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
EU Methane Strategy: Prospects for a secure horizon
19 Mar
EU Methane Strategy: Prospects for a secure horizon
When pursuing our global climate ambitions, if we are to reach our goal it is vital that we have an adequate and effective strategy to deal with methane emissions, writes Marcos Ros Sempere.
EU Anti-Racism Summit: Time for real and lasting change
19 Mar
EU Anti-Racism Summit: Time for real and lasting change
In order to truly tackle the scourge of racism, we must maintain the momentum and awareness raised through the Black Lives Matter movement, argues Evin Incir.
EU Methane Strategy: An unknown quantity
19 Mar
EU Methane Strategy: An unknown quantity
The upcoming Methane Strategy can make the EU a world leader in emissions reduction, writes Cristian-Silviu Busoi.
Khashoggi lawyer urges MEPs and EU to help ‘close the net’ on Saudi Crown Prince
18 Mar
Khashoggi lawyer urges MEPs and EU to help ‘close the net’ on Saudi Crown Prince
Rodney Dixon was taking part in an exchange of views on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia including the case of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Ready for racial justice: Tackling structural racism in the EU
18 Mar
Ready for racial justice: Tackling structural racism in the EU
Racism is not simply individual acts of hate; racism is a structural issue, embedded in our political, social and economic system, and it’s time that the EU understands this, writes Alfiaz Vaiya.
MEPs throw weight behind ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign
18 Mar
MEPs throw weight behind ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign
A letter to the European Commission supports calls for the executive to propose a phase-out of the use of cages for farmed animals, starting with laying hens.
A holistic approach for Europe's Methane Strategy
18 Mar
A holistic approach for Europe's Methane Strategy
In order to achieve the EU's emission reduction targets, we must ensure there is a business case for companies to make the green transition, writes Maria Spyraki.
A desperate need for new solutions in the EU Methane Strategy
18 Mar
A desperate need for new solutions in the EU Methane Strategy
Technological developments, such as methane hoods coupled with alternative feed compositions, could allow us to reduce agricultural methane emissions; however, scaling back on livestock will not solve the problem, argues Asger Christensen.
MEPs give guarded welcome to new Commission plans for ‘Digital Green Certificate’
17 Mar
MEPs give guarded welcome to new Commission plans for ‘Digital Green Certificate’
The “vaccine passport” will collate details on vaccinations, tests and Coronavirus recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again after a year of severe restrictions.
‘Newly assertive’ Russia and ‘rise’ of China pose biggest security threats to West, says NATO chief
17 Mar
‘Newly assertive’ Russia and ‘rise’ of China pose biggest security threats to West, says NATO chief
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at a news conference where he presented his annual report for the last 12 months.
EMA chief admits public trust in Coronavirus vaccines could erode due to AstraZeneca safety probe
17 Mar
EMA chief admits public trust in Coronavirus vaccines could erode due to AstraZeneca safety probe
Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has sought to allay fears concerning the AstraZeneca vaccine, emphasising that the benefits “outweigh any risks.”
The EU’s key to the Indo-Pacific? Partner Content
17 Mar
The EU’s key to the Indo-Pacific?
Thailand plays a crucial role in ASEAN, RCEP, and the multilateral trading system and can be a key partner in the region, writes Folkert Graafsma.
Yemen, Iran and Oman: Reaching out to Peace through Food Partner Content
17 Mar
Yemen, Iran and Oman: Reaching out to Peace through Food
Despite the second wave of Covid-19, the overall diplomatic air in Muscat is optimistic, writes Sayyid Nooh Mohammed Al Busaidi.
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
16 Mar
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
Bruno Ciancio, chief of the surveillance section at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, was speaking to MEPs on Monday on the new Coronavirus variants.
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
16 Mar
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
The pandemic has exposed the stigma that people on the autism spectrum still face; it’s time for the EU to ditch the empty words and up its game, writes Jordi Cañas.
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
16 Mar
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
A strategic and integrated European approach to autism spectrum disorder would provide much-needed support to persons on the autism spectrum as well as their families in these challenging times, writes Victor Negrescu.
MEPs back legal action against UK over alleged breach of Northern Ireland Protocol
16 Mar
MEPs back legal action against UK over alleged breach of Northern Ireland Protocol
European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said he hopes the issue can be resolved without further legal action, but it could lead to the UK having to defend its actions at the European Court of Justice.
Universities must have a voice in shaping the European Research Area Partner Content
16 Mar
Universities must have a voice in shaping the European Research Area
The new ERA will need to bring all sides to the table so that we can shape the future of Europe’s R&I sector together, writes the European University Association’s Stephane Berghmans.
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
15 Mar
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
The proposed certificate is designed to provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from it, or has received a negative test result.
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
15 Mar
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
With Member States still firmly in the grip of the pandemic, the Commission is proposing what it calls “immediate action” to prepare Europe for the “increased” threat of Coronavirus variants.
Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s future is in the EU
15 Mar
Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s future is in the EU
Brexit took the Scots out of the European Union against their will, but future EU membership is part of the vision for an independent Scotland, explains Nicola Sturgeon.
EU Ombudsman investigating European Medicines Agency ‘fast tracking’ procedure
15 Mar
EU Ombudsman investigating European Medicines Agency ‘fast tracking’ procedure
Emily O’Reilly told MEPs that the EMA had been required to make recommendations on vaccines for COVID-19 in “record time” and has been working with a “fast-track procedure.”
Senior MEP says recent case of live animals transported at sea demonstrates ‘urgent need’ for major crackdown
15 Mar
Senior MEP says recent case of live animals transported at sea demonstrates ‘urgent need’ for major crackdown
Thomas Waitz says he was incensed by the suffering of a shipload of animals who were stranded at sea for over two and a half months.
EU Pact on Migration & Asylum: How can we ensure the effectiveness of national monitoring mechanisms? Partner Content
15 Mar
EU Pact on Migration & Asylum: How can we ensure the effectiveness of national monitoring mechanisms?
National monitoring mechanisms should play a key role in instilling a human rights culture in border management entities, writes Birgit Van Hout.