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
Concerns raised over ‘equitable access’ to COVID-19 vaccines
27 Nov
Concerns raised over ‘equitable access’ to COVID-19 vaccines
Campaigners also calling for full transparency of Coronavirus trial data before conclusions made on a vaccine’s efficacy.
A ‘Carbon Budget’ will set Europe on a trajectory to climate neutrality
27 Nov
A ‘Carbon Budget’ will set Europe on a trajectory to climate neutrality
Establishing a Carbon Budget will indicate that we are serious about climate neutrality and that we are going to pursue a stable climate policy for the next 30 years, explains Finnish MEP Nils Torvalds.
MEPs back plans to enable more women to stand for election to Parliament
26 Nov
MEPs back plans to enable more women to stand for election to Parliament
In a new resolution, deputies have called for reforms ahead of the 2024 European elections through “zipped” lists or similar initiatives to achieve more gender balance in Parliament.
MEPs welcome new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
26 Nov
MEPs welcome new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
The European Commission’s Strategy, which aims to ensure the supply of medicines and vaccines to all citizens, also seeks to encourage innovation by European pharmaceutical companies.
‘The Poland of 2020 is a hell for women’: MEPs slam Polish abortion ban
26 Nov
‘The Poland of 2020 is a hell for women’: MEPs slam Polish abortion ban
Wednesday’s plenary session saw an emotionally-charged debate in which many deputies lambasted Poland’s recent decision to impose a near-total ban on abortion in the country.
Still ‘strong support’ for EU’s principles and leadership on global issues, says EU-wide poll
26 Nov
Still ‘strong support’ for EU’s principles and leadership on global issues, says EU-wide poll
The poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank in cooperation with Danish Tænketanken EUROPA, also found that over 40 percent of those surveyed in eight countries have concerns about their country’s influence within the bloc.
Stop the ‘shadow pandemic’ of violence against women
25 Nov
Stop the ‘shadow pandemic’ of violence against women
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, buildings and landmarks are being bathed in orange light to raise awareness of and galvanise action for 16 Days of Activism.
Violence Against Women: Enough with the Colours Partner Content
25 Nov
Violence Against Women: Enough with the Colours
The International day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is about more than social media posts and condemning acts in other countries, it’s about taking action at home, argues Lina Aburous.
EU urged to 'do more' to promote gender equality in distribution of top jobs
25 Nov
EU urged to 'do more' to promote gender equality in distribution of top jobs
The demand comes after MEPs gave the green light this week to a controversial appointment to the European Central Bank’s Executive Board.
Stopping targeted advertising cuts off industries and dumbs down tech Partner Content
25 Nov
Stopping targeted advertising cuts off industries and dumbs down tech
The European Parliament’s vote to phase out the practice threatens to reduce consumer choice and stifle what is one of Europe’s most innovative sectors, writes the Consumer Choice Center’s Yaël Ossowski.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: Zero tolerance
25 Nov
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: Zero tolerance
Tackling the scourge of domestic violence requires male champions to join women in saying that gender-based violence is never acceptable, writes Frances Fitzgerald.
Former British MEP says EU stands to lose more than UK from No Deal Brexit
24 Nov
Former British MEP says EU stands to lose more than UK from No Deal Brexit
Former ECR Group deputy David Campbell Bannerman said, “I had hoped we would end up with a super Canada deal but the thing currently on offer seems much thinner and I think that is a mistake.”
5 Questions with... Antonius Manders
24 Nov
5 Questions with... Antonius Manders
Antonius Manders (NL, EPP) is a member Parliament’s IMCO Committee.
Parliamentarians call Polish abortion ban ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’
24 Nov
Parliamentarians call Polish abortion ban ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’
Over two hundred policymakers across Europe have joined forces to urge the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure over the Polish government’s violation of women’s rights, LGBTI rights and the rule of law.
A closer look at the EU Forestry Strategy
24 Nov
A closer look at the EU Forestry Strategy
Forests and forestry will play an increasingly important role in our cleaner, greener future. It is important to allow those with expertise to bring out the most from them, writes Jessica Polfjärd.
World ‘must learn lessons’ from Coronavirus crisis to help in fight against superbugs
24 Nov
World ‘must learn lessons’ from Coronavirus crisis to help in fight against superbugs
An online debate on Tuesday heard that preparing for a future health pandemic will be crucial in saving the lives of up to 50 million people.
Climate change: time to put the fire out
24 Nov
Climate change: time to put the fire out
Now more than ever, we must come together to take climate action that meets the emergency we find ourselves in, argues German Greens MEP Michael Bloss.
A Green Europe needs a Green Recovery
24 Nov
A Green Europe needs a Green Recovery
Let’s make the Nex Generation EU facility and economic recovery a step towards the green Europe we all want and need, argues Morten Helveg Petersen.
Disinfection robots to be delivered to hospitals across EU to fight COVID-19
23 Nov
Disinfection robots to be delivered to hospitals across EU to fight COVID-19
The robots can disinfect standard patient rooms, using ultraviolet light, in as quickly as 15 minutes.
Senior MEP warns that ‘big divergencies’ still threaten to torpedo Brexit deal
23 Nov
Senior MEP warns that ‘big divergencies’ still threaten to torpedo Brexit deal
Nathalie Loiseau has tempered expectations that the UK and EU are about to broker a deal, saying, “We are offering an unprecedented partnership with the UK, but this comes with clarity and commitments, and so far they are missing.”
An equitable Europe for women
23 Nov
An equitable Europe for women
Losing what has been gained in the fight for gender equality is inadmissible; we must take to task those who want to backpedal on progress and mount an onslaught on women’s rights, argues Helena Dalli.
A long road ahead to gender equality
23 Nov
A long road ahead to gender equality
Twenty-five years after the Beijing Declaration, new threats to women’s rights risk reversing hard-won gains. Instead of going back to the 1950s, we need to make this the century of women, writes Evelyn Regner.
Artificial intelligence: A risk worth taking?
23 Nov
Artificial intelligence: A risk worth taking?
We spoke to MEPs from across Parliament about their expectations for the upcoming European Commission White Paper on AI.
Securing Europe’s medicine supplies in a post-COVID world
23 Nov
Securing Europe’s medicine supplies in a post-COVID world
It should not be up to China or other third countries to decide whether we in Europe have access to sufficient medicines; we need security of supply, says Peter Liese.