Sánchez walks a tightrope as Spain commits to NATO target
08 May Foreign & Security Policy

Sánchez walks a tightrope as Spain commits to NATO target

With Spain pledging to spend 2% of its GDP on defence, PM Pedro Sánchez faces scepticism as he stretches the definition of military spending. Around Europe, not everyone is impressed.
by Arno Van Rensbergen
Op-ed: Europe can defend its liberal democracy if it reclaims common ground
09 May Foreign & Security Policy
Op-ed: Europe can defend its liberal democracy if it reclaims common ground
Russian gas phaseout: Why going cold turkey is easier said than done
07 May EU Institutions
Russian gas phaseout: Why going cold turkey is easier said than done
Op-ed: EU's Russian speakers are an opportunity, not a risk
07 May Culture & Arts
Op-ed: EU's Russian speakers are an opportunity, not a risk
Timothy Kirkhope awarded seat in UK's House of Lords
05 Aug
Timothy Kirkhope awarded seat in UK's House of Lords
Senior UK Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope has been awarded a peerage in David Cameron's resignation honours list.
Polls paint mixed picture of public opinion on Brexit impact
04 Aug
Polls paint mixed picture of public opinion on Brexit impact
A spate of new opinion polls paint a mixed picture about current public perception on the impact of the UK's decision to leave the EU.
MEPs voice solidarity with Cuban human rights activist on hunger strike
04 Aug
MEPs voice solidarity with Cuban human rights activist on hunger strike
MEPs have voiced "concern and solidarity" with Cuban human rights activist Guillermo Fariñas, who is on hunger strike.
Senior MEPs welcome Julian King appointment
04 Aug
Senior MEPs welcome Julian King appointment
Senior MEPs have welcomed the decision to allocate a key security role to the UK's new European Commissioner.
Gianni Pittella: Donald Trump is a 'virus'
04 Aug
Gianni Pittella: Donald Trump is a 'virus'
French President François Hollande has condemned the "excesses" of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as "sickening."
Turkey: PES expresses 'deep concerns' over government reprisals
04 Aug
Turkey: PES expresses 'deep concerns' over government reprisals
The Party of European Socialists has expressed its "concerns" about current human rights in Turkey in the wake of the recent attempted coup in the country.
LuxLeaks: Both sides launch appeal against verdict
03 Aug
LuxLeaks: Both sides launch appeal against verdict
Both sides in the Luxleaks tax scandal are now appealing against the verdict of a Luxembourg court, it has emerged.
Ukip announces party leadership hopefuls
03 Aug
Ukip announces party leadership hopefuls
The UK Independence Party has announced its list of candidates to succeed Nigel Farage as party leader.
Brexit triggers row over British EU civil servants' pensions
03 Aug
Brexit triggers row over British EU civil servants' pensions
Battle lines are being drawn for a potentially bitter dispute over liability for paying pensions owed to thousands of British EU civil servants when the UK finally leaves the EU.
Without crackdown on ivory trade, elephants could be extinct within 25 years, EU warned
03 Aug
Without crackdown on ivory trade, elephants could be extinct within 25 years, EU warned
Brussels has made a robust defence of its record after nearly 30 African states said they were "appalled" by its decision to oppose a comprehensive global ban in the trade in illegal ivory.
UK House of Lords considering blocking Brexit
02 Aug
UK House of Lords considering blocking Brexit
A cross party coalition in the UK House of Lords is considering blocking the triggering of article 50, the process for leaving the EU.
New UK Commissioner to take on security portfolio
02 Aug
New UK Commissioner to take on security portfolio
The Commission has announced that it has allocated the new security union portfolio to Sir Julian King, the UK's candidate for its last ever European Commissioner.
Privacy shield 'citizens' guide' published
01 Aug
Privacy shield 'citizens' guide' published
The European Commission has published a guide for citizens explaining how individuals' data protection rights are guaranteed under the EU-US 'privacy shield'.
Time for EU to deliver on promises to end human trafficking, says EESC
01 Aug
Time for EU to deliver on promises to end human trafficking, says EESC
The EU has been urged to take "strong action" against human trafficking, in particular to protect children, young people, women and vulnerable people. 
Thai military junta facing 'crisis of legitimacy'
01 Aug
Thai military junta facing 'crisis of legitimacy'
Ahead of a much awaited referendum this weekend, the Thai military junta in Thailand is facing a "crisis of legitimacy" and lack of public confidence among its citizens.
Movers and Shakers | 1 August 2016
01 Aug
Movers and Shakers | 1 August 2016
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our movers and shakers column. on 1 August 2016
Panama Papers: EU Parliament to ask Mossack Fonseca representatives to testify
01 Aug
Panama Papers: EU Parliament to ask Mossack Fonseca representatives to testify
Controversial law firm Mossack Fonseca and representatives of the Panama government will be asked to testify in a newly created parliamentary committee on the Panama Papers affair.
EU Parliament urged to investigate possible conflict of interest case involving MEP
29 Jul
EU Parliament urged to investigate possible conflict of interest case involving MEP
Transparency campaigners have urged the European Parliament to open an investigation into a possible conflict of interest case involving German MEP Angelika Niebler.
MEPs call on Juncker to withhold Barroso's pension following Goldman Sachs appointment
28 Jul
MEPs call on Juncker to withhold Barroso's pension following Goldman Sachs appointment
The European Commission has been urged to withhold the EU pension of its former President José Manuel Barroso.
Digital single market: No extra tax burden for SMEs, insists Commission
28 Jul
Digital single market: No extra tax burden for SMEs, insists Commission
Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip insists that EU plans to create a digital single market will not impose additional tax burdens on small businesses.
Former MEP brands failed criminal prosecution a 'vanity case'
28 Jul
Former MEP brands failed criminal prosecution a 'vanity case'
Former UK Independence Party MEP Nikki Sinclaire says that a failed criminal prosecution against her cost €1.78m - over an expenses claim of just €3800.
UK MEPs determined to fend off 'vindictive' attempts to oust them from influential EU Parliament posts
27 Jul
UK MEPs determined to fend off 'vindictive' attempts to oust them from influential EU Parliament posts
British MEPs are reportedly determined to head off any "vindictive" attempts to oust them from influential positions on parliamentary committees.
EU's Middle East priority should be stability, says veteran Israeli journalist
27 Jul
EU's Middle East priority should be stability, says veteran Israeli journalist
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin's recent series of meetings with EU leaders could lay the groundwork for a future EU-Israel summit, according to veteran journalist Ron Ben-Yishai.
Michel Barnier appointed EU chief negotiator on Brexit
27 Jul
Michel Barnier appointed EU chief negotiator on Brexit
Former European Commissioner to lead article 50 negotiations.