European leaders win Trumpโs support to pressure Putin into unconditional ceasefire
“The American president fully supports our initiative,” Germany’s Merz said amid new sanctions threats against Russia.
ramp up
Polandโs Duda tells Trump to force Putin โto make peaceโ
Polish President Andrzej Duda wants Trump to use harsh sanctions measures to compel Putin to negotiate.
EU urges Israel not to ramp up military attack on Gaza
โThe European Union is concerned at the planned extension of the operation by Israeli forces in Gaza,” a Commission spokesperson says.
EU defence loans rules pit member states against industry
The industry “is well positioned to address member statesโ needs, as it continues to ramp up its production capacity”, it promises.
Trump returns to his happy place on stage as poll numbers sink
The president lashed out at critics and celebrated the first 100 days of his second term in office.
Drugmaker AstraZeneca shifts more production to US amid Trump tariffs
UK and rest of Europe risk losing out to US and China unless they ramp up spending on new medicines, says CEO Pascal SoriotBusiness live โ latest updatesAstraZeneca said it was shifting the production of some medicines sold in the US from Europe to the…
India blinks on visas to pave way for UK trade deal
The new rules will lead to around 100 new visas for Indian workers each year, a U.K. official told POLITICO.
Trump is getting negative marks on immigration, polls show
New polling ahead of Trumpโs 100-day mark shows Americans disapprove of Trumpโs immigration policies.
EU and UK underline commitment to energy transition at London summit
The president of the European Commission has underlined the need for Europe to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels at an energy security summit hosted jointly by the UK government and International Energy Agency, despite US demands for Europe to ramp…
Press release – MEPs push for a more ambitious European defence industry programme
On Thursday, MEPs backed a draft law designed to strengthen Europeโs defence industry, ramp up defence product manufacturing and provide more support for Ukraine.Committee on Industry, Research and EnergyCommittee on Security and Defence Source : ยฉ Eur…
POLITICO at 10: The EU fights for its independence
A decade after we launched in Brussels, Europe’s place in the world is ever more uncertain. The battle for relevance will dominate the next 10 years.
The Trump administrationโs conflicting messages to the public and the courts
Government lawyers paint a very different picture in court filings from the one Trump and his allies do on TV and social media.
Can the EU really ramp up imports of US energy as Trump demands? – Analysis
Amid the chaotic lunges, feints and ripostes of his incipient trade war, Donald Trump has refloated the idea that Europe could close its trade deficit with the US by dramatically increasing imports of US energy.
UK defence industry calls for quick security pact with Brussels to access EU money
One instrument the Commission has proposed to ramp up defence spending across the EU, worth โฌ150 billion, would largely exclude British suppliers.
Top commander warns US troops should stay in Europe
His comments follow reports that the Pentagon is considering removing thousands of servicemembers from the continent.
Dutch ministers ramp up controls on weapons exports to Israel
“This is desirable given the security situation in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and the broader region,” say trade and foreign ministers.
‘It is Europe that holds the key to the sanctions mechanism against Russia, not the US’
As ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine ramp up, the future of Western sanctions against Putin’s regime is in question. Washington can decide to lift some constraints, but it has few levers to influence the Russian economy, writes Le Monde columnist Stรฉ…
Playgrounds, swimming pools and skateparks: Finlandโs network of underground bomb shelters
The cavernous Itakeskus swimming hall in Finland houses a complex of pools and saunas, but in just a couple of days it can be transformed into a vast underground bomb shelter with a capacity of nearly 4,000 people. It’s just one of a number of shelter…
Space race intensifies between EU, US, Russia and China
Strategic autonomy is a buzz phrase in Brussels, as the EU tries to ramp up its capabilities in key industrial sectors. Defence is of course a major focus for those efforts.ย But calls have grown for the bloc to boost its presence in space as well. Spa…
Rubio urges NATO allies to boost defense spending, reasserts US commitment
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured nervous NATO allies on Thursday of Washington’s commitment but urged them to massively ramp up defense spending.ย The call comes as Donald Trump sows doubt over alliance security, engages Russia on Ukraine, and…
Greece to spend โฌ25 billion over next decade on hi-tech overhaul of military
The initiative comes as European countries ramp up military spending in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and indications that the Trump administration wants to reduce the United Statesโ commitment to European defence.
Italyโs Leonardo given ยฃ165m UK military helicopter contract
Extension to deal over Royal Navyโs Merlin fleet comes as government plans to increase defence spendingThe Italian defence company Leonardo has been given a ยฃ165m contract extension by the British government for its work maintaining the Royal Navyโs fl…
European defence SMEs must ramp up but the struggle to access money is real. Hereโs why
The EU wants to be able to protect itself, alone, from a potential attack from 2030, but defence SMEs have faced challenges to access financing for years.
Russian gas flows into Europe increase as Italy, Czechia ramp up imports
Hungary and Slovakia also continue to import significant volumes of Russian gas.
Ukraineโs long-range Neptune cruise missile is a potential trump card
Russia is talking of halting energy infrastructure attacks just as Ukraine unleashes a powerful new cruise missile.
Putin showed โtrue faceโ by bombing Ukraine after ceasefire call, says Finlandโs president
Only arming Kyiv “to its teeth” will deter Russian leader, Alexander Stubb says in an interview.
Danish PM: Europe must โbe totally able to defend ourselvesโ
Europe needs to act now to deter Russia from attacking, Mette Frederiksen told POLITICO.
Von der Leyen calls for collective arms purchases by 2030
Europe has to rely more on its own resources, the Commission chief said.
UN agency warns of โunprecedentedโย bird flu threat as H5N1 virus jumps to mammals
Food and Agriculture Organization warns of “serious impacts” on food production, rural jobs, local economies and prices to consumers.
Southern Europe must spend more on defense, Lithuania warns
Time to get serious, says Foreign Minister Kฤstutis Budrys.
Starmer tells Putin to ditch โdelaying tacticsโ as UK hosts fresh Ukraine allies call
British prime minister will on Saturday try to firm up so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ meant to give a ceasefire teeth.
Germanyโs Merz implores Greens to approve spending revolution
Greens hold out for climate spending not “in name only.”
How Starmer saved Ukraineโs ceasefire as Trump and Zelenskyy ragedย
The U.K. prime minister and his top security adviser worked intensively to rescue the broken relationship between Kyiv and Washington, drafting a truce plan that might one day pave the way for peace.
Governments should use EU loans to buy from European producers, von der Leyen says
BRUSSELS โ EU governments should use the โฌ150 billion in loans the Commission wants to borrow on markets to boost the blocโs defense capacity to buy from European defense firms, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told lawmakers on Monday. โThese loans should finance purchases from European producers to help boost our own defense industry,โ [โฆ]
Six takeaways as Ursula von der Leyen marks 100 days in office
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support for Ukraine has up-ended EU relations with the US in her first 100 days, and prompted pledges to ramp up defence spending.
Historic week, historical fears
EU leaders’ pledge to ramp up military spending this week is historically unprecedented โ but it also raises concerns about the bloc’s economic and political future.
EU makes big defense pledges โ but risks leaving Ukraine disappointed
Plans to announce a large package of military aid for Ukraine fizzled ahead of the gathering.
EU leaders set to agree measures to ramp up defence spending at emergency summit
EU leaders attending Thursday’s emergency summit are set to discuss changes to fiscal responsibility rules that would allow member states to ramp up defence spending. “These are rules that were introduced 15 years ago in response to the debt crisis th…
Commission mulls defence industry business simplification
It is the latest step in the EU proposals to help countries purchase more arms and other defence gear, and for the industry to ramp up its production, or secure its ability to do so.
From cannabis to cocaine: What are the most commonly used illicit drugs in the EU?
As illegal drug use and supply increases in the EU, member states ramp up efforts to tackle drug trafficking and organised crime.
Defense promises but scant detail as Europe enters decisive week
A Thursday summit in Brussels will follow Sunday’s top-level diplomacy in London, with Europe’s leaders still facing important questions over military spending.
More governments pledge to join U.K. and France in sending peacekeepers to Ukraine
“We are at a crossroads in history today,” says UK’s Starmer as some European leaders vow to increase defense spending.
Sharing Franceโs nuclear umbrella? No way, says Le Pen
Macron’s main opponent is ready to fight plans to pool European resources to make up for the looming loss of the U.S. military protection.
Green diplomacy survives as UN strikes deal on biodiversity finance
COP16 talks in Rome yielded agreement on funding nature restoration in poorer countries โ but some details remain vague.
Macronโs told-you-so moment
Trump vindicated the French president on self-reliant defense. But with Putin looming, the hard work starts now for Europe.
German parliament in race against time to sign off on new defence fund
Friedrich Merz, expected to be next chancellor, has spoken of urgent need for ramped-up defence, but โblocking minorityโ could form in future BundestagGermanyโs outgoing parliament could be asked to sign off on a new defence fund in its final weeks as …
โI felt nothing but disgustโ: Tesla owners vent their anger at Elon Musk
The tycoonโs links with Donald Trump and Germanyโs far-right AfD have slammed the brakes on sales and put the carโs owners in a spinTesla sales almost halve in Europe over Muskโs ties to TrumpWhen Mike Schwede first sat in a Tesla Roadster 15 years ago…
Muskโs Starlink isnโt ready to rule Europeโs internet airwaves
Elon Musk’s satellites aren’t โ yet โ competing to serve Europeans’ everyday internet needs.
Poland to Europe: Donโt play games with Trump, spend more on defense
The Polish PM is adamant that Europe must not break ties with the U.S.
Visibility, supply chain, innovation: What defence executives need from Europe
Industry chiefs on what Europe needs to ramp up defence production
Trump could remake USAID to promote fossil fuels
The presidentโs allies want foreign aid repurposed to encourage more oil and gas development around the world.
US can ramp up sanctions on Putin, Trumpโs Ukraine-Russia envoy says
โIf thereโs anybody who understands leverage, itโs President Donald J. Trump,” Keith Kellogg tells the New York Post.
Kremlin says talks with US have โintensifiedโ in recent days
“There are indeed contacts between individual departments,” says spokesperson for Vladimir Putin.
Sweden says latest Baltic Sea cable cut was not sabotage
“Weather conditions and deficiencies in equipment and seamanship” were behind last month’s disruption, prosecutors say.
EU fertilizer dilemma: How to kill Putinโs profits without hitting farmers
Tariffs on Russian fertilizers aim to hit Moscowโs war machine. Europe’s growers are still angry.
Whereโs the Competitiveness Compass pointing?
The European Commission’s policy plans point to growth even as it tries to hold on to ambitious climate goals.
Baltic undersea cable likely damaged by โexternal influence,โ Latvian broadcaster says
The Latvian Navy sent a patrol to inspect a vessel possibly involved in causing the damage and is contact with NATO allies.
Dutch government ordered to cut nitrogen pollution โย or face โฌ10M fine
Greenpeaceโs victory means that PM Dick Schoof must achieve emission-reduction targets by 2030 or face the penalty.
Germany proposes tougher EU response to hybrid threats from Russia
The proposals are to be discussed during next week’s meeting of EU foreign ministers.
EU โready to negotiateโ with Trump on boosting gas imports
The new U.S. president is pressuring Europe to buy more American gas or face steep tariffs.
Russia gives Navalny lawyers multi-year sentences for relaying his messages
Verdicts against trio suggest legal representatives are latest target of Kremlinโs crackdown on dissentRussia has sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader f…
Starmer to launch talks on UK-Poland defense pact
UK PM is heading for the Polish capital as part of efforts to ramp up coordination with European allies on defense.
Spend more on arms to keep Trump sweet, say Poland and Ukraineโs leaders
Ukraine and Poland heal their own relationship in face of Russian aggression.
NATO launches Baltic operation after alleged Russian cable sabotage
A line seems to have been crossed and the Alliance is ready to ramp up efforts in the region.
The post NATO launches Baltic operation after alleged Russian cable sabotage appeared first on Euractiv.
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv ready to swap North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian PoWs, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president says there โshould be no doubt leftโ that Russia is dependent on military assistance from North Korea. What we know on day 1,055See all our Ukraine coverageUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday he was ready to hand …
ECB paper highlights shortcomings of EUโs green finance rules
The EU must ramp up investment, potentially by an extra โฌ558 billion a year, or fail to meet its 2030 climate ambitions, the paper published by the ECB reads.
The post ECB paper highlights shortcomings of EU’s green finance rules appeared first o…
Trump trades isolationism for expansionism โ possibly with military force
The president-elect wants to annex Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal.
Europeโs chance to secure peace in Ukraine
A coalition of willing NATO allies could physically step in to help secure a future demarcation zone between an independent Ukraine and a Russian-occupied one.
The biggest battles headed for Brussels
What the EU will be squabbling about in VDLโs second term.
As Trump return looms, NATO chief Rutte stresses ‘urgently needed’ Ukraine support
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Brussels, NATO leader Mark Rutte urged member states on Wednesday to ramp up their military backing of Kyiv to improve Ukraine’s standing over the next month. Donald Trump, who will be sworn in …
Britainโs Baltic defense club falls flat on military spending pledge
U.K. leader Keir Starmer says talking about extra defense spending is tough at the moment.
Relax Elon โ the EU isnโt an immediate threat to Starlink
The IRISยฒ system will beam encrypted high-speed broadband internet back to governments, spies, militaries and remote regions.
NATOโs Rutte wants a return to Cold War-level military spending
Governments need to make more orders and defense contractors have to take more risks, NATO’s secretary-general said.
Commission plays careers counsellor for defence industry staff
The EU’s plans to ramp up defence production require the sector to become “a more attractive employer”, the Commission says.
The post Commission plays careers counsellor for defence industry staff appeared first on Euractiv.
Germanyโs Merz wants โcommonโ European plan for peace in Ukraine as Trump looms
Germany’s likely next chancellor says Europe should be ready to back a peace plan for Ukraine independently of the U.S.
McConnell takes indirect swipe at Trump on Americaโs role in the world
โAmerica will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline,โ he said.
Ukraine war briefing: Scholz confident of developing โjoint strategyโ on Ukraine with Trump
German chancellor wants Ukraineโs sovereignty guarantees but rules out providing Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles. What we know on day 1,018The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is confident he and the US president-elect, Donald Trump, will be able t…
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy delegation meets with Trump team โ report
Top Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak involved, sources tell Reuters; Sullivan calls on Trump to maintain defence production ramp-up. What we know on day 1,016A Ukrainian delegation met on Wednesday with senior representatives of Donald Trump, …
EU defense spending projected to boom to โฌ326B
War in Ukraine is prompting 22 of the EU’s 27 member countries to raise their defense spending again.
Bundesbank chief calls for softer debt brake to ramp up investment
German central bank president Joachim Nagel urges Berlin to relax rules to address defence and infrastructure shortfalls
Resetting Europeโs Innovation Compass
Europeโs pharmaceutical sector has grown slowly for 25 years and its share of research is shrinking. Itโs time to turn things around
Zelensky urges Scholz to ramp up ‘fundamental’ support against Russia
Despite Germany pledging aย โฌ650 million aid package on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged its second-largest backer not to reduce its backing of Ukraine’s efforts to defeat Russia, saying Ukraine’s allies could only “ensure peace thr…
The French prime minister will likely fall this week. So then what?ย
Only a miracle can save Barnier. There doesn’t seem to be one on the horizon.ย
Want food security? Eat less meat, major report says.
Europe’s top farming university is calling for smaller livestock herds and a shift toward plant-based diets.
EU leaders vow to make bloc more competitive in face of Trump threat
Budapest meeting finds consensus on need to raise growth and productivity as โAmerica firstโ protectionism loomsEU leaders meeting in Budapest have signed a declaration aimed at boosting the blocโs ailing competitiveness โ a task given added urgency by…
Macron to Europe: We need to become โomnivoresโ after Trumpโs victory
Europe needs to grow some teeth or risk being eaten by the world’s “carnivores,” says French president.
5 things to know about defense chief Andrius Kubiliusโs European Parliament hearing
New defense commissioner warned of Russian threat, underlined America’s distraction with China, and pushed the EU to spend big on protecting itself.
British lobbyists funded $1M pro-Ukraine campaign targeting top US Republicans
Freedom at Home and Abroad received funding from a well-connected U.K. firm. Then it took on JD Vance and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Ukraine war briefing: North Korea says it will back Russia until it achieves victory
Foreign ministersโ meeting in Moscow forges closer ties amid imminent deployment of thousands of North Korean troops against Ukraine. What we know on day 983See all our coverage of the Russia-Ukraine warThe North Korean foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, …
Labourโs tax-hiking UK budget wonโt boost growth, experts warn
Institute for Fiscal Studies boss bets Chancellor Rachel Reeves will have to come back for more tax rises.
Europe must prepare to defend itself before it is too late
Despite massive efforts to ramp up production, the European defence industry is nowhere near matching the output of Russia.
Musk has been in secret contact with Putin since 2022, says bombshell new report
The Russian president even asked the billionaire for a Starlink favor.
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.
Who could be in Kamala Harrisโ Cabinet? Here are the leading contenders.
If Kamala Harris wins the election, she will likely approach the task of filling out her Cabinet and West Wing much like she did when she took over Joe Bidenโs campaign operation this summer. While sheโll ensure her closest advisers and key Cabinet members are people she personally trusts, there will be some continuity with [โฆ]
Europeโs tech gap is a major security problem, Ischinger says
Godfather of Munich Security Conference warns that EU lacks investment landscape to close gap with U.S., China.
โTheyโve forgotten their own recent historyโ: Why Israel wonโt move toward peace
Former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says what he most fears is Israeli overconfidence following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
French MPs in Strasbourg and Paris, ramp up pressure on France over Mercosur deal
French MPs in Strasbourg and Paris, ramp up pressure on France over Mercosur deal
US issues ultimatum to Israeli government over Gaza crisis
Israel has threatened to launch a siege operation in northern Gaza to root out Hamas militants that have reemerged in that area of the war-torn enclave.
Iran has a hit list of former Trump aides. The U.S. is scrambling to protect them.
Roughly a dozen national security aides from the Trump White House are feared to be Iranโs hit list. Itโs hard to protect them all.
Mpox is killing again. It didnโt have to be this way.
Missteps by the World Health Organization, a vaccine manufacturer and an African country led to another health emergency, experts say.