EU Institutions
After months of stalemate, Belgium has a government
Bart De Wever’s rise to Belgian prime minister ends months of tough coalition negotiation. The Flemish nationalist with a Eurosceptic past now leads a pro-European government.
Trump’s divide-and-conquer tactics overshadow EU leaders’ retreat
04 Feb EU Institutions
Trump’s divide-and-conquer tactics overshadow EU leaders’ retreat
Eastern European leaders recoiled at French insistence that EU military funds should be spent on European equipment, while the UK prime minister demurred from showing full-throated support for NATO ally Denmark.
UK-EU 'reset’ starts — and maybe ends — with defence
03 Feb Foreign & Security Policy
UK-EU 'reset’ starts — and maybe ends — with defence
For Europeans on both sides of the English Channel, the Russian threat feels closer and the US presence further away. The post-Brexit urgency to cooperate on defence could lead to better EU-UK relations.
Romanian officials quick to criticise far-right leader's claim to Ukrainian territory
31 Jan Foreign & Security Policy
Romanian officials quick to criticise far-right leader's claim to Ukrainian territory
Calin Georgescu called Ukraine an ‘invented state,’ suggesting Romania should take back ethnic Romanian areas. The rhetoric echoes Russia’s revisionist rationale for its full-scale invasion.
Time flies: Looking back at five years since Brexit
29 Jan Foreign & Security Policy
Time flies: Looking back at five years since Brexit
How did we get here? February marks five years since Brexit became official. Here are some key developments since the EU-UK breakup.
Global attention shines spotlight on Greenland’s independence movement
28 Jan Foreign & Security Policy
Global attention shines spotlight on Greenland’s independence movement
The Danish prime minister has called for 'European unity' following renewed calls by Donald Trump to acquire the territory.
Make or break moment for Belgian government negotiations
24 Jan EU Institutions
Make or break moment for Belgian government negotiations
Months-long talks to form Belgium’s federal government hinge on hot-button issues. Despite EU pressure to get it done, making a 31 January deadline is hardly assured.
EU reckons with another Trump presidency
20 Jan EU Institutions
EU reckons with another Trump presidency
Is the EU as 'Trump proof' as its leaders have said?
End of Russian gas moves Moldova closer to EU
20 Jan EU Institutions
End of Russian gas moves Moldova closer to EU
As Moscow ends gas flows through Ukraine, Moldova is cut off. But the worst effects are being felt by its pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria.
Coming for Europe: What Musk’s growing political influence means for the EU
10 Jan Foreign & Security Policy
Coming for Europe: What Musk’s growing political influence means for the EU
Operating in a grey zone between public and private figure, Trump’s sidekick Elon Musk can largely say what he wants – even as he complains about censorship. The EU sees a growing danger.
In a right-leaning EU, Meloni poised to be bridge to Trump
31 Dec 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.
Georgian protesters stand up to increasingly authoritarian crackdown
27 Dec Foreign & Security Policy
Georgian protesters stand up to increasingly authoritarian crackdown
As the contested government of the Georgian Dream party digs in against protesters, the spiral of violence is growing.
A fragmented defence industrial base is holding back EU armament
24 Dec 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.
After Assad fall, EU finds itself in awkward position
20 Dec Foreign & Security Policy
After Assad fall, EU finds itself in awkward position
EU members have been quick to announce a freezing of asylum applications from Syria, but sending Syrians home will be easier said than done.
Georgia's crisis deepens as presidential power in dispute
18 Dec Foreign & Security Policy
Georgia's crisis deepens as presidential power in dispute
Georgian Dream lawmakers have elected hardliner ally Mikheil Kavelashvili president, as the party expands its control of the country. The pro-European incumbent, however, is refusing to leave the office.
Romania's democracy under pressure after court annuls vote
12 Dec Foreign & Security Policy
Romania's democracy under pressure after court annuls vote
In annulling the surprise win of a pro-Russian ultranationalist, a top Romanian court has either protected democracy or tried to sideline it. The uncertainty has shaken the confidence of voters already feeling economic hardship.
Crisis causes EU power balance to tilt towards the Commission, but can they cling on?
28 Nov EU Institutions
Crisis causes EU power balance to tilt towards the Commission, but can they cling on?
Von der Leyen’s leadership reshaped the European Commission during an era of pandemic, war, and energy instability, but at what cost to democratic balance and the role of the European Parliament?
1,000 days of war later, EU still divided over Ukraine's future
20 Nov Foreign & Security Policy
1,000 days of war later, EU still divided over Ukraine's future
Trump's re-election has accelerated talk about ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the negotiating table. The EU's position is anything but unified.
It’s official: EU deforestation law gets put on backburner
15 Nov EU Institutions
It’s official: EU deforestation law gets put on backburner
The European Parliament has voted to amend and postpone the EU deforestation law that was about to come into force. Critics say the move hollows out an already weakened law.
This year’s ‘finance COP’ in Baku may be a day late and a dollar short
08 Nov Energy & Environment
This year’s ‘finance COP’ in Baku may be a day late and a dollar short
Policymakers head to Azerbaijan for COP29 to agree on a new climate finance plan. The EU hopes to be a powerful voice at the negotiating table.
Georgia's contested election puts EU dreams further out of reach
04 Nov Foreign & Security Policy
Georgia's contested election puts EU dreams further out of reach
Georgia's public is pro-EU, but Russia is right next door. That puts the country's ruling party in a bind.