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
The Maghreb: A strategically important region
18 Feb
The Maghreb: A strategically important region
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia are geographically strategic countries for Europe, and continuing to work closely with them is key, writes Adriana Maldonado López.
Ursula von der Leyen rules out Scottish and Welsh inclusion in EU’s Erasmus programme
17 Feb
Ursula von der Leyen rules out Scottish and Welsh inclusion in EU’s Erasmus programme
European Commission president tells MEPs that only possibility for constituent UK nations to participate in flagship student exchange scheme is ‘as a whole, or not at all’.
Georgia’s democratic transition offers hope for the Black Sea country’s future
17 Feb
Georgia’s democratic transition offers hope for the Black Sea country’s future
Newly-re-elected government in Tbilisi has NATO and EU membership in its sights, explains Former Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra.
Prioritising children’s rights in a pandemic
17 Feb
Prioritising children’s rights in a pandemic
Protecting and strengthening the rights of children must become an integral part of EU policies, especially in the midst of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, explains Ioan-Rareș Bogdan.
Putting children's rights at the top of the EU agenda
17 Feb
Putting children's rights at the top of the EU agenda
There is an urgent need to strengthen children’s rights worldwide; the EU must take the lead in this by focusing on the rights of children in all policies, writes Bettina Vollath.
European Parliament to become Coronavirus vaccination centre
16 Feb
European Parliament to become Coronavirus vaccination centre
Each of its locations will be used to support vaccination efforts across Europe, as of 22 February.
MEPs voice concern over ‘discrimination’ faced by some EU citizens when visiting UK
15 Feb
MEPs voice concern over ‘discrimination’ faced by some EU citizens when visiting UK
In a letter they have called on the European Commission to take measures to ensure that citizens from Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia no longer face such discrimination.
Group leaders and cross-party MEPs join forces to demand faster EU vaccine rollout
15 Feb
Group leaders and cross-party MEPs join forces to demand faster EU vaccine rollout
The plea comes with the rollout in all EU countries woefully behind others such as Israel and the United States.
Hormones and COVID-19: An alarming link
15 Feb
Hormones and COVID-19: An alarming link
The connection between endocrine conditions and viruses such as COVID-19 has not been widely addressed through policy or research; let’s take urgent action to change this, writes Sirpa Pietikäinen.
Time to put EU's Coronavirus recovery plan in motion says Portuguese presidency chief
15 Feb
Time to put EU's Coronavirus recovery plan in motion says Portuguese presidency chief
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa tells MEPs that EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is a ‘vitamin’ to aid Europe's economic revival.
Looking towards the future: Universities and Europe’s knowledge policies Partner Content
15 Feb
Looking towards the future: Universities and Europe’s knowledge policies
Europe’s universities are upping their game for the new decade, to meet the challenges of our digital and green transitions, writes Amanda Crowfoot.
Europe: Time to partner with an old friend Partner Content
15 Feb
Europe: Time to partner with an old friend
Panama has historically been Europe’s key investment and trade partner in Latin America and the Caribbean; it can now play an essential role in the region’s renaissance in relations with the EU, writes Yavel Francis.
Michel Barnier questions ‘level of truth, communications and clarity’ in UK about the impact of Brexit
12 Feb
Michel Barnier questions ‘level of truth, communications and clarity’ in UK about the impact of Brexit
Former Chief Negotiator’s comments come as new report says economic blow dealt by Brexit will be four times greater in the UK than in the EU.
Issue 530 | 15 February 2021
12 Feb
Issue 530 | 15 February 2021
Gracing the cover this issue is Hungarian S&D deputy István Ujhelyi. The Transport and Tourism Committee vice-chair tells deputy editor Lorna Hutchinson why he is confident that the future of the Coronavirus-ravaged transport and tourism sectors will see positive and sustainable change.
Michael Gove and Maroš Šefčovič urged to do more to help ease EU-UK trade barriers
09 Feb
Michael Gove and Maroš Šefčovič urged to do more to help ease EU-UK trade barriers
Gove, a UK cabinet minister, and Commission Vice-President Šefčovič are currently trying to resolve trade issues with Northern Ireland but have been told they should broaden the scope of their discussions so that they also apply to the UK’s trading arrangements with the EU.
Britain’s former Europe Minister calls for probe into EU’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
09 Feb
Britain’s former Europe Minister calls for probe into EU’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
The European Commission has consistently defended the strategy but, compared with countries like the UK, Israel and the US, all Member States are far behind on their vaccination rollout.
MEPs set to demand that Borrell quits as EU foreign affairs chief after Russia trip
08 Feb
MEPs set to demand that Borrell quits as EU foreign affairs chief after Russia trip
Some members are believed to be drafting a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, calling for Josep Borrell, a former MEP, to step down in the wake of the visit.
Proposed set-up for Conference on the Future of Europe under fire
08 Feb
Proposed set-up for Conference on the Future of Europe under fire
The Conference, a project that aims to reform the EU and bring it “closer” to its citizens, has been beset by misfortune since it was first mooted by the French two years ago.
Pressure mounting on EU and Member States to speed up Coronavirus vaccine rollout
08 Feb
Pressure mounting on EU and Member States to speed up Coronavirus vaccine rollout
The EU27 has so far collectively administered at least one dose to just over 3 percent of the population, against 59 percent in Israel, 15.7 percent in the UK and 10 percent in the US.
‘Trust’ key to future EU-UK relationship, say MEPs
05 Feb
‘Trust’ key to future EU-UK relationship, say MEPs
Dutch MEP Kati Piri says the EU should insist that the UK affords full diplomatic privileges to the bloc’s envoy in London.
The European Commission’s proposed ban on Aloe sets a dangerous precedent for natural products Partner Content
05 Feb
The European Commission’s proposed ban on Aloe sets a dangerous precedent for natural products
With consumers increasingly seeking natural products such as Aloe to remain healthy longer, the European Federation of Associations of Health Products Manufacturers (EHPM) raises important concerns regarding the EU’s scientific evaluation of this botanical. The European Parliament in the ENVI Committee addressed for the first time this topic in an exchange of views on 14 January and voted on an objection on 27 January.
5 Questions with... Niels Fuglsang
05 Feb
5 Questions with... Niels Fuglsang
Niels Fuglsang (DK, S&D) is a member of Parliament‘s Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Delegation to China.
World Cancer Day: NGOs call for EU to stop funding red and processed meat advertising
04 Feb
World Cancer Day: NGOs call for EU to stop funding red and processed meat advertising
Plans to beat cancer ‘pointless’ if EU continues to promote foods that makes the problem worse, say stakeholder groups.
The European Commission’s new European Beating Cancer Plan has received a guarded welcome from MEPs
04 Feb
The European Commission’s new European Beating Cancer Plan has received a guarded welcome from MEPs
Ambitious health plan unveiled just ahead of World Cancer Day (4 February).