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
Major step forward for Conference on Future of Europe after Parliament approves joint declaration
04 Mar
Major step forward for Conference on Future of Europe after Parliament approves joint declaration
The long-delayed forum, due to generate ideas for reforming the EU, should have started last May but has been delayed due to inter-institutional wrangling and the Coronavirus crisis.
Shaping a European digital education policy
04 Mar
Shaping a European digital education policy
The pandemic-induced switch to digital education has led to an increase in inequalities; with common European digital education policies we will leave no student behind, writes Victor Negrescu.
Will the new EU-Africa Strategy substantially improve relations with African countries?
04 Mar
Will the new EU-Africa Strategy substantially improve relations with African countries?
The new strategy is vague and doesn’t consider many of the problems that EU has partly fuelled through its flawed policies, argues German S&D MEP Joachim Schuster.
New EU-Africa strategy moves beyond donor-recipient relationship
04 Mar
New EU-Africa strategy moves beyond donor-recipient relationship
Unlike previous approaches, the new strategy has been created in partnership with, rather than for Africa, explains Polish EPP deputy Janina Ochojska.
EU’s Energy Taxation Directive review crucial to achieving transition to a clean, carbon-free economy
04 Mar
EU’s Energy Taxation Directive review crucial to achieving transition to a clean, carbon-free economy
Environmental taxation is about much more than just green taxes, says Spanish S&D MEP César Luena.
How the EU's COVID recovery can accelerate the transition to a greener aviation sector
04 Mar
How the EU's COVID recovery can accelerate the transition to a greener aviation sector
There is an opportunity to build a cleaner and more resilient aviation sector writes French ITRE Committee MEP Christophe Grudler.
Clare Daly: Nicolas Sarkozy sentence ‘not much more’ than what people have endured during lockdown
03 Mar
Clare Daly: Nicolas Sarkozy sentence ‘not much more’ than what people have endured during lockdown
Ex-French President Sarkozy - who was nicknamed the “Gallic Thatcher” - was found guilty of corruption on Monday and sentenced to three years in prison.
Fidesz resigns from EPP Group after overwhelming vote in favour of new rules
03 Mar
Fidesz resigns from EPP Group after overwhelming vote in favour of new rules
Parliament’s biggest political group will have 11 less seats after Wednesday’s vote, bringing to an end a period of protracted wrangling over whether Fidesz should remain a member.
Australia & New Zealand: Europe's like-minded partners
03 Mar
Australia & New Zealand: Europe's like-minded partners
In times of global uncertainty, strengthening ties with countries committed to the rules-based order, such as Australia and New Zealand, are crucial, explains Ulrike Müller.
Why Brexit really means Brexit
03 Mar
Why Brexit really means Brexit
Challenges still lie ahead for the EU-UK future economic relationship, writes Pedro Silva Pereira.
Campaign aims to end ‘abuse’ of citizens’ personal data by tech giants
02 Mar
Campaign aims to end ‘abuse’ of citizens’ personal data by tech giants
The move comes amid an ongoing bitter dispute between Australia and Facebook.
MEPs back proposals requiring firms to comply with human rights and environmental standards
02 Mar
MEPs back proposals requiring firms to comply with human rights and environmental standards
The draft legislative initiative calls on the Commission to urgently present a law that ensures companies are held accountable and liable when they harm - or contribute to harming - human rights, the environment and good governance.
Policymakers to converge for high-level event on women’s rights
01 Mar
Policymakers to converge for high-level event on women’s rights
Participants will include Parliament President David Sassoli, the president of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, her Commission counterpart Ursula von der Leyen and EU Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli.
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
01 Mar
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
Markus Ferber, a member of Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, takes aim at Member States over their implementation of the EU’s €750bn economic recovery plan.
The MEP Lung Health Group: Raising awareness of respiratory diseases across Europe
01 Mar
The MEP Lung Health Group: Raising awareness of respiratory diseases across Europe
The group, launched last October, aims to stimulate debate and raise awareness of the risk factors and the complications of respiratory diseases, explains co-chair Željana Zovko.
Europe's air pollution problem
01 Mar
Europe's air pollution problem
Air pollution remains one of Europe’s greatest environmental hazards, and its links to lung diseases and other health conditions can no longer be ignored, writes Jutta Paulus.
EU rules on long distance animal transportation regularly flouted, MEPs told
01 Mar
EU rules on long distance animal transportation regularly flouted, MEPs told
Hearing by European Parliament inquiry committee part of MEP probe into alleged violations of animal welfare.
Driving change in COPD Partner Content
01 Mar
Driving change in COPD
We need to unite to drive change in COPD globally, writes Professor John Hurst.
Future of Europe: Putting citizens front and centre
01 Mar
Future of Europe: Putting citizens front and centre
The upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe must put citizens at the heart of the debate, allowing them to set the agenda for discussions on reform, argues Paulo Rangel.
European Year of Rail 2021: The train gain
28 Feb
European Year of Rail 2021: The train gain
Rail transport can be a major contributor to the EU’s climate ambitions, but only if the years of neglect are reversed. Let’s use the European Year of Rail to make that happen, says Martina Michels.
European Year of Rail 2021: A year of opportunity
28 Feb
European Year of Rail 2021: A year of opportunity
We must take the European Year of Rail 2021 as a chance to create better framework conditions within, and for, rail transport, writes Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg.
Humanitarian aid in a pandemic
28 Feb
Humanitarian aid in a pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for further funding, greater policy coherence and more genuine partnerships in development cooperation and humanitarian aid, explains Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana.
Making Team Europe the new normal
27 Feb
Making Team Europe the new normal
As the EU grapples with the Coronavirus crisis, it cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the challenges facing the developing world, writes Hildegard Bentele.
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
26 Feb
MEPs call on pharma companies to increase COVID-19 vaccine production
European Parliament’s Socialist MEPs also want pharmaceutical giants to research against potential future Coronavirus variants and strains.