Liberté, Égalité, Austérité? French budget chaos highlights Macron's loose grip on power
18 Jul Member States

Liberté, Égalité, Austérité? French budget chaos highlights Macron's loose grip on power

France’s 2026 budget aimed to restore fiscal order. Instead, it deepened President Emmanuel Macron’s political crisis and rang alarm bells in Brussels. 
by Eloise Hardy
Five answers about the EU’s bumper budget
17 Jul EU Institutions
Five answers about the EU’s bumper budget
Interview: Keeping healthcare high on the EU agenda
16 Jul EU Institutions
Interview: Keeping healthcare high on the EU agenda
Trump's latest tariff threat raises stakes for EU ahead of August deadline
14 Jul EU Institutions
Trump's latest tariff threat raises stakes for EU ahead of August deadline
EU High Representative in China censorship row
05 May
EU High Representative in China censorship row
Josep Borrell was grilled by MEPs last week over allegations that China had attempted to influence the results of a key disinformation report on the Coronavirus outbreak. 
Coronavirus: EU’s national leaders must seize the moment
05 May
Coronavirus: EU’s national leaders must seize the moment
Can Europe’s political leaders rise to the challenges of a hostile, post COVID-19 world, asks Friends of Europe's Giles Merritt.
 
A European call to action: Time to invest in strengthening EU’s capacity
05 May
A European call to action: Time to invest in strengthening EU’s capacity
Pro-Europeans need to go on the offensive and ensure Euroscepticism doesn’t gain any ground during the current crisis, argue Seb Dance, John Howarth and Mike Buckley.
EU under fire for response to plight of asylum seekers on Greek islands
04 May
EU under fire for response to plight of asylum seekers on Greek islands
A special online meeting of Parliament’s petitions committee heard there had been a “lack of a coherent response” to the “appalling” conditions facing asylum seekers and refugees during the Coronavirus crisis.
Wearing masks could pose health hazard, says head of EU agency
04 May
Wearing masks could pose health hazard, says head of EU agency
Dr Andrea Ammon told a parliamentary committee that wearing a mask could potentially “endanger” health and “give people a false sense of security.”
Coronavirus: Charities welcome European Parliament’s homeless initiative
04 May
Coronavirus: Charities welcome European Parliament’s homeless initiative
A leading homeless advocacy group in Brussels has given a cautious welcome to assorted practical help offered by the European Parliament for people in need during the pandemic.
Issue 514 | 4 May 2020
04 May
Issue 514 | 4 May 2020
European Parliament President David Sassoli graces this issue’s cover, warning that platitudes about European solidarity are not enough; the EU must prove its worth to citizens by acting in unison.
Coronavirus: A global perspective Partner Content
04 May
Coronavirus: A global perspective
From helping to monitor the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to the eventual recovery, Earth observation data plays a crucial role, writes Agnieszka Łukaszczyk, Senior Director of European Affairs at Planet.
EU gives Poland two months to act on judicial curbs
30 Apr
EU gives Poland two months to act on judicial curbs
New law for judges undermines country’s judicial independence, says European Commission.
Coronavirus: World must change its relationship with animals, says leading animal welfare group
29 Apr
Coronavirus: World must change its relationship with animals, says leading animal welfare group
Weak sanitary measures and inadequate regulation on global wildlife trade have played critical role in pandemic argues IFAW’s Staci McLennan.
 
Reducing the burden
29 Apr
Reducing the burden
Transport has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the Coronavirus crisis and doesn’t need the additional burden of new EU regulations, argues Marian-Jean Marinescu.
Restarting Europe’s engine
29 Apr
Restarting Europe’s engine
The EU needs a coordinated relief plan for the transport and tourism sectors affected by the Coronavirus crisis, explains Jan-Christoph Oetjen.
Stay home today, travel tomorrow
29 Apr
Stay home today, travel tomorrow
The Coronavirus crisis has shown us why Europe needs well-structured guidelines and accessible funds for the tourism sector, writes István Ujhelyi.
A SURE thing
28 Apr
A SURE thing
The European Commission’s SURE temporary unemployment support scheme must be implemented urgently and in a similar manner across all EU Member States, argues Yana Toom.
5 Questions with... Ernest Urtasun
28 Apr
5 Questions with... Ernest Urtasun
Ernest Urtasun (ES, Greens/EFA) is a member of Parliament’s FEMM and ECON committees.
Coronavirus: Vulnerable groups at risk of shouldering burden of crisis, warns EU civil society network
28 Apr
Coronavirus: Vulnerable groups at risk of shouldering burden of crisis, warns EU civil society network
Concern that economic and social recovery will put profit before rights and wellbeing of EU citizens, says Piotr Sadowski.
Many EU citizens in UK being denied equal treatment, says citizens’ rights group
28 Apr
Many EU citizens in UK being denied equal treatment, says citizens’ rights group
According to the campaign group, the3million, this means people are not able to get the help that they need, including benefits.
The use of bacteriophages against Listeria as a ‘non-decontaminating’ processing aid
28 Apr
The use of bacteriophages against Listeria as a ‘non-decontaminating’ processing aid
Ongoing EU legislative controversy over the use of bacteriophages is leading to unnecessary Listeria-deaths, argues biochemist Danielle van Dalen.
MEPs sign letter demanding minimum income to help Europe’s poorest survive Coronavirus
27 Apr
MEPs sign letter demanding minimum income to help Europe’s poorest survive Coronavirus
A total of 23 deputies from four different mainstream political groups have co-signed a letter backing the demand by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN).
Short-term work schemes: Putting people first
27 Apr
Short-term work schemes: Putting people first
By helping Member States safeguard jobs and preserve their economic structures, the EU can help prevent the COVID-19 outbreak from causing long-lasting economic and social damage, explains Nicolas Schmit
Coronavirus mobility crisis
27 Apr
Coronavirus mobility crisis
The European Commission will use every available tool to support the transport sector during the crisis, writes Adina-Ioana Valean

Coronavirus crisis offers chance to ‘transform’ society, says EU Commissioner
24 Apr
Coronavirus crisis offers chance to ‘transform’ society, says EU Commissioner
Mariya Gabriel told MEPs that public disaffection was one of the reasons the European Commission is launching a pan-European “hackathon.”
Michel Barnier accuses UK of running down the clock on Brexit talks
24 Apr
Michel Barnier accuses UK of running down the clock on Brexit talks
EU’s chief negotiator says ‘serious difficulties lie ahead’ if UK’ continues to disengage on key issues.
Parliament President hopes EU can emerge from Coronavirus crisis with ‘stronger sense of community’
24 Apr
Parliament President hopes EU can emerge from Coronavirus crisis with ‘stronger sense of community’
David Sassoli said the extent to which the Coronavirus crisis is devastating economies and citizens’ lives is becoming clear.