Press release – MPs and MEPs meet to discuss economic, budgetary, and social concerns

The annual European Parliamentary Week will take place on Monday and Tuesday, bringing MEPs together with MPs from member states and EU candidate countries.Committee on Economic and Monetary AffairsCommittee on Employment and Social Affairs Source : ยฉ …

Press release – Cost of living and environment are the main concerns of young people in the EU

An EP survey of EU citizens aged 16-30 shows social media is their main information source, and that the majority are also aware of the risks of online disinformation. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

How von der Leyen blindsided Brussels with her deregulation drive

The Commission president is pushing a sweeping, rapid and centralized agenda to โ€œsimplifyโ€ EU rules โ€” and not everyone in Brussels is thrilled.

Victims of international crimes need justice โ€” and the ICC

We call on the EUโ€™s member countries and institutions to be the voice of human dignity globally, and to mobilize, defend and support the court.

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…

Latvia moves to ban tourist trips to Russia, Belarus

Riga wants to reduce the risks of human rights violations of Latvian citizens in those countries, and prevent their recruitment as spies.

Security is the new safety

SNEAK PEEK โ€”ย ย The U.K. AISI drops โ€œsafetyโ€ for โ€œsecurityโ€ as it rebrands for the Trump era. โ€”ย DSIT and Anthropic ink a new partnership. โ€”ย Whatโ€™s happened to the porn review? Good morning and happy Friday, This is Tom, unable to find where Iโ€™ve hidden my wifeโ€™s Valentineโ€™s card. You can get in touch with your news, [โ€ฆ]

Criminals use AI chatbots too

SNEAK PEEK โ€” Criminals use AI chatbots to commit fraud, Europolโ€™s chief AI officer warns. โ€” The U.K. switches from โ€˜AI safety to โ€˜AI security.โ€™ โ€” The Munich Security Conference is working hard to make killer AI cool. Good morning and welcome to Morning Tech. This is Pieter. #TGIF (unless youโ€™re in Munich, then the [โ€ฆ]

The EUโ€™s strategy to counter Trumpโ€™s tariffs: An iron fist in a velvet glove

Brussels has strengthened its trade toolkit since Donald Trumpโ€™s first term. But it would need the broad support of EU countries to strike back hard.

Press release – European Parliament President Metsola visits Israel, Gaza and West Bank

During her official visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, EP President Metsola was the first European leader to enter Gaza in more than a decade. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs want to suspend EU-Rwanda deal on sustainable value chains for critical raw materials

The Rwandan government must withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congoโ€™s territory and cease cooperation with the M23 rebels, Parliament says.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Human rights breaches in Tรผrkiye, Nicaragua and Nigeria

On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted human rights resolutions on Tรผrkiye, Nicaragua and Nigeria.Subcommittee on Human Rights Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs: Georgiaโ€™s self-proclaimed authorities have no legitimacy

MEPs call on the international community to join the boycott of Georgiaโ€™s self-proclaimed authorities, who they accuse of eroding the countryโ€™s democracy and cracking down on dissents.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Intelligence artificielle : Keep on rolling, rolling !

AU MENU โ€” Le jour dโ€™aprรจs, la petite musique de la dรฉrรฉgulation de lโ€™IA continue de monter. โ€” Un rapport parlementaire pointe les avantages de Starlink pour connecter les trains. โ€” Nouveau retard au dรฉcollage pour la PPLย anti-fast fashion. Bonjour ร  toutes et ร  tous, nous sommes jeudi 13 fรฉvrier, et vous lisez Tech Matin [โ€ฆ]

Starlink looks pale in comparison with what Europeans can get

SNEAK PEEK โ€” Has Elon Muskโ€™s Starlink got a shot in Europe? Not really. โ€” The withdrawal of the EUโ€™s AI liability rules has fans and critics. โ€”ย Thereโ€™s a new report about the price tag of the Eurostack. Good morning and welcome to Morning Tech. Hi, this is Pieter, back in Brussels after frantic days [โ€ฆ]

Press release – Parliament green lights update of VAT rules to make them fit for digital times

The update will notably require that VAT be paid for services provided through online platforms, putting an end to an unfair distortion of competition. It will also fight VAT fraud.Committee on Economic and Monetary AffairsSubcommittee on Tax Matters S…

Press release – Ruslan Stefanchuk: โ€œPeace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we stay strongโ€

On Tuesday, the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs ask the ECB to assess the impact of global conflicts on price stability

Plenary adopted recommendations to the European Central Bank on Tuesday, following a debate on its priorities and activities with President Christine Lagarde on Monday.Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Tuna fishing agreement with Cabo Verde approved by Parliament

56 EU vessels will be able to fish tuna and related species during the next five years in Cabo Verdeโ€™s waters, under an updated fisheries deal.Committee on Fisheries Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Press conference: Call for EU support for the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Today, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a press conference in Strasbourg, after President Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC.Subcommittee on Human Rights Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – EP Conference of Presidents’ statement on EU support for Ukraine

Statement of the Conference of Presidents on continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russiaโ€™s full-scale war of aggression. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Riding out the Trump tiger until heโ€™s exhausted

How should one handle the 47th U.S. president? Kiss the ring, resist, offer deals and wait for exhaustion to set in.

Macron picks close ally to lead court that could decide Le Penโ€™s fate

Richard Ferrand’s appointment drew criticism even before being made official.

Press release – President Metsola: โ€œร–rebro shooting was a senseless act of violenceโ€

President Metsola opened the 10-13 February session with a minuteโ€™s silence for the victims of last weekโ€™s shooting in ร–rebro – the worst in Swedenโ€™s history. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Brussels U-turns on plans for more consumer financial data access

Opposition from the financial services sector on the FiDA bill found sympathy within the French government, which called for its demise.

Suggestions for U.S. success in the Middle East

An aide-mรฉmoire to Secretary of State Marco Rubio from a former adviser to Tony Blair.

Kosovo PM Albin Kurti wins election amid tensions with Brussels and Washington

His ruling party fell short of a majority and will need to find a coalition partner if it hopes to continue in power.

As Trump steamrolls Washington, courts flex their power to slow him down

Numerous federal district judges around the country have blocked major portions of Trumpโ€™s early agenda โ€” but Supreme Court showdowns loom.

Kosovo votes in parliamentary elections amid tensions with Serbia

Voters began casting ballots in Kosovo elections Sunday in a contest that pits combative incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s quest to stamp out Serbian influence against a fractured opposition’s vow to boost the economy. Condemned by the EU and the…

Inside USAIDโ€™s undoing

Aides to the president and Elon Musk suspected USAID officials were trying to go around a funding freeze.

Georgia ramps up restrictions on media, NGOs with drastic new laws

The fresh restrictions come amid a political crisis over disputed elections and the government’s reversal on its EU membership bid.

Germanyโ€™s old-school conservatism is well and truly over

Even if Merz stumbles across the finish line and secures a coalition government, the death knell for Christian democracy may well have been sounded.

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.

Press release – Press briefing on next weekโ€™s plenary session

Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 10 – 13 February plenary session on Friday at 11.00, in Parliamentโ€™s Anna Politkovskaya press room. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Serbiaโ€™s students are showing the world how to restore democratic hope | Adriana Zaharijeviฤ‡

An authoritarian regime has been rocked by an anti-corruption movement generating society-wide anger and indignationAdriana Zaharijeviฤ‡ is a philosopher at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of BelgradeWhen a building structure …

La Scala, the theater of Italy’s passions

Dominique Meyer, the French director of Milan’s opera, is due to step down in early March. He will be replaced by an Italian, as has been the case in many of the country’s cultural institutions since Giorgia Meloni’s far right came to power. In additio…

Fact-checking : la Commission europรฉenne a-t-elle vraiment payรฉ des ONG pour faire du lobbying pro-Pacte vert ?

Les contrats confidentiels consultรฉs par POLITICO ne tendent pas ร  confirmer les accusations adressรฉes ร  lโ€™exรฉcutif bruxellois par des eurodรฉputรฉs.

Macron turns to billionairesย to help pay for his legacy

After the rebuilding of the Notre-Dame cathedral, Macron has a new pet project: the Louvre.

Press release – โ€œEurope must be responsible for its own securityโ€, Metsola tells EU leaders

At the informal European Council meeting on defence, the European Parliament President Metsola outlined her vision on how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Europeans on democracyโ€™s frontlines offer advice to Americans: never give up

With the new Trump era likely to pose unprecedented challenges the message from Europeโ€™s fragile democracies is: stay united and safeguard your institutionsEuropeans who witnessed democracy crumble before their eyes have some words of advice for Americ…

Brussels lowers its expectations for Keir Starmerโ€™s Brexit reset

EU officials and diplomats believe improvements to the cross-channel relationship are possible, and still happening โ€” but slowly.

Trump is wreaking havoc at USAID. Is the goal to shut it down?

The presidentโ€™s failure to name a USAID administrator and other steps seem to suggest that, at the very least, heโ€™ll fold USAID into the State Department.

Belgium gets new government with Flemish separatist Bart De Wever as PM

After repeated false starts and breakdowns in talks, the country gets a Flemish-nationalist led coalition.

Press release – Polish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council.Committee on Constitutional AffairsCommittee on Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentCommittee on Culture and Education…

South Africa and Malaysia to launch campaign to protect justice

Formation of Hague Group comes amid challenges to ICJ and ICC rulingsSouth Africa and Malaysia will launch a campaign to protect and uphold the rulings of the international court of justice (ICJ) and the international criminal court (ICC) in the face o…

Bulgaria could meet all eurozone criteria this month

The report comes after the government said it was postponing the request a final report for Eurozone accession from EU institutions last week.
The post Bulgaria could meet all eurozone criteria this month appeared first on Euractiv.

Chasing the Don: How EU politicians are jockeying for position with Trump

From Nigel Farage to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU politicians are competing for the privilege of being Europe’s Trump whisperer.

Press release – Holocaust Remembrance Day: a story dedicated to its six million victims

On Wednesday, Corrie Hermann, daughter of cellist and Holocaust victim Pรกl Hermann, addressed MEPs in a plenary session marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today at noon, Parliament will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a special address by Corrie Hermann at a plenary session in Brussels. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

โ€˜It will kill peopleโ€™: Chaos, confusion after Trump halts US foreign aid

The new directive puts some aid organizations at risk of bankruptcy.

Orbรกn, Le Pen to hold โ€˜Make Europe Great Againโ€™ rally in Madrid

Patriots party prepping up grand far-right lovefest.

EU set to suspend certain Syrian sanctions

In return, Syrian authorities will have to set up a democratic transition process and get rid of the Assad administration’s chemical weapons.

How Trump silenced tech giants on his Paris withdrawal

Silicon Valley loudly criticized President Donald Trump when he quit the climate accord in his first term. This time? Crickets.

Thousands protest over deadly train crash in Greece

Clashes erupted at the end of the protests in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Trump is everywhere again

The presidentโ€™s first week showed a stark contrast with his predecessor.

US Treasury terminates sanctions on Israeli settlers in West Bank

Trump is expected to take a far more permissive approach to Israelโ€™s expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

Press release – Holocaust Remembrance Day: 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

On 29 January at noon, Parliament will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a special address by Corrie Hermann at a plenary session in Brussels. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

TotalEnergies delays massacre-linked gas project in Mozambique

The French energy giant had hoped to pump gas by 2029.

Press release – MEPs: support for Venezuelaโ€™s opposition is a โ€œmoral dutyโ€

The regime of Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate and his presidency constitutes an unlawful attempt to remain in power by force, MEPs say in a resolution adopted on Thursday.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Composition of Parliamentโ€™s new committees released

The names of the members of the two upgraded committees and two new special committees were announced by the European Parliament on Thursday.Committee on Constitutional Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Human rights breaches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran and Algeria

On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions about the respect for human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran and Algeria.Subcommittee on Human Rights Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs condemn Russiaโ€™s use of disinformation to justify its war in Ukraine

In a resolution adopted on Thursday, MEPs condemn the Russian regimeโ€™s systematic falsification of historical arguments to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

PMQs: Badenoch beats Starmer by showing restraint on Southport

The Tory leader swerved the Southport murders and instead probed the PM ruthlessly on his plan for schools.

Press release – MEPs debate the Polish Presidencyโ€™s priorities with Prime Minister Donald Tusk

Donald Tusk outlined to MEPs on Wednesday his goals for Polandโ€™s leadership of the EU Council and the focus on Europeโ€™s security strategy. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – Parliament denounces the upcoming sham presidential election in Belarus

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call on the EU to reject the upcoming presidential election in Belarus on 26 January as a sham.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

100+ NGOs urge banks to pull funding from massacre-linked gas project in Mozambique

Pressure from human rights organizations follows a POLITICO investigation into TotalEnergies plant.

Press release – Antรณnio Costa: โ€œWe need to work for a stronger transatlantic relationshipโ€

On Wednesday, MEPs debated the outcome of the December EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen, focussing on Ukraine, EU-US relations and the EUโ€™s global role. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

EUโ€™s Clean Industrial Deal to cover six themes from energy prices to trade

The contours of a mammoth industrial decarbonization strategy are taking shape ahead of its Feb. 26 unveiling.

Ukraine war briefing: Ukraine drones hit Russian oil depot; Trump floats fresh Russia sanctions

Ukraine claims strikes on oil depot and aviation plant inside Russia; Trump talks Ukraine negotiations, Russia sanctions and how China should do more to end the war. What we know on day 1,064 See all our Ukraine war coverageUkraine fired a wave of dron…

Accord de Paris : ce que le retrait de Trump implique rรฉellement

Cette dรฉcision du prรฉsident amรฉricain a de nombreux effets et signale le dรฉbut dโ€™un programme agressif de dรฉtricotage de la politique climatique des Etats-Unis.

EU tells Trumpโ€™s America: We have other options

Ursula von der Leyen casts Europe as an economic heavyweight that can forge new alliances during another “America First” presidency.

Zelenskyy excoriates Europe in Davos speech

Ukrainian president calls on European politicians to “be more than just bystanders” who are “reduced to posting on X after an agreement has already been made.”

EUโ€™s biggest secessionist movement is losing momentum

And Catalonia’s new President wants to shoot it dead.

What Trumpโ€™s exit from the climate deal really means

Quitting the Paris Agreement triggers a cascade of real-world impacts and signals the beginning of an aggressive agenda to undo U.S. climate policy.

Press release – President Metsola: โ€œGaza ceasefire the breakthrough we all hoped forโ€

President Metsola opened the 20-23 January session by welcoming the Gaza ceasefire, noting the importance of EU-US relations, and marking the anniversary of the death of David Sassoli. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Le journal Le Monde quitte le rรฉseau social X

Aprรจs Ouest France en novembre, Le Monde abandonne ร  son tour le rรฉseau social dโ€™Elon Musk, a annoncรฉ lundi le rรฉdacteur en chef du journal. Dans son รฉditorial, Jรฉrรดme Fenoglio estime que lโ€™alliance naissante entre le prรฉsident รฉlu amรฉricain Donald Trump et les โ€œpatrons de plateformes socialesโ€ comme Elon Musk et Mark Zuckerberg constitue une [โ€ฆ]

Le Monde, French newspaper of record, quits Elon Muskโ€™s X

Negatives clearly outweigh the positives, says editor-in-chief.

Leaked memo reveals alarming German warnings over Trump

Trump’s second term will bring a โ€œmaximum concentration of power with the president,โ€ Germany’s ambassador to the U.S. warns in confidential document obtained by Reuters.

EUโ€™s work โ€˜dignityโ€™ goal might be soon over

EU institutions have been โ€œwalking on thin iceโ€ when adopting the minimum wage directive, wrote Nicholas Emiliou, advocate-general of the CJEU.
The post EU’s work โ€˜dignityโ€™ goal might be soon over appeared first on Euractiv.

Press release – Press briefing on next weekโ€™s plenary session

Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 20 – 23 January plenary session on Friday at 11.00, in Parliamentโ€™s Anna Politkovskaya press room. Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Press release – MEPs choose Bruno Gencarelli as top candidate for EU data protection watchdog

The Civil Liberties Committee selected Bruno Gencarelli as their preferred candidate for the role of European Data Protection Supervisor in a vote on Thursday.Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP

Bulgaria breaks political stalemate and finally appoints new PM

Rosen Zhelyazkov is Bulgaria’s new head of government.

Biden warns of rising democracy-threatening โ€˜oligarchyโ€™ in grim farewell speech

He didnโ€™t mention Donald Trump but said no president should be immune from crimes committed while in office.

โ€˜Optimism laced with cautionโ€™: The delicate task of Syriaโ€™s political transition

Syria is stepping into a new reality โ€” but its political contours have yet to take shape.

German army deserts X as Berlin vs. Elon Musk feud rumbles on

“The objective exchange of arguments is becoming increasingly difficult” on the platform formerly known as Twitter, says defense ministry.