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
Frans Timmermans urged to step down during Commission presidency campaign
18 Jan
Frans Timmermans urged to step down during Commission presidency campaign
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans has been urged to step down as a commissioner while he campaigns for the presidency of the executive.
DRC election crisis is the litmus test for a true EU-Africa partnership Partner Content
17 Jan
DRC election crisis is the litmus test for a true EU-Africa partnership
With diplomatic relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the EU at an all-time low, the country's election crisis will be a litmus test as to whether the EU has serious intentions about renewing its relationship with Africa, explain Willy Fautré & Lea Perekrests.
UK has two options: alternative deal or stop Brexit, says senior MEP
17 Jan
UK has two options: alternative deal or stop Brexit, says senior MEP
Senior Labour MEP Richard Corbett says the failure to approve Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons this week has left the UK facing only two options.
How Europe has priced out innovation: the example of plants Partner Content
16 Jan
How Europe has priced out innovation: the example of plants
Europe is lagging behind on several breakthrough technologies, especially in the field of agricultural biotechnology, explains Joanna Dupont-Inglis.
Dutch government confirms UK nationals will retain existing rights if UK leaves the EU without a deal
16 Jan
Dutch government confirms UK nationals will retain existing rights if UK leaves the EU without a deal
The Dutch Government’s guarantee to British residents in the Netherlands in the event of no-deal Brexit has been welcomed by a group championing EU citizenship rights.
MEPs say ball is in UK court over future relationship with EU
16 Jan
MEPs say ball is in UK court over future relationship with EU
MEPs are adamant that a no-deal Brexit would be in no one’s interest and say that it is up to the UK to make it clear what type of relationship it wants with the European Union.
Theresa May suffers historic drubbing in UK Parliament Brexit vote
16 Jan
Theresa May suffers historic drubbing in UK Parliament Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been overwhelmingly defeated in a House of Commons vote, by 432 votes to 202.
EU leaders pay tribute to slain Gdansk mayor
15 Jan
EU leaders pay tribute to slain Gdansk mayor
EU leaders have paid tribute to Paweł Adamowicz, the mayor of Gdansk, who died after being stabbed by a knife-wielding assailant at the weekend.
Udo Bullmann: Give the British people a chance to ‘reassess’ Brexit
15 Jan
Udo Bullmann: Give the British people a chance to ‘reassess’ Brexit
Socialist group leader Udo Bullmann has branded the UK a “divided nation”, saying he has “severe doubts” there is a majority among the public to leave the EU and that the British people should be given a chance to “reassess the situation.”
European Green Party leaders urge second Brexit referendum
15 Jan
European Green Party leaders urge second Brexit referendum
The two joint leaders of the European Green Party have called for a second referendum on Brexit.
UK risks of becoming a ‘rogue state’ under no deal Brexit, warns veteran Belgian MEP
14 Jan
UK risks of becoming a ‘rogue state’ under no deal Brexit, warns veteran Belgian MEP
Philippe Lamberts says UK would no longer be seen as a reliable partner on world stage.
Movers and Shakers | 14 January 2019
14 Jan
Movers and Shakers | 14 January 2019
Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our movers and shakers column. on 14 January 2019
Article 50 extension looking likely as crunch UK Brexit vote looms
14 Jan
Article 50 extension looking likely as crunch UK Brexit vote looms
As the furore surrounding Brexit reaches fever pitch, with British MPs widely expected to jettison Theresa May’s deal, the question remains - what next?
129 MEPs pen heartfelt letter to UK citizens urging end to “Brexit disaster”
13 Jan
129 MEPs pen heartfelt letter to UK citizens urging end to “Brexit disaster”
A cross-party, 26-nation group of MEPs has issued a last-ditch plea to the UK to reconsider leaving the EU.
EU must ‘step up its fight’ against fraud, says Court of Auditors’ report
11 Jan
EU must ‘step up its fight’ against fraud, says Court of Auditors’ report
A damning new report published this week by the European Court of Auditors says that the European Commission lacks “comprehensive information on the scale, nature and causes” of fraud.
EU lifts Thailand’s yellow card on tackling illegal fishing
11 Jan
EU lifts Thailand’s yellow card on tackling illegal fishing
The European Commission has taken Thailand off its group of "warned countries" as recognition of its “progress” in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Anthony Gardner: ‘Disdain for EU’ in Washington brought about diplomatic downgrade
11 Jan
Anthony Gardner: ‘Disdain for EU’ in Washington brought about diplomatic downgrade
A former US ambassador to the EU has angrily condemned President Trump’s decision to “downgrade” the role of his counterpart in Washington.
Article 50 extension could see UK participation in European elections
10 Jan
Article 50 extension could see UK participation in European elections
As the UK prepares to wrap up its acrimonious divorce from the EU, questions are now being raised as to whether Article 50 will have to be extended, and if so, whether this could mean UK candidates participating in the European elections in May.
EU member states struggling to make distinction between asylum and immigration, says Syed Kamall
10 Jan
EU member states struggling to make distinction between asylum and immigration, says Syed Kamall
Senior MEP accuses some countries, including EU member states, of hypocrisy in how they deal with immigration.
European Parliament urged to honour commitment to EU 'Green Card’
10 Jan
European Parliament urged to honour commitment to EU 'Green Card’
Campaigners pressing for a “green card” for Europe are calling on the European Parliament to “honour the commitment” to safeguard the free movement right of Britons in Europe.
EU lights for Colchester camera action
10 Jan
EU lights for Colchester camera action
No ifs or buts: Consent-based rape legislation must apply across EU
09 Jan
No ifs or buts: Consent-based rape legislation must apply across EU
Despite most EU countries having signed and ratified the Istanbul Convention on violence against women, there is still a large disparity between Member States in the interpretation of what is deemed consensual, writes the EESC’s Madi Sharma.
Challenging times lie ahead as Romania kicks off EU Presidency
09 Jan
Challenging times lie ahead as Romania kicks off EU Presidency
Romania has taken over the rotating presidency of the EU, for the first time since joining the bloc in 2007, with warnings that it faces multiple challenges during its six-month tenure.
Brexit deal could be nudged through with a ‘judicious tweak'
08 Jan
Brexit deal could be nudged through with a ‘judicious tweak'
Former UK MEP Andrew Duff says a “tweak” of the political declaration agreed by the EU and UK could help Theresa May get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons next week.