As US recedes, NATO scrambles to find a new leader

The Brits, French, and Germans all have their own ideas about how to defend the continent with Americaโ€™s plans in flux.ย 

โ€˜Thought crimeโ€™ and cancelled elections: how do JD Vanceโ€™s claims about Europe stand up?

US vice-president told litany of tales of Europeโ€™s rights infringements in speech to leaders at defence gatheringJD Vance stuns Munich conference with blistering attack on Europeโ€™s leadersIn JD Vanceโ€™s confrontational and pugnacious speech at the Munic…

The lost children of Romania’s Ceauศ™escu dictatorship

Thirty-five years after the horrors of the Ceauศ™escu dictatorship were discovered in Romania, our reporters investigated one of the darkest episodes in the country’s history โ€“ the squalid, state-run institutions where thousands of children were locked…

Ukraine war briefing: Stray Russian drones โ€˜hit Moldova and Romaniaโ€™

Ukrainian neighbours summon Russian ambassadors citing crashes and explosions on their soil; Europe โ€˜would help Ukraine resist without US helpโ€™. What we know on day 1,087See all our Ukraine war coverageMoldova and Nato member Romania announced they had…

What a supermarket boycott has to do with the Romanian election

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Bucharest-based Global Focus think thank director Oana Popescu โ€“ Zamfir analyse the supermarket boycott phenomenon, and the road ahead the Romanian election.

Romaniaโ€™s Klaus Iohannis announces heโ€™ll resign as president

Longtime leader heads for the exit amid political turmoil in Bucharest.

Romania’s President Iohannis resigns in face of impeachment threat from hard-right opposition

Outgoing Romanian president Klaus Iohannis resigned Monday ahead of a mounting impeachment threat pushed by a coalition of hard-right parties. Iohannis’s mandate was extended in December after the Constitutional Court cancelled last year’s presidentia…

Ukraine war briefing: Putin admits situation โ€˜very difficultโ€™ in Kursk as Kyiv forces mount new offensive

Moscow shows โ€˜indifferenceโ€™ to civilian humanitarian corridor offer, says Zelenskyy; France delivers Mirage jets. What we know on day 1,080Russia said it was battling a new Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, as Kyiv offered a humanitarian corridor for civil…

Putinโ€™s disinformation networks flood social media in bid to skew German election

A Kremlin-backed campaign is trying to influence voters ahead of Feb. 23 poll, according to government report obtained by POLITICO.

Romaniaโ€™s coalition parties unite behind Antonescuโ€™s candidacy

BUCHAREST – Crin Antonescu officially secured backing for the upcoming presidential election during the extraordinary congress of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Sunday, ensuring that the liberal politician has the full support of the governing co…

Anger in Romania over theft of national treasures in heist at Dutch museum

Revered Helmet of Coศ›ofeneศ™ti among items from ancient Dacian civilisation stolen while on loan at Drents MuseumHours before the sun rose over the Netherlands, the group crowded around the large external door, appearing to pry it open. Seconds later, t…

Czechia unhappy with EU automotive talks

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Poland proposing new resources for the EU bloc, including an entry fee for joining, Romania condemning Georgescu over calls to reclaim Ukraine land after a Russian victory, and so much more.
The p…

Three arrested after ancient Romanian artefacts stolen from Dutch museum

2,500-year-old Helmet of Cotofenesti among objects taken after thieves used explosives to enter buildingDutch police have arrested three men in connection with the robbery of ancient Romanian artefacts from a museum in the north-east of the Netherlands…

The West is trying to interfere in our elections, Russia moans

Kremlin whacks the U.S. with claim about vote-meddling.

Orbรกnโ€™s power to disrupt is exaggerated

The economic difficulties facing the Hungarian leader with will further undermine his ability to hijack โ€” let alone drive โ€” the EUโ€™s agenda.

Greek court orders extradition of Israeli billionaire on Romanian corruption charges

Beny Steinmetz was convicted of participating in a scheme to take ownership of land once owned by Romanian monarchs.

Fico shuns mounting political crisis, unveils plans to change constitution

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about stolen antiques fuelling conspiracies in Romania, a Polish minister calling for the boycott of Tesla, and so much more.
The post Fico shuns mounting political crisis, unveils plans to change const…

Fact-checkers under fire as Big Tech pulls back

Meta’s move to ditch fact-checking put a target on the back of fake-news fighters, they warn.

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 โ€“ in pictures

Eighty years on from the day Soviet troops arrived at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, survivors, international heads of state and dignitaries gathered at the site in Poland where more than 1 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered. Intern…

Romanian government fumes after national treasures stolen in Dutch museum heist

Bucharest will send a “firm message” to the Dutch authorities, PM says.

Slovakia leads EU charge to rein in supermarket power

Slovakiaโ€™s right-wing government is spearheading a push to strengthen EU rules on unfair trading practices, saying the current reforms donโ€™t go far enough.

Ukraine war briefing: Putin aiming to โ€˜manipulateโ€™ Trump, Zelenskyy warns

Ukrainian president issues warning after Russiaโ€™s leader said he was โ€˜ready for negotiationsโ€™ with US counterpart on the war. What we know on day 1,067See all our Ukraine coverage Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has warned that his Russian co…

EUโ€™s new economic vision is speaking to Green Deal critics

A draft document shows Brussels putting deregulation before decarbonization.

Slovakiaโ€™s Fico dreams of his โ€˜Maidanโ€™

In todayโ€™s edition of the Capitals, find out more about a YouTube Journalist announcing plans to run for Polish president, Romania getting a replacement for the Patriot system it donated to Ukraine, and so much more.ย 
The post Slovakia’s Fico dre…

Romanian far-right chiefโ€™s bid to reinstate election result fails in European court

The unprecedented cancelation of Romaniaโ€™s vote drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.

Far-right candidate leads in opinion poll ahead of Romania presidential election

In every scenario and against every other competitor, he comes out on top.
The post Far-right candidate leads in opinion poll ahead of Romania presidential election appeared first on Euractiv.

Romanian PM invites Netanyahu in Bucharest despite ICC warrant

As signatory of the ICC Rome Statute, Romania is obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he sets foot in the country.
The post Romanian PM invites Netanyahu in Bucharest despite ICC warrant appeared first on Euractiv.

Romania flags โ€˜national security riskโ€™ in sale of energy company to Hungary

Risks over the sharing of personal data with non-EU entities were among those identified.
The post Romania flags โ€˜national security riskโ€™ in sale of energy company to Hungary appeared first on Euractiv.

Zelenskyy warns Europe: You guys are doomed without us

“Europe without the Ukrainian army will not cope with the Russian army,” the Ukrainian president warns.

UKโ€™s Starmer to sign 100-year treaty with Zelenskyy in Ukraine

British leaderโ€™s trip comes at a key moment, with peace talks on the horizon as Donald Trump returns to power and threatens to shake up the dynamics of war.

The West wants WW3, Romaniaโ€™s presidential front-runner tells conspiracist Alex Jones

Ultranationalist Cฤƒlin Georgescu lashes out at “globalist elite” in rambling interview with hard-right U.S. influencer.

Leader of Moldovaโ€™s separatist region travels to Moscow for gas crisis talks

One option is Russia to start shipments through the Balkan corridor (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania), without Moldova paying off the arrears, an analyst explained.
The post Leader of Moldova’s separatist region travels to Moscow for gas crisis talks a…

Cyprus could join Schengen this year, president says

Cyprus is a unique case as the island has been divided since 1974 between the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish-occupied north.

Russian bots boosted NATO critic ahead of Croatian election, researchers say

โ€œOne seemingly inauthentic Facebook account identified by researchers was found to post over 100 times a day,” the Centre for Information Resilience noted.

Open borders defy rising nationalism in Europe. We must protect them | Alexander Hurst

Reimposing passport checks in the Schengen area creates new political lines in our minds โ€“ and that poses its own dangerWith so many economic and political challenges looming, the EU nevertheless began 2025 with a little bit of its old magic and a remi…

Elena Lasconi to run for president of Romania, ruling coalition candidate unclear

Romania’s ruling coalition agreed on Wednesday to rerun a two-round presidential election on 4 May and 18 May and stuck to an original plan to endorse a single candidate.
The post Elena Lasconi to run for president of Romania, ruling coalition candidat…

Romania sets new election date, but risks same result

Unless he is banned, ultranationalist Cฤƒlin Georgescu seems very much in the race for a presidential rerun in May.

US to lift visa requirement for Romanian citizens

At present, Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria are the only EU countries whose nationals still need a visa to enter the US.
The post US to lift visa requirement for Romanian citizens appeared first on Euractiv.

13 times Elon Musk meddled in politics

The X owner and Donald Trump pick will never, ever stop posting โ€” governments be damned.

Headless Europe: As the crises mount, the continentโ€™s leaders are AWOL

Political uncertainty in several EU countries could weaken the bloc’s hand in talks with Donald Trump.
The post Headless Europe: As the crises mount, the continent’s leaders are AWOL appeared first on Euractiv.

5 green targets EU countries will (mostly) miss in 2025

EU countries are behind on most, if not all, their sustainability commitments.

Starved of gas, industry shuts down in pro-Russian region of Moldova

Transnistria has for several years paid nothing for supplies from Russian gas giant Gazprom under a tacit understanding with Moscow.
The post Starved of gas, industry shuts down in pro-Russian region of Moldova appeared first on Euractiv.

Ukraine war briefing: New Yearโ€™s Day drone strike kills two in Kyiv

Explosions boomed across the morning sky as Ukraineโ€™s air force warned of incoming drones. What we know on day 1,044See all our Ukraine war coverage Russia launched a New Yearโ€™s Day drone strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing…

Romanian appeals court upholds scrubbing fishy presidential election

The vote was annulled after a Kremlin-led influence campaign catapulted a pro-Russia candidate into the lead.

Truck drivers celebrate as Romania, Bulgaria join borderless Schengen area

Lorry drivers, who currently wait up to 20 hours at border crossings, celebrated the news of Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen accession.
The post Truck drivers celebrate as Romania, Bulgaria join borderless Schengen area appeared first on Euractiv.

Ukraine calls Slovakiaโ€™s bluff as Fico threatens power cutoff over Russia gas deal spat

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko also says Kyiv can buy electricity from Romania and Poland if it loses supplies from Bratislava.

Romaniaโ€™s new government hikes taxes, caps public sector wages and pensions

The prospect of presidential and parliamentary elections in Romania in November and December had triggered a spending surge that was expected to push the 2024 budget deficit to 8.6% of GDP.
The post Romania’s new government hikes taxes, caps publ…

2024 by the numbers โ€• from victims of war to a warming planet

Out with the old, in with the … old. Familiar trends characterized a year of elections and bloodshed.

POLITICOโ€™s most-read stories of 2024

Elections, war and porn: The stories that captured your attention over the past 12 months.

Ukraine war briefing: Biden slams Russiaโ€™s โ€˜outrageousโ€™ Christmas Day assault on Ukraine

President reaffirms US weapons support to Kyiv after Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, which Zelenskyy condemned as โ€˜inhumanโ€™. What we know on day 1,037See all our Ukraine war coverageJoe Biden has asked the US defence department to continue it…

Romanian coalition government secures parliament confidence vote

The pro-European coalition government includes Ciolacu’s Social Democrats, centre-right Liberals and the ethnic Hungarian Party UDMR.
The post Romanian coalition government secures parliament confidence vote appeared first on Euractiv.

Romania forms new pro-European coalition government amid political crisis

Romanian lawmakers narrowly approved a new pro-European coalition government on Monday, led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move seeks to end a political crisis sparked by far-right gains in recent elections and the annulment of the pr…

All eyes and hands on deck ahead of Croatiaโ€™s presidential elections

โ€œI do recognise the patterns: spread lies to put doubt in peopleโ€™s minds and primarily attack female politicians,” Geese told Euractiv
The post All eyes and hands on deck ahead of Croatia’s presidential elections appeared first on Euractiv.

Romanian president โ€˜optimisticโ€™ about prospects for pro-European majority government

“Negotiations continue today and I am optimistic that I will be in a position to designate a prime minister after parliament votes the leaders of its two chambers,” President Klaus Iohannis said.
The post Romanian president ‘optimistic’ abo…

How Putin won the Romanian election

Voters on NATOโ€™s eastern flank were already ripe for Moscowโ€™s manipulation, after decadesย ofย misrule.

Report ties Romanian liberals to TikTok campaign that fueled pro-Russia candidate

A campaign from a governing center-right party may have been hijacked to benefit far-right candidate Cฤƒlin Georgescu, snoop.ro report shows.

Borissov no longer backs Ukraine security deal, expects incoming peace

In todayโ€™s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Romania’s PSD withdrawing from coalition talks despite coming first in the elections, Sรกnchez’s PSOE filing an irregular financing claim against Vox, and so much more.ย 
The post Borissov no longer…

Europeโ€™s biggest dietary problem? Lobbyists, says Nutri-Score creator.

Franceโ€™s Serge Hercberg warns that disinformation is shortening the lives of consumers.

Russia says it will protect its citizens in Moldovaโ€™s Transnistria

The statement was made as the parliament of the separatist enclave of Transnistria appealed to Moscow for help resolving disruptions in natural gas supply.
The post Russia says it will protect its citizens in Moldova’s Transnistria appeared first…

Ukraine war briefing: Trump envoy Kellogg plans Kyiv fact-finding trip โ€“ sources

Bombed Russian general was accused over banned chemical weapons use in Ukraine; Nato takes over role of Ramstein group. What we know on day 1,029Donald Trumpโ€™s incoming Ukraine envoy, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, will travel to Kyiv and several other …

EU launches probe into TikTok over ‘interference’ in Romania’s presidential election

‘Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act,’ Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

Russia continues to ship oil directly to the EU despite sanctions, investigation finds

Russian oil arrived at ports in Romania and Bulgaria in November 2024, the investigation found.
The post Russia continues to ship oil directly to the EU despite sanctions, investigation finds appeared first on Euractiv.

EU meets the moment on TikTok and the Romanian election

Commission will probe the platformโ€™s protections against foreign interference and election meddling.

In Romania, the dubious role of French-Romanian mercenaries in the campaign of the pro-Russian presidential candidate

Romanian authorities are investigating the presence of former members of the French Foreign Legion, now active in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the country following the cancellation of the elections.

Bucharest mayor enters Romanian presidential race

“We are at a turning point,” says successful local politician after previous presidential runoff round was canceled by top court over foreign influence concerns.

Press release – President Metsola welcomes the accession of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen

President Metsola opened the 16-19 December plenary session in Strasbourg by praising Georgiaโ€™s protestors, and marking the cyclone in Mayotte with a minuteโ€™s silence for victims. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2024 – EP

Influencers, bot accounts and illegal ads: The troubling interference campaign that annulled Romania’s election

A vast influence operation, which was well-financed and partly run from Poland, sought to manipulate the Romanian presidential election, which has been annulled by the Constitutional Court.

Italian court okโ€™s referendum on controversial autonomy law

In todayโ€™s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the economic benefits of Romania’s full Schengen accession, Polandโ€™s Morawiecki set to replace Meloni as ECR head, and so much more.ย 
The post Italian court ok’s referendum on controversial …

Why Nigel Farageโ€™s path to power runs through a rainswept seaside town

The Reform leader has aspirations to enter 10 Downing Street as prime minister in a few years hence โ€” but will his globetrotting ways and love of the camera cause disillusion among his new constituents?

TikTok influencers flee Romania amid tax probe into their election role

Romanian tax authorities are now investigating ultranationalist Cฤƒlin Georgescu and the TikTok activists who promoted his campaign.

Romania and Bulgaria get the Schengen green light

The internal land borders will be lifted as of January.