Moldovans head to polls in major test for EU future

Authorities tell POLITICO they are working to fight Russian interference after first-round vote was marred by allegations of bribery and intimidation.

Moldova warns of Russian โ€˜disruptiveโ€™ moves against overseas voting in Sundayโ€™s runoff

Moscow’s “disruptive activities” could include fake bomb threats, according to documents obtained by Welt am Sonntag.

To Ursula, with love: Paris sends Brussels the anti-Breton

Franceโ€™s incoming commissioner is a Macron loyalist who prefers backroom dealing to attention-grabbing stunts.

Georgiaโ€™s EU accession halted as country โ€˜has gone backwardsโ€™

A critical progress report on EU accession delivers a blow to the Georgian government, already in crisis over election fraud allegations.

How Putinโ€™s grip on the east could influence EUโ€™s Enlargement Package

In this episode, host Giada Santana and policy analyst Teona Lavrelashvili, discuss the successes and failures of EU enlargement policy amid Eastern Europeโ€™s shifting political landscape.

Georgia election marred by intimidation and interference, observers warn

Opposition leaders have decried the voting as rigged.

Anxiety looms over Georgiaโ€™s parliamentary election as voters cast ballots

Pivotal vote in the South Caucasian country kicks off in a tense environment.

Putin is the ‘biggest promoter’ of EU enlargement, Croatian PM Plenkovic says

We speak to one of the most seasoned players on the European stage, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his eight years in office, he has experienced the latter stages of the 2015-16 migrant crisis, the Covid pandemic, and the impact of t…

Europe or Russia? For Georgians, the choice isnโ€™t so simple

The Georgian government has been effectively exploiting the country’s war trauma, and it could give them a lead in the election.

Unquiet on the Eastern front: Why Brussels is losing to Moscow

In countries seeking to join the EU, the European Dream is running into the Russian fist.

Von der Leyen tours Western Balkans in latest EU enlargement drive

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen kicked off a four-day trip to the Western Balkans, where she will meet with the leaders of Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro to discuss their progress tow…

Von der Leyen starts Balkans tour, says enlargement โ€˜top priorityโ€™

Discussions around EU enlargement in the region of almost 18 million people stretch back 20 years, with Brussels blowing hot and cold during that period.

Is this the end for Georgian Dream?ย 

Despite the dire circumstances, Georgia’s more progressive and more prepared for European transformation than at any other time in its independent history.ย 

8 things to know about Georgiaโ€™s โ€˜existentialโ€™ election

Foreign policy will be kingmaker when Georgians cast their votes on Saturday.

Kos pledges to ramp up EU strategic comms on enlargement in light of disinformation

Suspected Russian-backed disinformation campaigns in Moldova and Georgia have raised questions on the EU’s counternarrative.

Kosovoโ€™s Kurti opposes replication of Italy-Albania migration deals in Balkans

EU enlargement “is the best response to those who seek to fracture Europe’s security and unity,” Kosovo’s prime minister added.

โ€˜Artificialโ€™ crowds in Russia aim to disrupt EU referendum, Moldova warns

The Kremlin has been accused of vote-buying and using proxies to influence the outcome of the vote in Moldova.

Deciding Moldovaโ€™s European future

Sundayโ€™s results will show whether the country’s efforts to avoid their own ‘Brexit moment’ will succeed.

Battle for Moldovaโ€™s future: Gendered disinformation is Russiaโ€™s secret weapon

Much like the US vice president, who has similarly been the target of disinformation campaigns, Sanduโ€™s candidacy has been a lightning rod for misogyny cloaked in political rhetoric.

Moldova faces โ€˜existentialโ€™ EU vote in face of Russian interference

Moscow is using cash and fear in an attempt to regain control of the former Soviet Republic, officials warn.

Albania begins EU accession talks

But it could still take decades before the country joins the bloc.

Albania-EU membership talks to kick off with corruption, checks and balances

Join host Giada Santana and senior editor Alice Taylor in unpacking the start of Albania’s EU membership negotiations.

EU Enlargement: The overlooked factor in the EUโ€™s 2040 climate targets

How will new EU members’ unique energy starting pointsโ€”particularly those that are highly dependent on fossil fuels or have outdated energy infrastructureโ€”impact the Unionโ€™s overall ability to meet its 2040 targets?

The EU is helping Turkey forcibly deport migrants to Syria and Afghanistan

European taxpayers finance ill-treatment and forced expulsion, an investigation found.

The last 20 years of cohesion policy show the urgent need for reform [Advocacy Lab Content]

On the 20th anniversary of the EU in 2004, and ahead of the next wave of enlargement, there is an ongoing debate about the future of cohesion policy. A debate at the 22nd European Week of the Regions highlighted the significant economic and political b…

Leaked: Tense correspondence between EU commissioner hopefuls and Parliament

Still, the 23 nominees were cleared by the institution’s legal committee for hearings in early November.

Could Russiaโ€™s invasion of Ukraine have been prevented? NATOโ€™s outgoing chief thinks so.ย 

Jens Stoltenberg reflects on the past and future of the military alliance.

Europeโ€™s naivety toward Iran is misplaced

To date, the EUโ€™s Iran policy has been ineffective and seriously flawed. And the bloc’s leaders need to wake up to the security threat Tehran poses.

Poland and Ukraineโ€™s bloody past overshadows their anti-Russia alliance

Thousands died in wartime massacres and Warsaw wants Kyiv to admit responsibility and allow for exhumations and reburial of the victims.

Ukraine will never join NATO on my watch, says Slovakia PM Fico

The admission of new countries to NATO requires unanimous agreement by alliance members.

European Commission maps out โ€˜power grabโ€™ over โ‚ฌ1.2 trillion money pot

The Commission floated merging 530 programs into one national cash pot.

EU should keep options open until after October elections, Georgian president says

In an exclusive interview with Euractiv, President Salome Zourabishvili said she hoped to see “European partners ready to take us back” towards accession following Georgia’s October elections

Leaked documents: Which EU commissioners have the most property, money and influence

POLITICO has reviewed the declarations of interest of every European Commission nominee.

Russia paying people to vote against joining EU, Moldova warns

Moscow has built a “mafia-style” network to distribute cash ahead of a critical referendum on the country’s future, top Moldovan officials told POLITICO.

Hungarian health commissioner-designate to face tough questioning from MEPs

Vรกrhelyi is expected to be grilled by the environment, public health and food safety (ENVI), and agriculture (AGRI) committees, as many MEPs were critical of his past work as commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement,

Moldova accuses Russia of trying to rig its EU referendum

The Kremlin is deploying disinformation and cash as Moldova heads to the polls, Chiศ™inฤƒu’s national security chief tells POLITICO.

Slovenian prime minister backs Commission nominee after controversy

In interview with POLITICO, Robert Golob also says “chemistry” with von der Leyen helped Kos land the nomination

EESC, Albania establish Joint Consultative Committee, including civil society in EU integration process [Advocacy Lab Content]

Albania and the European Economic and Social Committee will set up a Joint Consultative Committee as Albania moves forward on its European Union integration path.

Von der Leyenโ€™s first 100 days: What sheโ€™s promised, what it means and what sheโ€™ll really deliver

The Commission president is promising to move quickly with far-reaching reforms. How credible is her plan?

What Europeโ€™s new enlargement czar, Marta Kos, means for Ukraine

The left-leaning Slovene has made conciliatory comments toward Russia after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The 5 commissioners most likely to get the chop

Once every five years the European Parliament gets to pick off a nominee or two โ€” and rarely fails to do so.

Georgian PM blasts EU for visa โ€˜blackmailโ€™ as election crackdown looms

The country’s pivot toward Moscow could cost its citizens their ability to travel, according to unconfirmed reports.

Err โ€ฆ him?! EUโ€™s new animal welfare chief yet to win hearts and minds

Campaigners had hoped for someone with “some kind of experience” in animal welfare issues and “a heart for animals.”

The winners and losers of the new European Commission

What the portfolios tell us about the EUโ€™s power dynamics.

5 takeaways on Ursula von der Leyenโ€™s new Commission

As the dust settles after weeks of wrangling, here are the key things you need to know.

Sloveniaโ€™s Kos takes enlargement file as Ljubljana manoeuvres itself into portfolio upgrade

After a week of wrangling between Brussels and Ljubljana, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen designated Slovenia’s Marta Kos for the bloc’s coveted enlargement portfolio.

Meet the commissioners: Class of 2024

Everything you need to know about Ursula von der Leyen’s team for her second term.

Ursula von der Leyenโ€™s new European Commission

Commission president hands out the top jobs in her new team.

The EU must soon open its doors to new members โ€“ its survival depends on it | Nathalie Tocci

The days when Viktor Orbรกn could block negotiations on a whim should be over โ€“ and the western Balkans should finally benefit Russiaโ€™s invasion of Ukraine has revived EU expansion as an imperative. For years, โ€œenlargementโ€ has been a low priority โ€“ Cro…

The great Commission puzzle: Who we think will get each portfolio

Ursula von der Leyen is about to hand out key jobs in her team. Hereโ€™s POLITICOโ€™s version of the next Commission.

The trials of the next Enlargement Commissioner

Welcome to Euractivโ€™s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU from a global perspective. You can subscribe to receive our newsletterย here. Dear readers,ย  In todayโ€™s edition: a closer look at what lies ahead for the European Commission’s…

The other European proxy war

Serbia gets pulled โ€” and pulls itself โ€” sharply between East and West. Where it ends up will help decide which Great Power emerges triumphant.

Metsola in Warsaw urges EU reform to cope with enlargement

The European Unionโ€™s current structure would not be appropriate if it were to include more than 30 members, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said after meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Wednesday.

EU warns Georgia not to ban opposition parties

“All options are on the table” if the bombshell plan goes ahead, the Commission told POLITICO.

Von der Leyenโ€™s second term from hell

Thought the pandemic and Ukraine were tough? The next five years could be worse.

Georgia goes โ€˜North Koreaโ€™ with bombshell plan to ban main opposition parties

EU ambitions face new blow as analyst warns the government’s move “would be the end of Georgia’s democracy.”

Ukraineโ€™s envoy expects new EU team to expand assistance, engagement

With the European Union’s new leadership soon in place, Ukraine is looking to the bloc’s new team for more assistance and a swifter accession, Kyiv’s envoy to Brussels, Vsevolod Chentsov, told Euractiv.

German chancellor says Ukraine aid will continue despite savings push

“We will be Ukraine’s biggest national supporter in Europe,” Scholz told reporters during a visit to the Moldovan capital.

Von der Leyenโ€™s new Commission: The names we know so far โ€” as Belgium misses deadline

Almost all the nominees have been put forward for the next top team of EU commissioners.

Lithuaniaโ€™s top envoy drops bid to be European commissioner

Gabrielius Landsbergis pulls out as the country’s president blocks his plan to move to Brussels.

Mark Rutteโ€™s first NATO task: Find a right-hand woman

Two senior former officials from North Macedonia and Bulgaria are among those competing to become the incoming NATO chief’s deputy.

Tusk names ally Piotr Serafin as Polandโ€™s next EU commissioner pick

Piotr Serafin, currently Poland’s ambassador to the EU, is expected to vie for influential portfolios including budget.

Hungary continues Commissioner fight, Brussels must resist

Though Hungary has missed out on a top European Commissioner job, its government has made clear it is not giving up the fight, with Orbรกn again nominating Vรกrhelyi as EU Commissioner for the Neighborhood and Enlargement, writes Irakli Machaidze.

Orbรกn isnโ€™t as isolated as you think

The Hungarian leader has been able to build a coalition of like-minded allies who share his strategic goal โ€” creating โ€œa Europe of nation states.โ€

European Commission bans staff from accepting Olympics freebies

After a string of scandals, the bloc’s executive arm warns officials not to be tempted by complimentary tickets.

Hungary nominates Olivรฉr Vรกrhelyi for second term as EU commissioner

The pick will likely not be received well by Ursula von der Leyen.

China pressures lawmakers from Slovakia, other countries to skip Taiwan summit

China contacted lawmakers in a bid to pressure them to not attend a democracy summit on the island of Taiwan.

Who will be the next European commissioners?

What we know so far about Ursula von der Leyenโ€™s next top team.

Klaus Welle talks defense commissioner, EU budget

SNEAK PEEK โ€” The European Parliamentโ€™s former secretary general, Klaus Welle, talks to Jacopo about the defense commissioner role, the EU budget, and why itโ€™s time for a full defense committee. โ€” U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey meets with counterparts from Japan and Italy today to discuss GCAP. โ€” European Parliament committees vote on their [โ€ฆ]

Azerbaijan leader vows to support French territories against โ€˜colonial ruleโ€™

President Ilham Aliyev’s comment come against the backdrop of unprecedently high tensions between Paris and Baku.

Von der Leyen is in! Let the fighting over the next European Commission begin.ย 

EU leaders will fight back against โ€œtoo powerfulโ€ von der Leyen as she assembles her team.

Von der Leyen pitches new portfolio for Mediterranean, teases enlargement file split

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (18 July) announced she would create a separate portfolio to deal with the Mediterranean, as part of her next team, signalling her next term will pay more attention to the region.

To do: 6 thorny issues lurking in MEPsโ€™ inboxes

From creating an EU-wide money market to protecting kids online, POLITICO looks at what lies ahead for lawmakers.

NATOโ€™s false promises are encouraging misplaced Ukrainian hopes

The alliance’s irresponsible policy toward Ukraine continues, providing false hope, making peace less likely and the war more dangerous.

France: EU files the left coalition agrees on โ€“ and those it could divorce overย 

The left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) coalition, the relative winner of Franceโ€™s snap legislative elections, is set to lead negotiations on a future coalition government but internal disagreements over a few fundamental EU files could test the al…

EU announces Georgiaโ€™s accession is โ€˜stoppedโ€™ after anti-West pivot

Tens of millions of euros in financial assistance will also be frozen as part of the decision, according to Brussels’ envoy.

Democracyโ€™s at risk, itโ€™s time politicians stopped fibbing

Politicians and the truth have always been strained acquaintances, but faced with populist fabulists in our current post-truth era, is deception really the way to go?

Macronโ€™s gamble creates major fiscal headaches for the EU

Thereโ€™s no politically easy way to find the fiscal space to address the challenges the EU faces. And Franceโ€™s political realities now compound the problem.

With EU bid stuck, Georgia prays for Euro 2024 victory instead

Amid warnings of backsliding on key reforms, the ruling party is focusing on a different type of goal altogether.

Farage let the cat out of the bag โ€” NATO expansion was just an excuse for Putin

Putin was going to do whatever he wanted regardless of what NATO and the EU did or didnโ€™t do โ€” he would have just come up with another excuse to make war, another great lie.

Ukraine, Moldova set sight on next milestones in EU accession process

After Ukraine and Moldova formally opened their accession talks on Tuesday (25 June), they are expected to kick off a process of further aligning their own legislation to the bloc, Euractiv spoke to both countries chief negotiators about their expectat…

Sorry Farage, Putin is provoked by Ukrainian independence โ€” not NATO

By amplifying Putinโ€™s bogus claims of NATOโ€™s responsibility for todayโ€™s war, Western politicians like Trump and Farage risk legitimizing Russian imperialism.

To understand Georgiaโ€™s European identity, look to its past

Itโ€™s important to understand why the Georgian people take to the streets any time their Euro-Atlantic path is put into doubt.

Imprisoned Greek EU lawmaker awaits new court decision

Recent election of Greek MEP imprisoned in Albania fans diplomatic flames.

Israel rejects EU call for ad-hoc summit

The country wants to hold a regular summit once Hungary assumes the presidency of the Council of the EU.

Ukraine and Moldova to start EU membership talks on Tuesday

“I am grateful to everyone on our team who worked hard to make this historic step a reality,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Von der Leyen, Meloni and the battle for Brusselsโ€™ top jobs: Whatโ€™s next?

EU leaders scramble to sign off on top jobs package at a summit next week.