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
David Sassoli: EU long-term budget ‘needs correcting’ and Parliament will try to ‘improve’ it
22 Jul
David Sassoli: EU long-term budget ‘needs correcting’ and Parliament will try to ‘improve’ it
Parliament’s President said that while the assembly is “satisfied” with the €750bn recovery plan to deal with the COVID-19 health crisis, proposed cuts in certain areas of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) need to be rectified.
A European strategy to fight child sexual abuse
22 Jul
A European strategy to fight child sexual abuse
Catherine De Bolle explains why, given the surge in the online distribution of explicit material during lockdown, she is convinced that a coordinated European strategy is the best way to combat child sexual abuse.
EU leaders thrash out deal on Coronavirus recovery fund and budget as Parliament awaits final say
21 Jul
EU leaders thrash out deal on Coronavirus recovery fund and budget as Parliament awaits final say
After one of the longest summits on record, the heads of state finally reached agreement on Tuesday morning, but the final hurdle remains, with the consent of the European Parliament still pending.
MEPs underline ‘overwhelming evidence’ of rule of law breaches in Poland
20 Jul
MEPs underline ‘overwhelming evidence’ of rule of law breaches in Poland
Deputies have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a report criticising the “continuing deterioration” of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Poland.
Brexit talks to resume with focus on trade level playing field, fisheries and governance
20 Jul
Brexit talks to resume with focus on trade level playing field, fisheries and governance
Ahead of the resumption of negotiations on Tuesday, Michel Barnier and David Frost, the chief negotiators for the two sides, will have a dinner in London, where this week’s talks will take place.
How Europe can fight money laundering
20 Jul
How Europe can fight money laundering
A stricter, more uniform approach to the EU’s antimoney laundering policies will be more effective in countering the financing of terrorism and other illicit activities, explains Eero Heinäluoma.
A lifetime of disparity of treatment
17 Jul
A lifetime of disparity of treatment
With the expiry of the deadline for the implementation of Article 11 of Legge Europea 2017 on June 30, it is now increasingly likely that foreign language teaching staff (Lettori) in Italian universities will end their careers without enjoying the right to parity of treatment with Italian nationals, explains Henry Rodgers.
EU leaders converge on Brussels for what are expected to be hard-fought talks to thrash out a deal on the budget and recovery fund
17 Jul
EU leaders converge on Brussels for what are expected to be hard-fought talks to thrash out a deal on the budget and recovery fund
Speaking ahead of the meeting, which is expected to go into Saturday, Charles Michel and David Sassoli, set out their stalls on what they hope will emerge from the crucial summit.
Dieselgate scandal: EU and Member States have been too passive in bringing car industry to account
17 Jul
Dieselgate scandal: EU and Member States have been too passive in bringing car industry to account
Stichting Car Claim has been at the forefront of efforts to convince car manufacturers to accept responsibility for their actions and compensate those affected, argues Dr. Marten Oosting.
Brexit trade talks likely to go down to the wire as EU draws up ‘needs assessment’ in case of a no-deal
17 Jul
Brexit trade talks likely to go down to the wire as EU draws up ‘needs assessment’ in case of a no-deal
No deal, or ‘bare bones’ trade deal, likely outcome, warn former UK policymakers.
MEPs declare ‘this is the moment’ to agree EU long-term budget and recovery fund
16 Jul
MEPs declare ‘this is the moment’ to agree EU long-term budget and recovery fund
It is hoped that Friday’s crunch summit will resolve the current impasse over the budget and €750bn recovery package designed to help EU economies address the impact of the pandemic.
Top Malaysian executive sets his sights on Europe Partner Content
16 Jul
Top Malaysian executive sets his sights on Europe
Vinod Sekhar, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Petra Group, presents the EU with a unique opportunity to revolutionise the way rubber is recycled, writes Datu Sadja Matthew Pajares Yngson.
Global challenges require global solutions Partner Content
15 Jul
Global challenges require global solutions
Why today’s opening of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol to European brands and retailers matters.
Book Review: 'The Broken Contract' - How reinventing bureaucracy can save democracy Partner Content
15 Jul
Book Review: "The Broken Contract" - How reinventing bureaucracy can save democracy
Muddassar Ahmed explains why for the survival of democracy, governments must roll back excessive bureaucracy.
European Parliament keen to play key role in boosting actions to tackle AMR
14 Jul
European Parliament keen to play key role in boosting actions to tackle AMR
COVID-19 may only be a foretaste of what we could expect from a world where antimicrobials are no longer effective, explains deputy chair of the European Parliament’s MEP interest group on AMR, Tiemo Wölken
Europe's Moment
14 Jul
Europe's Moment
EU leaders must grasp the nettle and deliver on citizens’ expectations by negotiating a strong budget, agreeing the Next Generation EU recovery plan and providing global leadership, argues European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Fisheries stakeholders on tenterhooks over Brexit deal
14 Jul
Fisheries stakeholders on tenterhooks over Brexit deal
Failure to agree mutual access to fishing waters post-Brexit could threaten the whole Common Fisheries Policy, putting Europe’s fishermen in peril, warns Grace O’Sullivan.
COVID-19: Towards a resilient agriculture model in Africa Partner Content
14 Jul
COVID-19: Towards a resilient agriculture model in Africa
OCP Africa is helping African farmers cope during the COVID-19 crisis, explains Colin Mackay.
Europe's innovation strength: Standards Partner Content
13 Jul
Europe's innovation strength: Standards
Don Rosenberg explains why the key to Europe's technology sovereignty in the age of 5G is open standardisation.
Issue 519 | 13 July 2020
13 Jul
Issue 519 | 13 July 2020
Ursula von der Leyen graces the cover of this issue, our final before the summer break, as the European Commission President looks to galvanise the support of EU heads of state and Government behind her revised EU budget and Coronavirus recovery plan. Ahead of this week’s special summit of EU leaders in Brussels on 17-18 July, she argues, in an exclusive article for The Parliament Magazine, that, “Europe’s citizens have high expectations, and rightly so. This is the moment to meet their expectations - with a strong budget, with the Next Generation EU recovery instrument and with sustained leadership in the world. This is Europe’s moment.”
New AMR Action Fund could be ‘game changer’ in battle against antimicrobial resistance
10 Jul
New AMR Action Fund could be ‘game changer’ in battle against antimicrobial resistance
Fund’s launch comes with warning that up to ten million lives could be lost globally each year by 2050 to antimicrobial resistant ‘superbugs’.
Development policy: engaging the world on equal footing
10 Jul
Development policy: engaging the world on equal footing
Development is not something achieved through economic means alone, it’s about learning from each other’s experiences, argues Norbert Neuser.
Names of MEPs who will sit on European parliament’s new committees announced
10 Jul
Names of MEPs who will sit on European parliament’s new committees announced
Parliament has set up a subcommittee on taxation, three special committees - one on cancer, another on artificial intelligence and a third on foreign interference - and a committee of inquiry on animal transport.
Charles Michel tables plan to break impasse on EU’s Coronavirus recovery fund and next long term budget
10 Jul
Charles Michel tables plan to break impasse on EU’s Coronavirus recovery fund and next long term budget
European Council president’s ‘new’ proposal focuses on funding elements around climate change, the rule of law and Brexit.