Build a European border policy to save Schengen, says former negotiator
29 Jul Member States

Build a European border policy to save Schengen, says former negotiator

Joachim Bitterlich grew up dreaming of a borderless Europe, and as a diplomat played his part in making it happen. Now he says the Schengen free-travel zone is under threat, with radical action needed to dissuade governments from throwing up borders once again.
by Eloise Hardy
Europe’s ‘good as it gets’ trade deal redefines ties with Washington
28 Jul Member States
Europe’s ‘good as it gets’ trade deal redefines ties with Washington
Op-ed: Workers must be protected to power the twin transition
29 Jul Member States
Op-ed: Workers must be protected to power the twin transition
China snubs Europe, dashing hopes of summit breakthrough
25 Jul EU Institutions
China snubs Europe, dashing hopes of summit breakthrough
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.
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.