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
Why we cannot wait for a 'European solution' to the Moria refugee camp
15 Mar
Why we cannot wait for a "European solution" to the Moria refugee camp
We need a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ for a better and more humane European asylum policy which focuses on human rights and the individual right to asylum, argues Erik Marquardt.
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
15 Mar
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Spanish Renew Europe deputy Jordi Cañas. With the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement negotiations approaching the finish line, Parliament’s rapporteur tells reporter Ana Gallego why this may be the last chance to seal a deal with the South American trade bloc.
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
12 Mar
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
European parliament’s warning comes as EU authorises use of fourth COVID-19 vaccine.
MEPs lead growing calls for EU to boycott Winter Olympics in Beijing
12 Mar
MEPs lead growing calls for EU to boycott Winter Olympics in Beijing
Demand follows concerns over alleged human rights violations in China, and erosion of democratic autonomy in Hong Kong.
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
12 Mar
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
Row follows Council President’s swipe at the UK over its vaccine roll out.
EU’s attempt to reform itself branded ‘biased from the very beginning’
11 Mar
EU’s attempt to reform itself branded ‘biased from the very beginning’
The strong broadside comes after a symbolic event on Wednesday to mark the start of Conference on the Future of Europe.
MEPs declare entire European Union an ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’
11 Mar
MEPs declare entire European Union an ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’
The move comes two years after the first so-called ‘LGBT-free zone’ was declared in the Polish town of Świdnik.
Will new EU digital regulations lead us to innovation or stagnation? Partner Content
11 Mar
Will new EU digital regulations lead us to innovation or stagnation?
A recent event organised by the Consumer Choice Center looked at the role the Digital Services and Markets Acts will play in shaping Europe’s digital innovation future.
Conference on EU’s future must be open to citizens beyond Brussels bubble
10 Mar
Conference on EU’s future must be open to citizens beyond Brussels bubble
The much-delayed Conference on the Future of Europe is set to start in early May, after the leaders of two of the EU’s main institutions finally gave it the green light at a formal ceremony on Wednesday.
Most EU citizens want their voices to be heard when it comes to future of Europe
09 Mar
Most EU citizens want their voices to be heard when it comes to future of Europe
The results of an EU-wide poll come on the eve of a ceremonial event on Wednesday to mark the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Parliamentary immunity lifted for former Catalan leader and two other separatist MEPs
09 Mar
Parliamentary immunity lifted for former Catalan leader and two other separatist MEPs
The decision, in a vote late on Monday, now clears the way for formal legal moves by Spain, where Carles Puigdemont and colleagues Antoni Comín and Clara Ponsatí all face charges relating to the Catalan independence referendum in 2017.
Plenary to focus on LGBTIQ rights in Poland and Hungary
09 Mar
Plenary to focus on LGBTIQ rights in Poland and Hungary
At the plenary session in Brussels, MEPs will discuss current events in Poland and Hungary in the wake of the introduction of discriminatory laws against the LGBTIQ community in both states.
MEPs welcome moves to strengthen security in Brussels’ EU quarter after spate of violent attacks
08 Mar
MEPs welcome moves to strengthen security in Brussels’ EU quarter after spate of violent attacks
UPDATED: 08 March 2021 10:28 | Victim of attempted sexual assault told by local police that they didn’t have the resources to investigate.
IWD 2021: The broken rung
08 Mar
IWD 2021: The broken rung
Despite the increased prevalence of women in the workplace, obstacles ranging from the ‘motherhood penalty’ to sexual harassment are a stubborn reality for women, writes Grace McLoughlin.
Why building a fixed link between Europe and Africa matters Partner Content
08 Mar
Why building a fixed link between Europe and Africa matters
The post-pandemic world needs ambitious projects that respect the environment, generate employment and guarantee social stability, writes Abdelmalek Alaoui.
IWD 2021: The weight of the world on women's shoulders
08 Mar
IWD 2021: The weight of the world on women's shoulders
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, spare a thought for the women who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic; let’s lighten their load, writes Evelyn Regner.
IWD 2021: EU must have courage to stand up and defend women’s rights
08 Mar
IWD 2021: EU must have courage to stand up and defend women’s rights
We spoke to a cross-party group of MEPs on the occasion of International Women's Day 2021 and asked them for their thoughts on the most pressing issues facing women today.
Commission’s equal pay proposal a “positive step forward”
05 Mar
Commission’s equal pay proposal a “positive step forward”
MEPs have welcomed plans to plug Europe’s gender pay gap.
5 Questions with... Marc Botenga
05 Mar
5 Questions with... Marc Botenga
Marc Botenga (BE, GUE/NGL) is a member of Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee.
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
05 Mar
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
With an estimated 70 percent of the EU population overweight, obesity is an issue that urgently requires measures promoting public education and consumer information, argues João Ferreira.
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
05 Mar
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
COVID-19 has created unforeseen problems – including undermining our efforts to defeat the scourge of childhood obesity. When we emerge from the grip of the virus, this must be a priority, writes Alex Agius Saliba.
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
05 Mar
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
With one in three European children suffering from overweight or obesity, it was time to implement a programme that introduced a healthy dose of nutrition into their diets, explains Marc Tarabella.
Energy Taxation Directive: No time to waste
05 Mar
Energy Taxation Directive: No time to waste
The Energy Taxation Directive is an opportunity to put Europe on a path to climate neutrality that can also lead us to a fairer society, explains Henrike Hahn.
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
04 Mar
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
The EU has sought to maintain a unified approach to the vaccination procurement process but the painfully slow rollout in recent weeks has led to several Member States deciding to “go it alone.”