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
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
EU risks over-reliance on Turkey for defence
05 May Foreign & Security Policy
EU risks over-reliance on Turkey for defence
Despite COVID-19, the EU’s priorities for long-term sustainability and competitiveness are clear, argues Sandro Gozi
11 Dec
Despite COVID-19, the EU’s priorities for long-term sustainability and competitiveness are clear, argues Sandro Gozi
EU can position itself as a global leader in innovation and sustainable growth, says French MEP.
EU-Maldives: real partners
11 Dec
EU-Maldives: real partners
We must avoid being introspective on the impact of COVID-19 and instead consider the plight of nations whose economies have been particularly impacted, such as the Maldives, writes Tomáš Zdechovský.
EU Member States should use COVID-19 recovery plans to drive new investment in education
11 Dec
EU Member States should use COVID-19 recovery plans to drive new investment in education
The Coronavirus crisis may provide the impetus to reform our education systems and make them more relevant and resilient, writes Dace Melbārde.
European Medicines Agency chief says safe and effective vaccine will not be ‘silver bullet’ on its own
10 Dec
European Medicines Agency chief says safe and effective vaccine will not be ‘silver bullet’ on its own
EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said, “A vaccine will become a key component but, on its own, it will not be the silver bullet which will allow us to return to normal life.”
MEPs tell EU leaders that bloc's values are ‘non-negotiable’ as summit kicks off
10 Dec
MEPs tell EU leaders that bloc's values are ‘non-negotiable’ as summit kicks off
A petition, signed by 27 deputies from various groups, also urges leaders not to accept blackmailing from Poland and Hungary.
Sunday is crunch day as EU and UK set another Brexit deadline
10 Dec
Sunday is crunch day as EU and UK set another Brexit deadline
A dinner meeting between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson in Brussels on Wednesday evening failed to yield a breakthrough in the deadlocked talks.
Russia’s double-game in Belarus Partner Content
10 Dec
Russia’s double-game in Belarus
It is crucial that the EU and US simultaneously support the protestors, pressure Lukashenko and prevent Russia from growing its influence in the country, writes former Bulgarian foreign minister Daniel Mitov.
Human Rights Day: Women's rights are human rights
10 Dec
Human Rights Day: Women's rights are human rights
The rights of women are under threat of being rolled back in the shadow of COVID-19 and ultra-conservative governments. Lorna Hutchinson reports.
Why techplomacy is more important than ever Partner Content
10 Dec
Why techplomacy is more important than ever
Collaboration between the private and public sectors and the bridging of transatlantic views on concrete challenges like data flows and cyberthreats will be essential for governments, business and workers to succeed, writes DIGITALEUROPE’s Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl.
Four Italian MEPs join Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
09 Dec
Four Italian MEPs join Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
Ignazio Corrao, Eleonora Evi, Piernicola Pedicini and Rosa D’Amato have defended their earlier participation in the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group alongside British Eurosceptic Nigel Farage.
Mayor of London urges EU and UK to continue talks until trade deal is reached
09 Dec
Mayor of London urges EU and UK to continue talks until trade deal is reached
Sadiq Khan’s plea comes just ahead of a key meeting over dinner in Brussels later on Wednesday between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson.
Hungarian and Polish citizens sign petition supporting rule of law conditionality
09 Dec
Hungarian and Polish citizens sign petition supporting rule of law conditionality
Over 300,000 people in Hungary and Poland have given their support to the mechanism, which binds future EU funding to respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights.
EU Pharma Strategy too focussed on needs of manufacturers, rather than patients, says Michèle Rivasi
09 Dec
EU Pharma Strategy too focussed on needs of manufacturers, rather than patients, says Michèle Rivasi
Greens/EFA MEP says European Commission’s long overdue pharmaceutical strategy ‘fails to address’ EU’s true health problems, including drug shortages.
Why we need a preventative approach for beating cancer
09 Dec
Why we need a preventative approach for beating cancer
What we do against cancer, be it during or outside a pandemic, we can reproduce and use to win battles against other diseases, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
Beating cancer is our duty
09 Dec
Beating cancer is our duty
The fight against cancer is one of Europe’s greatest challenges, and one that should be the responsibility of us all. Is it time for more Europe in healthcare, asks Bartosz Arłukowicz.
Post COVID-19, is it time for a genuine European Health Union?
09 Dec
Post COVID-19, is it time for a genuine European Health Union?
Recent events have shown that Member States struggle to deal with supranational threats such as the current Coronavirus crisis; it’s time to look at a Health Union, writes Alessandra Moretti.
Alexei Navalny joins MEPs in welcoming European Magnitsky Act
08 Dec
Alexei Navalny joins MEPs in welcoming European Magnitsky Act
The new mechanism was adopted on Monday by EU foreign affairs ministers and paves the way for an easier and faster procedure for joint EU sanctions against human rights abuses.
Creating a powerful circular economy
08 Dec
Creating a powerful circular economy
The continuing pandemic has highlighted the fragility of our linear economy; let’s use these difficult times as an engine for change, writes Victor Negrescu.
EU and UK ‘running out of time’ as von der Leyen and Johnson gear up for Brussels meeting
08 Dec
EU and UK ‘running out of time’ as von der Leyen and Johnson gear up for Brussels meeting
Manfred Weber, the leader of the EPP Group in Parliament, was speaking after it emerged that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will come to Brussels “in the coming days” for a physical meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Green Deal and the post-COVID-19 recovery are two sides of the same coin
08 Dec
The European Green Deal and the post-COVID-19 recovery are two sides of the same coin
The paths for delivering the Green Deal and ensuring Europe’s recovery are one and the same, argue former European Commissioners Jyrki Katainen and Janez Potočnik.
Abraham Liu: The return to a world of multilateral cooperation and engagement Partner Content
08 Dec
Abraham Liu: The return to a world of multilateral cooperation and engagement
Politicising the 5g debate is not good for Europe, argues Abraham Liu.
The need for an appropriate balance between innovation and effective consumer protection in the digital age
08 Dec
The need for an appropriate balance between innovation and effective consumer protection in the digital age
The advent of widespread ecommerce has not developed in the way originally envisaged. Consumer protection must therefore reflect this new reality, says Maria-Manuel Leitão Marques.
EU must embrace technologies and improve the efficiency of the financial system
08 Dec
EU must embrace technologies and improve the efficiency of the financial system
Europe is on its way to becoming a global standard-setter in digital finance, writes Stefan Berger.
Watch the MEP Awards 2020 Partner Content
08 Dec
Watch the MEP Awards 2020
In case you missed it, here's the full video of the event.