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
Rare Diseases: Celebrating patient-centred innovation Partner Content
26 Feb
Rare Diseases: Celebrating patient-centred innovation
After a challenging year, Rare Disease Day 2021 is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the incredible efforts and achievements of patients, their associations and the scientific community, explains Alexander Natz.
Rare Diseases: How European reference networks have improved the lives of rare disease sufferers immeasurably Partner Content
26 Feb
Rare Diseases: How European reference networks have improved the lives of rare disease sufferers immeasurably
But more can, and must, be done to work together and take ERNs to the next stage, says EURORDIS HealthCare Director Inés Hernando.
Rare Diseases: How the new EU rare disease policy framework provides an opportunity to move from building infrastructures to measuring impact Partner Content
26 Feb
Rare Diseases: How the new EU rare disease policy framework provides an opportunity to move from building infrastructures to measuring impact
‘Rare 2030’ Foresight Study highlights unmet needs and continued obligation to improve outcomes, explains EURORDIS Health Policy Director Anna Kole.
What happened to the UK APAs?
26 Feb
What happened to the UK APAs?
When British MEPs left the European Parliament last January, what happened to their staff , who had dedicated years to learning the Parliament’s quirks and processes, asks Alex White.
Preparing for the next virus Partner Content
26 Feb
Preparing for the next virus
The Consumer Choice Center’s Fred Roeder and Maria Chaplia report on a recent event that looked at why the EU must safeguard intellectual property rights to prepare for future pandemics.
Issue 531 | 1 March 2021
26 Feb
Issue 531 | 1 March 2021
Gracing the cover this issue is Irish EPP deputy Frances Fitzgerald. A staunch defender of women’s rights, Fitzgerald says she believes we are entering a new era of equality, telling deputy editor Lorna Hutchinson that despite recent setbacks, fresh momentum for change is building.
David Sassoli admits EU vaccines strategy marked by ‘mistakes’ and ‘shortcomings’
25 Feb
David Sassoli admits EU vaccines strategy marked by ‘mistakes’ and ‘shortcomings’
The European Parliament President said, “I am not giving away any secrets here as the Commission itself has admitted there have been deficiencies and shortcomings.”
MEPs throw weight behind call to end use of cages for farmed animals in EU
25 Feb
MEPs throw weight behind call to end use of cages for farmed animals in EU
Over 300 million farmed animals are kept in cages each year in the EU.
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
24 Feb
Europe’s vaccine rollout to take centre stage at online summit of EU leaders
Thursday and Friday's European Council meeting will see leaders discuss the EU’s response to the ongoing pandemic and the vaccination rollout strategy.
MEPs write to French and UK governments to safeguard future of Eurostar
24 Feb
MEPs write to French and UK governments to safeguard future of Eurostar
Eurostar runs the London to Paris and London to Brussels rail services that go under the Channel Tunnel.
Rare Diseases: Why medical innovation needs to be one step ahead Partner Content
24 Feb
Rare Diseases: Why medical innovation needs to be one step ahead
Accelerating innovation key to ensuring that no one is left behind in fight against rare diseases, says Nathalie Moll EFPIA Director General.
Rare Diseases: Why the EU must ensure that rare diseases aren’t side-lined during the fight to overcome COVID-19
24 Feb
Rare Diseases: Why the EU must ensure that rare diseases aren’t side-lined during the fight to overcome COVID-19
Maria da Graça Carvalho, Frédérique Ries, David Lega & Tomislav Sokol warn that the Coronavirus crisis has enhanced the vulnerability of people living with a rare disease.
The next step for fully circular plastic packaging Partner Content
23 Feb
The next step for fully circular plastic packaging
Traceability and transparent recycled content certification could help Europe achieve a fully circular economy, writes RecyClass Chairman Paolo Glerean.
Rare Diseases: Challenges are global in nature and therefore need an international response
23 Feb
Rare Diseases: Challenges are global in nature and therefore need an international response
European and international collaboration is indispensable in the battle to improve diagnoses and develop new treatments, writes the Director of the European Commission​’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Irene Norstedt.
MEPs welcome Parliament’s post-Brexit engagement with younger generations of UK citizens
23 Feb
MEPs welcome Parliament’s post-Brexit engagement with younger generations of UK citizens
The European Parliament says it will maintain its presence in the UK, notably through its London office.
Rare Diseases: Securing a better future for rare disease patients across Europe is a shared responsibility
23 Feb
Rare Diseases: Securing a better future for rare disease patients across Europe is a shared responsibility
Meeting unmet needs together is essential, explains Takeda Pharmaceuticals Chief Giles Platford.
Plight of Europe’s Roma further exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic
22 Feb
Plight of Europe’s Roma further exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic
The claim has been made by the Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Programme.
European Rare Diseases Supplement 2021 Partner Content
22 Feb
European Rare Diseases Supplement 2021
A special supplement looking at European and global efforts tackling rare diseases.
European Commission receives mixed reaction to new trade strategy
22 Feb
European Commission receives mixed reaction to new trade strategy
The executive launched a major review process of the EU’s trade policy last year and this concluded with the presentation of a “renewed” policy by its vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis.
EU could follow Australia in addressing Big Tech’s “acute bargaining power imbalances”
19 Feb
EU could follow Australia in addressing Big Tech’s “acute bargaining power imbalances”
European policymakers, such as Digital Services Act rapporteur MEP Alex Agius Saliba, are monitoring the situation in Australia which has seen Facebook suspend access to domestic news publishers.
World’s richest countries accused of hoarding COVID-19 vaccines
19 Feb
World’s richest countries accused of hoarding COVID-19 vaccines
New analysis by global anti-poverty organisation The ONE Campaign claims to show that the world’s richest countries are on course to accumulate more than 1 billion more doses than they would need to fully vaccinate all their own citizens.
Guy Verhofstadt: EU Coronavirus vaccine contracts “very unbalanced”
19 Feb
Guy Verhofstadt: EU Coronavirus vaccine contracts “very unbalanced”
The senior MEP has strongly criticised the EU’s vaccination strategy which has come under increasing fire in recent weeks.
EU national governments need to present a unified front to Russia
18 Feb
EU national governments need to present a unified front to Russia
The naivety shown to Russia in many European capitals and in Brussels at EU level must cease, at least for the time being, argues Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chair Urmas Paet.
Portugal: An innovative and daring presidency
18 Feb
Portugal: An innovative and daring presidency
While the Portuguese presidency is primarily focused on crisis management, the next six months will also offer an opportunity for the country to innovate and dare to dream, writes Paulo Rangel.