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
How Earth Observation can help us fight deforestation Partner Content
20 Jul
How Earth Observation can help us fight deforestation
Accurate, efficient and accessible monitoring can help the EU take the right course of action, down to the individual tree.
Fit for 55 will raise bills for vulnerable Europeans
19 Jul
Fit for 55 will raise bills for vulnerable Europeans
This is not a fair Green Deal, argues Friends of the Earth Europe’s Martha Myers
Revision of the Aarhus Regulation: A collective sigh of relief Partner Content
19 Jul
Revision of the Aarhus Regulation: A collective sigh of relief
Political agreement reached on the contentious Aarhus dossier, reports Christian Doleschal
European Commission must take measures to strengthen EU Magnitsky Act, say senior MEPs
19 Jul
European Commission must take measures to strengthen EU Magnitsky Act, say senior MEPs
EU should extend the scope of its Global Human Rights sanctions regime and give the European Parliament a stronger supervisory role, say David McAllister and Maria Arena
EU launches infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland over LGBTIQ discrimination Partner Content
16 Jul
EU launches infringement procedures against Hungary and Poland over LGBTIQ discrimination
LGBTIQ Intergroup MEPs ‘wholeheartedly’ welcome European Commission’s decision to act against Budapest and Warsaw.
No social dimension without a sound economic foundation
16 Jul
No social dimension without a sound economic foundation
Choosing the right Instruments to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan is vital to its success, argues Milena Angelova.
Parliament Sketch: Big Frans vs ENVI Partner Content
16 Jul
Parliament Sketch: Big Frans vs ENVI
It had been a long day for both, but as Andreas Rogal reports, both Frans Timmermans and the ENVI Committee were in an ebullient mood when they met earlier this week for an end-of-term chat
Poland 'on the path to Polexit' after top court deems ECJ measures unconstitutional Partner Content
15 Jul
Poland 'on the path to Polexit' after top court deems ECJ measures unconstitutional
MEPs have warned that Poland is heading towards ‘Polexit’ - the Polish version of Brexit - after the country’s highest court ruled that Poland is not obliged to follow the order by the European Court of Justice to suspend part of its judicial reforms.
EU unveils ‘Fit for 55’ package; says achieving proposals are a ‘generational task’
14 Jul
EU unveils ‘Fit for 55’ package; says achieving proposals are a ‘generational task’
Five new legislative proposals outlined, among them a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to avoid so-called ‘carbon spillage’.
Journalists call for EU policymakers to deliver ‘robust’ Media Freedom Act in face of increasing state-owned harassment Partner Content
14 Jul
Journalists call for EU policymakers to deliver ‘robust’ Media Freedom Act in face of increasing state-owned harassment
Growing ‘hostile environment’ for journalists across EU, MEPs told during public hearing
Raising money a by-product, not an objective, of Green Energy Taxation
13 Jul
Raising money a by-product, not an objective, of Green Energy Taxation
Green taxes should not be seen as a source of new revenue but as a means to bring emissions down, MEPs told
5G Connectivity: Embracing the digital revolution
09 Jul
5G Connectivity: Embracing the digital revolution
The widespread rollout of 5G will provide a shot in the arm to Europe’s digital transformation and will bring with it meaningful improvements to our daily lives, writes Josianne Cutajar.
Gender-based violence costs EU €366bn a year
09 Jul
Gender-based violence costs EU €366bn a year
A new study by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) estimates that violence against women makes up 79 percent of this cost, amounting to €289bn.
European Parliament votes overwhelmingly to condemn new Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ law
08 Jul
European Parliament votes overwhelmingly to condemn new Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ law
In a resolution, adopted with 459 in favour, 147 against and 58 abstentions on Thursday, MEPs describe the Hungarian law as being in clear breach of fundamental rights.
EU-Africa: No partnership in sight
08 Jul
EU-Africa: No partnership in sight
The planned cooperation between the EU and Africa is stalled at a time when it is needed more than ever; it is time to make real advances, argue Joachim Schuster and Miriam-Lena Horn.
EU-Africa: A force for change
08 Jul
EU-Africa: A force for change
Now, as much as ever, Africa needs help from Europe or its problems may become impossible to resolve, believes Assita Kanko.
MEPs lament ‘putinisation’ of Hungary as EU urged to take urgent action
07 Jul
MEPs lament ‘putinisation’ of Hungary as EU urged to take urgent action
A fiery plenary debate on Hungary’s new anti-LGBTIQ law saw deputies entreat the European Commission and Council to “do their job” and put a “democratic lock” on the EU budget.
Health & Wellbeing: Lessons learned?
07 Jul
Health & Wellbeing: Lessons learned?
It’s now time for a critical and honest assessment of how the EU has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, argues Jutta Paulus.
Editorial: People Power
07 Jul
Editorial: People Power
Does the success of the ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign mean the much-maligned European Citizens’ Initiative is finally bringing Europe closer to its citizens? Not quite yet, suggests Brian Johnson.
Rebuilding trust in science Partner Content
07 Jul
Rebuilding trust in science
The current pandemic has shown the importance of science; however, tackling future challenges requires a relationship based on trust between scientists and society, argues MEP Ivars Ijabs.
Making Europe a life sciences leader Partner Content
07 Jul
Making Europe a life sciences leader
EFPIA’s new board leadership team aims to combat COVID-19 and tackle societal challenges in order to make Europe a life sciences leader, writes Hubertus von Baumbach.
Slovenian PM deflects media freedom criticism; says ‘come to Slovenia, see for yourself’
06 Jul
Slovenian PM deflects media freedom criticism; says ‘come to Slovenia, see for yourself’
As the Slovenian Council presidency gets underway, Janez Janša sidestepped questions by journalists on media freedom, the rule of law and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, declaring, “there are many other problems which are immeasurably more relevant.”
Health & Wellbeing: Securing the future for health
06 Jul
Health & Wellbeing: Securing the future for health
Now is the time to establish a new and better strategy for healthcare that future-proofs supplies of medicines and medical goods, writes Tomislav Sokol.
Europe’s soft drinks industry is committed to making the healthier choice, the easy choice Partner Content
06 Jul
Europe’s soft drinks industry is committed to making the healthier choice, the easy choice
The sector is playing its part in creating a healthier and more sustainable food system in Europe but urgent action by all food sectors is required to achieve wider positive health impacts.