The EU’s funding plans for Kyiv hit a Belgian wall — now what?
31 Oct Foreign & Security Policy

The EU’s funding plans for Kyiv hit a Belgian wall — now what?

With Belgium blocking the use of frozen Russian assets, the European Commission is floating joint EU debt. But the idea may be more leverage than lifeline.
by Peder Schaefer
The Netherlands turns the page on far-right rule
30 Oct Member States
The Netherlands turns the page on far-right rule
Lídia Pereira: Europe’s climate ambition needs a reset
29 Oct EU Institutions
Lídia Pereira: Europe’s climate ambition needs a reset
Europe’s climate credibility hangs in the balance at COP30
28 Oct Energy & Environment
Europe’s climate credibility hangs in the balance at COP30
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01 Apr 21
Embracing equality in a digital era
Unless urgent action is taken women will become victims of digital discrimination, a recent event heard. Martin Banks reports.
01 Apr 21
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
01 Apr 21
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
When the dust of the Coronavirus crisis settles, we must consider new ways of responding to future threats that ensure Europe’s citizens do not suffer, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
01 Apr 21
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
The Commission said it will launch an infringement procedure against Poland over the “muzzle law”, which allows the government to penalise Polish judges for their rulings.
01 Apr 21
Making animal welfare a priority
The misapplication of EU animal transport legislation poses a great threat to animal welfare. But before tightening EU law, we must first ensure its correct application, argues Marlene Mortler.
01 Apr 21
Animal Welfare: Creating a win-win situation for all
COVID-19 has made us all much more aware of the intricate interconnections between biodiversity, animal welfare and human health, writes Manuela Ripa.
01 Apr 21
Ensuring healthcare continuity
More needs to be done to ensure the proper transition of care for those suffering from PKU. Adult patients must not be forgotten, explains Seán Kelly.
01 Apr 21
Racism kills in Europe too
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in the United States sparked widespread anti-racism protests, but racism is a worldwide issue and we are far from blame-free in Europe, argues Hilde Vautmans. 
31 Mar 21
Four countries hoping to join EU must make progress on ‘fundamental’ internal reforms
Parliamentary reports on the accession ambitions of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia say each “need to continue focus” on reforms.
31 Mar 21
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
The row surrounds the EU’s new rule of law conditionality mechanism, recently adopted by the European Commission.
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31 Mar 21
2021: A year of opportunity for sustainability in Africa
We are at a turning point; now is our chance to create a better, safer and more sustainable world for future generations, writes Zuneid Yousuf.
30 Mar 21
Conference on Future of Europe must restore sense of purpose to EU post-Brexit, says former UK MEP
Andrew Duff’s comments come with the EU about to embark on arguably its biggest ever reflection on the future of the Union.
30 Mar 21
Women’s Rights Committee joins chorus of criticism of gender imbalance on CoFoE Board
At present, only one member of the European Parliament’s seven representatives on the Conference on the Future of Europe’s all-powerful Executive Board is a woman.
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30 Mar 21
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility
Saudi Arabia is leading international efforts to stabilise the country and bring an end to the war, writes HE Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the European Union, Saad Bin Mohammed Alarify.
29 Mar 21
‘Very few’ Europeans believe US will intervene on their behalf in military crisis
In a pan-European survey of over 15,000 citizens in ten EU Member States, just 10 percent held the view that the US was a “reliable” security partner that will always protect Europe.
29 Mar 21
New US administration an opportunity to ‘rebuild’ EU-US transatlantic partnership, says David Sassoli
Joe Biden’s participation at EU summit interpreted as clear signal of Washington’s reengagement with EU.
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29 Mar 21
Fit for the digital age
The coming years will test our ability to bridge divides and enhance cooperation, but we shall never forget that we are stronger together, says Berta Herrero
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29 Mar 21
Iran: Europe’s greatest post-COVID security threat
Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has taken a hawkish tone with EU; he now claims Biden is playing softball with Iran, writes Emir Gürbüz.
29 Mar 21
Issue 533 | 29 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Romanian Renew Europe deputy Vlad Gheorghe, who was a just toddler when Romania’s 50-year experiment with Communism came crashing down in December 1989. He explains to editor Brian Johnson how the country’s integration back into the EU fold has been a major factor in shaping his politics and worldview.
25 Mar 21
Former UK Europe Minister welcomes fresh bid to defuse ever-growing EU-UK vaccine tensions
The EU and the UK are locked in a bitter ongoing dispute about the availability of vaccines, in particular the AstraZeneca jab.
25 Mar 21
Lack of gender balance on CoFoE Executive Board ignites criticism
Polish MEP Danuta Hubner, a former EU Commissioner, said she was “pissed off” at the relative lack of female representation on the all-powerful Executive Board for the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe.
24 Mar 21
MEPs to hold emergency debate on rule of law in Malta
On Thursday, Parliament will discuss the rule of law in the tiny Mediterranean island and recent developments in the investigation of the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
24 Mar 21
Conference on the Future of Europe beset by gender imbalance claims
A flagship attempt to reform the EU has hit another obstacle before it even starts, this time over a lack of gender balance in its Executive Board.
24 Mar 21
Commission goes on offensive in bid to deflect alarm at vaccine programme
Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday, Sandra Gallina, the executive’s Director General of health, launched a blistering attack on AstraZeneca, the pharma company at the centre of a huge spat with the EU over vaccine supplies.