Deforestation rules divide EU institutions as delay gains ground
Amid a tight deadline, capitals call for delay while Parliament wants to speed things up
EU institutions
Europeโs energy transition must power a stronger tomorrow
Europeโs energy transition must balance climate ambition with competitiveness. The power sector, as a strategic enabler, is key to ensuring affordable, secure and sustainable growth across EU industries.
EU Parliament lawmakers vote to sue Commission over withdrawn patent bill
The patents are at the center of a battle between the companies that own them and those that use them.
Lawmakers bash EU recruitment office over online exams for Brussels jobs
EPSO is โworking tirelesslyโ to โdeliver a better candidate experience,โ its director Olivier Salles told POLITICO
EU solar power lobby buckled under legal pressure from Huawei
The Chinese firm is now a passive member of the group, but another solar company is demanding an explanation from SolarPower Europe. ย
Stay on track to build joint intel agency, EU crisis response envoy says
Author of EU preparedness report Sauli Niinistรถ says “enough trust” will mean Europe can share more intelligence.
European Parliament weighs banning Russian media from its networks
Political group leaders voiced concern the move could set a precedent for restricting media in the European Parliament.
Hungary plans anti-Ukraine bloc with Czechia, Slovakia
Budapest wants to boost its political alliances in Brussels, Viktor Orbรกn’s political director says.
Brussels to question Orbรกnโs government over EU spying allegations, anti-fraud commissioner says
Piotr Serafin promises MEPs the Commission will “raise its concerns” with Budapest over alleged spying from Hungary’s EU embassy.
The EU was complicit in the war in Gaza. Trump’s plan can’t be an excuse to dodge responsibility now | Nathalie Tocci
Tiptoeing around Israel has cost Europe its credibility. It must exert meaningful pressure to ensure the horrors we have seen never happen againThe first phase of Donald Trumpโs plan for Gaza has drawn a collective sigh of relief from European leaders….
Europeโs spies are learning to trust each other โ thanks to Trump
Doubts over transatlantic intelligence sharing is bringing European intelligence agencies closer together.
European Commission under pressure over Hungarian spying allegations
MEPs want to know if the EU executive knew about alleged Hungarian spying. Some are calling for Commissioner Olivรฉr Vรกrhelyi to resign if implicated.
Greenland could become biggest car crash in transatlantic relations
The Danes are right: If the U.S. president presses ahead in the autonomous territory, others can and will follow elsewhere.
Why the European Parliament should reject (or substantially amend) the Commissionโs proposal on EU Information Security (โINFOSECโ): (1) The issue of โclassified informationโ
Emilio De
Capitani, Former EP Official (1985-2011) Secretary of the LIBE
parliamentary Committee (1998-2011). Affiliated to the Scuola superiore S.Anna
(Pisa).
Court Cases on
Transparency so far: T-540/15 v. European …
Von der Leyen wonโt suspend Hungaryโs commissioner amid spy affair allegations
European Commission president will raise Hungarian spying report with Olivรฉr Vรกrhelyi directly โat the earliest opportunity,โ spokesperson says.
Von der Leyen faces brutal new deal with European Parliament
Parliament is flexing is muscles just as EU leaders push back on key aspects of Commission president’s agenda.
Von der Leyen emerged โstrengthenedโ from motions of censure โ for now
This week in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen survived two more motions of censure in the European Parliament with even more support than in July. But the battle with the MEPs is far from over, and the credibility of the EU institutions has been damage…
Commission to probe reports that Orbรกnโs spies targeted EU officials in Brussels
Hungary’s current European Commissioner Olivรฉr Vรกrhelyi was in charge of the country’s embassy at the time of the allegations.
Secure, Competitive and Clean โ Is Europe Delivering on Its Energy Promise?
In the heart of Brusselsโ EU quarter, Europeโs energy future will take centre stage on 14 October during Energy Day 2025. Hundreds of senior policymakers, CEOs, high-level representatives of key EU institutions and thought leaders will gather to debate…
More than 20 EU politicians test positive for forever chemicals in their blood
The results highlight the wide reach of a group of chemicals linked to cancer, liver damage and fertility problems.
Belgian security service officer indicted for spying
Indictment comes amid mounting pressure on Belgium’s security agencies.
AI tests Europeโs social model
SNEAK PEEK โ Can Europe trust AI in health care and will it impact the EUโs social contract? The Gastein health forum got philosophical. โ Sticking with the topic: The European Commission wants to boost AI use in biotech research.ย โย And countries were supportive of the Danesโ plan to cut red tape in pharma talks. [โฆ]
You deregulate, weโll invest billions, industry titans to tell EU
Airbus, Siemens among industry heavyweights to pressure EU to follow through on deregulation and competitiveness drive.
Conservative MEP launches petition to ban Islamic headscarves in European Parliamentย
Charlie Weimers says he expects broad support for his initiative, but other lawmakers slammed it as sexist and Islamophobic.
Britain to appoint new chief diplomat to the EU
Caroline Wilson, a former ambassador to China, is due to take on the role next year.
Europeโs cookie law messed up the internet. Brussels wants to fix it.
The European Commission wants to take a bite out of privacy rules that force websites to run cookie banners.
Protestors pressure EU to stop burning of US-owned contraceptives
Women’s rights groups want the EU to act, but the European Commission has said only Belgium can intervene.
Lagarde furious as Eurocratsโ kids taught in containers
Frankfurt, home to several EU institutions, still hasnโt identified a site for a new school for Eurocrats’ kids, leaving the existing one severely overcrowded.
Construction chaos and deep debt plunge European Quarterย remakeย into crisis
At its center is the Schuman roundabout revamp, now plagued by spiraling costs, bureaucratic spats and local frustration.
He achieved โnothingโ: EU top diplomat Kallas hits back at predecessor Borrellย over Gaza
The current foreign policy chief says that while “we managed to get humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Josep Borrell’s “forceful” language made no headway.
Who is Sรฉbastien Lecornu? Franceโs political โsurvivorโ โย and next PM
The 39-year-old is a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Hereโs what Ursula von der Leyen SHOULD say in her State of the Union (according to us)
The European Commission president gives her big annual speech on Wednesday. POLITICO tries to work out what messages she’ll send.
Democracy behind bars: Europe must act for Istanbul Mayor ฤฐmamoฤlu
Democracy begins locally. If we donโt defend it here, we risk losing it everywhere.
It should be clear by now that Trump isnโt, and never will be, an ally
Becoming a U.S. protectorate isnโt inevitable โ especially given increasingly indignant public opinion over the series of concessions and humiliations weโre witnessing.
Migration ties with Libya criticized after patrol boat shoots at NGO rescue team
A ship given to Libya by Italy was used in the attack, but PM Meloni says her migration policies are working.
The judgment of the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Italy-Albania Protocol
Matteo Zamboni (human
rights lawyer working between Italy and the UK. He is a partner to the
Immigration Law and Policy clinic of Goldsmiths, University of London)
Photo cr…
No Schuman roundabout canopy without more money
The city has said it doesn’t have enough money to complete the redevelopment of the central square in the EU quarter.
Digital Fortress Europe: A test lab for surveillance tech?
Those fleeing war and persecution rarely have data protection on their minds and experts warn they could be exploited.
Brussels, Qatar and deep space: Hereโs the Trump, Putin, Zelenskyy talks host short list
Fantasy venues for fantasy negotiations.
EU staff revolt over Gaza stance
Internal unrest increases as protestors accuse Commission of violating its “moral and legal obligations.”
Commission misses deadline to appeal โPfizergateโ judgment
EU court’s finding against executive’s handling of text message exchange between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO will stand.
Access to documents is crucial for transparency and a strong democracy: EU Ombudswoman
We host the EU Ombudswoman, Portuguese politician Teresa Anjinho, who says she aims to make her office the “reference point for integrity issues”. The office itself is called the EU Ombudsman, even though it has now been led by two women. It was estab…
Borrell accuses EU institutions of inaction over Gaza
Brussels recently found Israel guilty of human rights abuses and plans to revisit its association agreement with the country.
Poles divided over election fraud claims
Some 40% of Poles believe the June presidential election may have been rigged, reflecting deep polarisation as the ruling coalition demands a recount and EU institutions question the court handling complaints.
The trouble with trilogues โ when things start falling apart
The trilogue process doesn’t have the benefit of being codified in law. It is a custom that has arisen because the alternative would probably drag on for years. But lately, several governments haven’t quite been playing the game.
Inside the Franco-German plot to kill Europeโs ethical supply chain law
The due diligence law was meant to bring EU-style protections to global supply chains. Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz helped all but kill it.
Ombudswoman urges EU institutions to improve transparency amid complaints
Teresa Anjinho, the new European Ombudswoman, urged EU institutions to enhance transparency after a rise in complaints, especially against the European Commission.
โWARNING. Confidential documents. Not to be disclosed to anyoneโ (Part 2)
Pรคivi Leino-Sandberg
(University of Helsinki)
Photo credit: EmDee,
via Wikimedia
Commons
The debate around the recent Pfizergate
ruling has turned some problems around how the Commission applies citizensโ
right to a…
Restaurantโฏreview: Kline
Brutalist gastronomy with fresh, local products.
European Parliament to stop Belgium โtarnishingโ MEPsโ reputations
“I will not accept the targeting and tarnishing of MEPs without a solid basis,” says Parliament President Metsola.
Return hubs โ innovative lawmaking or a dangerous legal experiment?
By Jonas
Bornemann, Assistant Professor of European Law at Rijksuniversiteit
Groningen and re:constitution fellow 2024/2025 and Isabela Brockmann,
Research intern at the Department of European and Economic Law,
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen…
Are Bulgarians ready to adopt the Euro in under six months?
The EU institutions have given the green light to Bulgaria to join the Eurozone next January, but what about the concerns of the Bulgarian people?
Why a little greenwashing law set off a political explosion in Brussels
Months of chipping away at EU green rules has caused some lawmakers to finally blow their tops.
EU countries call for massive cuts to ethical supply chain law
The Council’s proposal goes even further the Commission’s and continues a trend of cutting back EU green regulations.
Slovakia cites European Parliament move in calling Kremlin-style bill โlegitimateโ
“This is not an attack on civil society … but a move to strengthen public trust through greater oversight and accountability,” Slovak official says.
EU countries abandon anti-greenwashing talks after Italy pulls out
The proposed law preventing companies from making misleading environmental claims now looks unlikely to be enacted.
Stars align for drugmakers in final straight of EU pharma package
With the EUโs competitiveness push gaining urgency amid growing trade tensions with the U.S., plans to tighten pharmaceutical rules could soften โ making the final legislation more industry-friendly than originally envisioned.
Greenland is the wild card in Denmarkโs Brussels reign
Donald Trump’s claims on the island nation could derail Copenhagen’s EU Council presidency at any time.
National Limits, European Claims: The Ultra Vires Conflict in EU Constitutional Law (part 2)
Dr Benedikt Riedl,
Mjur (Oxford), postdoctoral researcher
and academic assistant at the Chair of Public Law and Legal Philosophy (Prof Dr
Peter M. Huber, former Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court and former
Minister of the Interior…
National Limits, European Claims: The Ultra Vires Conflict in EU Constitutional Law (part 1)
Dr Benedikt Riedl,
Mjur (Oxford), postdoctoral researcher
and academic assistant at the Chair of Public Law and Legal Philosophy (Prof Dr
Peter M. Huber, former Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court and former
Minister of the Interior…
Advocate General ฤapetaโs Opinion in WS and Others v Frontex before the Grand Chamber: The End of Frontexโs Shielding? Joint Liability of Frontex and Member States in Return Operations
Antje Kunst*
* Antje Kunst is
an international lawyer and barrister of Garden Court North Chambers, admitted
to the Bar of England and Wales, and the Bar of Berlin, advising and
representing individuals in a wide range of matters related to…
Europe should be standing up to Trump and Putin โ instead it is mirroring them | Alberto Alemanno
Public opinion is clamouring for closer EU cooperation. The last thing we need is Ursula von der Leyen pandering to the far rightDonald Trumpโs โAmerica Firstโ policies are undermining decades of transatlantic cooperation just as Putinโs Russia destabi…
Europeโs frontier countries ready their hospitals for war
From stockpiling trauma kits for mass casualties to kitting out medics with body armor, wartime health planning is no longer hypothetical on NATOโs eastern flank.
Brussels city begs EU for cash to finish Schuman roundabout works
Top regional officials request that the EU help out as a “tangible investment in strengthening the link between Europe and its capital.”
As France-Algeria ties sour, supporters of imprisoned writer turn to Europe for help
Writer Boualem Sansal has been in and out of hospital since he was locked up last November.
EU’s von der Leyen ‘has to be held accountable’ for vaccine texts: Senior MEP Aubry
We speak with the Co-Chair of The Left Group in the European Parliament, French MEP Manon Aubry. A noted advocate for transparency in the EU institutions, she was also a negotiator of the “Duty of Care Directive”, which now faces calls for its aboliti…
Prague accuses China of hacking Czech foreign ministry
EU also slams Beijing for “malicious cyber campaign.”
Euractivโs Health Policy Conference [Advocacy Lab Content]
As Europe continues to advance its health agenda in the current legislative cycle, the 2025 Euractiv Health Policy Conference brought together leading voices from the EU institutions, the World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency, indust…
Europeโs defense awakening needs a second engine
The EU’s new defense lending scheme is a breakthrough moment โ but it must be matched by a financial arm to support industrial capacity.
How connected is the EU to its capital, Brussels? | Radio Schuman
The EU institutions and Brussels are now firmly interwoven, however, it took concerted effort to ensure the local and international could cohabit.
Eight EU countries form coalition of the willing on crisis preparedness
The eight member states are calling for more coordination across the bloc, including with EU institutions.
EXCLUSIVE: EU states try to curtail โambitiousโ maritime safety chief
Commission sources and EU diplomats say Kostelac often interferes in political matters beyond her job description.
Europeโs diplomatic arm to slash foreign offices
Move comes amid budget cuts for several European Union institutions.
Restaurantโฏreview: Berlaymont canteen
Sizable meals at reasonable prices in Brussels’ gossip heartland.
Pfizergate: Will we ever see von der Leyenโs texts? โ and other burning questions
Von der Leyen is in hot water. And the EU court ruling doesn’t just say the Commission got it wrong โ it says it knew better.
Valenciaโs floods victims met von der Leyen and Metsola in Brussels
โThe presidents of the EU institutions were very eager to listen to usโ, said the representatives of victims associations.
โTime to sober upโ: Europe should be realistic on tech sovereignty, lawmaker says
The EU should โidentify the few big ideas that can propel our economic and industrial base,โ says Bulgaria’s Eva Maydell.
Von der Leyen faces critical test as EU court decides on secret โPfizergateโ texts
Wednesday’s Court of Justice ruling will assess whether Commission is in breach of transparency rules.
EPPโs war on NGOs is driving a wedge through Europeโs political center
Conservatives face accusations of collaborating with far-right parties in NGO funding probe.
The winners and losers from Europeโs largest partyโs big bash
With the dust settling on the EPP congress, we take a look at who’s up and who’s down in the EU’s most powerful grouping.
Germany acts ahead of EU reform, cuts gas storage target to 80%
EU institutions are rushing to amend the law, but Berlin isnโt waiting.
How does the European Union want to make toys safe for children?
Supported by most political forces, the EU institutions advanced a proposal to ban toxic chemicals from toys sold in European markets. Those chemicals could pose considerable health risks for kids.
EU financial watchdog accused of blocking criminal probe
The EPPO said on Monday it would file legal proceedings against the European Court of Auditors on grounds that it rebuffed efforts to interview its staff.
Privacy officialsโ travel to home countries sets off EU alarm bells
Privacy regulator’s secretary general traveled on the EU’s dime to Spain, his home country, far more often than to other countries.
ECB favoritism has gone from bad to worse, staff say
Mario Draghiโs response to the problem a decade ago has backfired, new survey suggests.
Restaurantโฏreview: IKEA pop-up cafรฉ
Convenient, but middling, just like an IKEA flat pack.
The US cavalry isnโt coming: How Europe moves its armies without American assistance
Europe has built its war-fighting plans on speeding American reinforcements to the front lines. The prospect of that not happening is throwing military mobility plans into disarray.
The Automotive Aftermarket: An Untapped Powerhouse in Europeโs Industrial Strategy [Promoted content]
A month ago, FIGIEFA hosted a hybrid event with Euractiv entitled ‘The Automotive Aftermarket: A Cornerstone for Europe’s Industrial and Mobility Future’. โฏIn it, the European association of independent automotive parts distributors and wholesalers rea…
Commission livid as ECB warns of crypto apocalypse under Trump
Washingtonโs embrace of crypto may endanger the European financial system, but Frankfurt and Brussels are arguing over whether to rewrite a landmark law.
Leading in an age of disruption: Why policy professionals must adapt
A new global landscape needs leaders who readily embrace change and lead with vision โ the kind of leaders that the European University Institute is nurturing at its new blended program in Florence.
Europeโs NGOs fear Trump-style funding cuts are coming
The EU grants billions each year to nonprofits. Now, a right-wing campaign has NGOs afraid the money will dry up.
Brussels must overhaul โopaqueโ funding of NGOs, say auditors
The damning report will give ammunition to conservative lawmakers who want to prevent NGOs from using EU money to lobby.
Equitable access to innovation: Understanding healthcare system readiness to deliver ย CAR T-cell therapy in Europe
A new IQVIA Institute for Human Data Sciences report highlights discrepancies in healthcare systems to deliver innovative cancer treatments across Europe. We can pave a pathway to overcome the access challenges identified and fulfil the promise of advanced therapies.
Why banning Huawei from the EU institutions is harder than it seems
MEPs are looking into โpotential legal loopholesโ that Huawei lobbyists could use to influence EU officials and lawmakers โ but they might not need to look very far.
Record online shopping fueling Europeโs textile waste problem, watchdog warns
Cheap clothes and online retailing means people are buying โ and discarding โ more garments than ever before.
Tackling under-investment in EU defence: Is the bloc putting its money where its mouth is?
Just about everyone in the EU institutions and national capitals can agree that business as usual is no longer an option when it comes to security. With the US stepping back from Europe and NATO, and Ukraine under great pressure, the EU is mulling wha…
How to confront Orbรกn and save the EU
The legal tools to address this internal opposition exist โ Europe just needs to use them, and meet the moment with courage.
Pressure mounts on Metsola to sideline lawmakers linked to Huawei bribery probe
MEPs are demanding the Parliament president strengthen internal reporting mechanisms.
Apathy or unity? Manfred Weber poised for EPP return
Weberโs heir apparent is himself.
Belgian police conduct raids as new corruption scandal rocks EU Parliament
Several individuals have been arrested.