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
International Romani Day: Time to take off the blinkers
08 Apr
International Romani Day: Time to take off the blinkers
Despite some positive steps towards the inclusion of Roma in the EU, the Coronavirus crisis has laid bare the stark reality of life for Roma people and this must be urgently addressed, writes Peter Pollák.
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
07 Apr
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
This is the first time that the European Medicines Agency has linked the vaccine to blood clots but says the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks.
The West needs to get its act together on Russia in the South Caucasus Partner Content
07 Apr
The West needs to get its act together on Russia in the South Caucasus
By providing a more coherent, consistent, active, and reliable approach, stability can be fostered in the region, writes former MEP Geoffrey Van Orden.
Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub Partner Content
07 Apr
Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub
The game of musical chairs between Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has sparked widespread criticism – not only of Erdoğan but also of Michel.
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
07 Apr
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
While the current health crisis has wreaked havoc in many sectors, in pharmaceuticals it is the EU’s patent law that is hampering innovation and access to medicines, explains Katerina Konecná.
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
02 Apr
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
European Parliament asks former UK MEP to join Conference on Future of Europe common secretariat
02 Apr
European Parliament asks former UK MEP to join Conference on Future of Europe common secretariat
The peculiarity - and irony - of a former UK politician being asked to join the forum tasked with shaping the long-term future of the EU will not be lost on those involved in the Brexit negotiations.
The snail's pace progress of EU justice
02 Apr
The snail's pace progress of EU justice
Despite European Commission pilot proceedings against Italy, the snail’s pace progress of EU justice in tackling discrimination against non-national teaching staff in Italian universities means the case is unlikely to be resolved any time soon, explains Henry Rodgers.
MEPs urge EU to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey
01 Apr
MEPs urge EU to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey
EPP member Loucas Fourlas and Socialist Costas Mavrides are among those backing calls for the EU to take immediate steps to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey in protest at the country’s alleged human rights violations.
Post-Pandemic, the Caribbean needs to present a new face to the world Partner Content
01 Apr
Post-Pandemic, the Caribbean needs to present a new face to the world
The best means of repaying our international friends and partners in the EU and IMF is to build long-term resilience into our economies, writes Adrian Fox.
Embracing equality in a digital era Partner Content
01 Apr
Embracing equality in a digital era
Unless urgent action is taken women will become victims of digital discrimination, a recent event heard. Martin Banks reports.
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
01 Apr
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
01 Apr
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
When the dust of the Coronavirus crisis settles, we must consider new ways of responding to future threats that ensure Europe’s citizens do not suffer, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
01 Apr
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
The Commission said it will launch an infringement procedure against Poland over the “muzzle law”, which allows the government to penalise Polish judges for their rulings.
Making animal welfare a priority
01 Apr
Making animal welfare a priority
The misapplication of EU animal transport legislation poses a great threat to animal welfare. But before tightening EU law, we must first ensure its correct application, argues Marlene Mortler.
Animal Welfare: Creating a win-win situation for all
01 Apr
Animal Welfare: Creating a win-win situation for all
COVID-19 has made us all much more aware of the intricate interconnections between biodiversity, animal welfare and human health, writes Manuela Ripa.
Ensuring healthcare continuity
01 Apr
Ensuring healthcare continuity
More needs to be done to ensure the proper transition of care for those suffering from PKU. Adult patients must not be forgotten, explains Seán Kelly.
Racism kills in Europe too
01 Apr
Racism kills in Europe too
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in the United States sparked widespread anti-racism protests, but racism is a worldwide issue and we are far from blame-free in Europe, argues Hilde Vautmans. 
Four countries hoping to join EU must make progress on ‘fundamental’ internal reforms
31 Mar
Four countries hoping to join EU must make progress on ‘fundamental’ internal reforms
Parliamentary reports on the accession ambitions of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia say each “need to continue focus” on reforms.
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
31 Mar
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
The row surrounds the EU’s new rule of law conditionality mechanism, recently adopted by the European Commission.
2021: A year of opportunity for sustainability in Africa Partner Content
31 Mar
2021: A year of opportunity for sustainability in Africa
We are at a turning point; now is our chance to create a better, safer and more sustainable world for future generations, writes Zuneid Yousuf.
Conference on Future of Europe must restore sense of purpose to EU post-Brexit, says former UK MEP
30 Mar
Conference on Future of Europe must restore sense of purpose to EU post-Brexit, says former UK MEP
Andrew Duff’s comments come with the EU about to embark on arguably its biggest ever reflection on the future of the Union.
Women’s Rights Committee joins chorus of criticism of gender imbalance on CoFoE Board
30 Mar
Women’s Rights Committee joins chorus of criticism of gender imbalance on CoFoE Board
At present, only one member of the European Parliament’s seven representatives on the Conference on the Future of Europe’s all-powerful Executive Board is a woman.
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility Partner Content
30 Mar
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility
Saudi Arabia is leading international efforts to stabilise the country and bring an end to the war, writes HE Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the European Union, Saad Bin Mohammed Alarify.