Brusselsโ 2026 schedule reflects policy shift from green to lean
A first look at the EU executiveโs plan for 2026 which will set the ground for the blocโs energy and climate landscape through 2030
REACH
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.
Seize this โcrucial momentโ for animal-free chemical testing reform, say experts
Animal testing science has developed significantly in 20 years; now itโs time to align industry with new non-animal testing methods
Macron and Merz urge easing of EU pollution laws to revive ailing industry
France and Germany are sending a strong message to Brussels to push ahead with its drive to cut red tape.
Rheinmetall sees bundled Europe-wide military orders as path to better prices
Rheinmetall’s CEO urged more joint purchasing, exemptions from EU environmental rules and new subsidies to produce long-range weaponry.
Europeโs chemical powerhouse tells Brussels to go easy on new regulations
Hendrik Wรผst, state premier of Germany’s chemical hub North Rhine-Westphalia, demanded โlevel-headed chemicals policyโ on a visit to the EU capital on Wednesday.
EU Commission unveils de-regulation โquick fixesโ for Europeโs defence industry
An eagerly awaited EU “defence omnibus” to cut red tape for the arms industry largely delivers smaller tweaks โ but promises more sweeping revisions next year.
Proposed simplification of EU chemicals legislation masks deregulation
Undermining vital legislation will harm people, the environment and the economy โ not to mention citizens’ confidence in the bloc.
European wines face alarming โforever chemicalโ contamination, new study finds
From Austria to Spain, not a single wine tested came back clean, exposing the reach of ultra-persistent chemicals in Europeโs food chain.
Animals still suffer and die in the name of beauty. Why? [Promoted content]
Cruelty Free Europe responds to the European Commission ahead of an-assessment of the Cosmetics Product Regulation.โฏ12 years after it supposedly banned animal testing for cosmetics, itโs now clear that it is not fit for purpose.
EU chemicals lobby asks Commission for 10-point rescue plan
The chemical sector is โthe industry of industriesโ EU industry chief Stรฉphane Sรฉjournรฉ said.
PFAS: Working toward a sustainable future while protecting patient care
Pharma and medtech companies are invited to join a project on PFAS exposure, emissions and end-of-life management in the health care sector
Who were the biggest dunces? Final grades for von der Leyenโs first Commission
Whoโs at the top of the class and who flunked? Here are POLITICO’s grades for each 2019-2024 European commissioner.
Environment commissioner-designate expected to survive tough MEP questions on chemicals
“Jessika is an experienced politicianโ said German MEP (EPP) and ENVI Committee coordinator Peter Liese last week, adding that in the European Parliament, there is โno mood to get rid of Roswall.”
New ambition for Europeโs animal rights agenda, but testing times ahead [Advocacy Lab Content]
The EU is about to get its first Commissioner specifically responsible for Animal Welfare. MEP Niels Fuglsang must navigate the legislative minefield. Jennifer Baker spoke to Fuglsang about the key issues, including animal testing.
EU Commission maladministration on chemical rules endangers health
Commission says it has “insufficient meeting rooms” to meet tight deadlines for the authorisation of chemicals.
โNow I like himโ: Some Black voters in Georgia see Trump as a real option
Republicans are working to turn out more new Trump voters.
Harris tries to make her case in contentious Fox interview
The vice president subjected herself to an interrogation as she tries to reach more conservative voters.
Sorry, Mark Rutte, thereโll be no honeymoon at NATO
From a potential Trump presidency to the impasse over Ukraine’s war strategy, the former Dutch PM is taking on a tough job.
World leaders voice frustration at Israel and the US as violence mounts in Middle East
The U.N. contends with its own limitations as violence in the Middle East ratchets up amid General Assembly.
Incoming environment commissioner likely to face tough MEP questions on chemical rules revision
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has askedย Environment Commissioner-designate Jessika Roswall to overhaul the EU’s landmark REACH regulation, a move likely to expose her to a major grilling from the European Parliamentโs Environment …
Europe must protect the ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients ย
Europe must protect the ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients writes Tilly Metz MEP.
Netanyahu vows โheavy priceโ for Houthis after missile hits central Israel
The strike was the first time a missile fired by the Houthi rebels had reached that far into the country.
What Keir Starmerโs Advisers Told Democrats in Washington
Two advisers to the British Labour Party pushed Kamala Harris allies to focus squarely on immigration and the cost of living.
What Keir Starmerโs advisers told Democrats in Washington
Two advisers to the British Labour Party pushed Kamala Harris allies to focus squarely on immigration and the cost of living.
Why the Kremlin loves social media
This weekโs indictment of a social media content firm shows how itโs getting easier and easier for Russia to influence U.S. elections.
Foreign influence attempts are the new normal for American elections
As attempted foreign interference in elections continues to evolve, so does the response to it. Officials are grappling with questions of how to hold bad actors accountable while preserving trust in the system.
Progress toward Gaza cease-fire in peril after Israeli hostage deaths
Recent optimism has deflated and worries mount that tensions between Israeli leadership and Hamas will only continue to increase.
Harris and Trump brace for final sprint in โsnap electionโ
The race is not only tight nationally, but in a broader range of states than before.
Kamala Harris sidesteps the spotlight when it comes to her identity
The vice president makes her case on identity implicit. Black women are OK with that.
Keir Starmer learns how not to lead from Olaf Scholz
On a visit to Berlin, the new U.K. prime minister may look at his German counterpart as a cautionary tale.
Memes, GIFs and selfies: How social media is influencing political campaigns
How Harris and Trump choose to connect with young voters online could make or break their 2024 presidential campaigns.
The bewildering politics of Telegram
Here are two big reasons the controversial app just became a global flashpoint.
Israeli ambassador to US: Israeli strike on Hezbollah averted larger war
โI believe that the success of our operation yesterday prevented an escalation to a major war,โ Michael Herzog said.
France needs to be wary of Chinaโs influence in New Caledonia, report says
Island territory’s transition to greater autonomy “must include discussions” on defense against external threats, a scholar says.
Trump has far less campaign money and infrastructure than Harris
The former presidentโs campaign infrastructure is smaller than Harrisโ โ and his own from 2020.
Trump says heโs โentitled to personal attacksโ on Harris
Over and over, Trump went after Harris personally โ a tactic top allies have cautioned against him doing.
US offers quiet support for Ukraine after Kursk incursion deals Putin a major embarrassment
President Joe Biden told reporters that Ukraineโs advances inside Russian territory have put Moscow in a tough spot, while acknowledging that the U.S. is talking with Kyiv as the incursion continues.
The 5 major questions facing Kamala Harris now
The vice president has a number of pitfalls ahead.
EU imposes restrictions on former climate official over his new gas role
The European Commission approved Diederik Samsom’s job with a gas network operator, albeit under “clear conditions.”
Smart Clinics: Bringing healthcare to where itโs needed most
In rural Colombia, a converted bus and a 30-strong interdisciplinary team are bringing basic healthcare services to pregnant women affected by poverty.
What Tim Walz brings to the Democratic ticket
Walz knows how to speak the language of places where Democrats have hemorrhaged votes for decades.
Trump returns to the stage. And stays and stays and stays
He was subdued. Defiant. And everything in between.
Trumpโs raised fist will make history โ and define his candidacy
In wake of shooting, GOP officials are quick to blame Democrats for demonizing the former president.
UKโs Starmer must boost defense spending by 2030, former army head says
Patrick Sanders urges the new British prime minister to commit to a timeframe to hit 2.5 percent of GDP โ and to go even further.
Biden or Trump? To the Polish president, it doesnโt matter
โWe have to be honest and tell ourselves that the Cold War situation is back and itโs not due to the actions of the United States,โ Andrzej Duda said.
The call for an EU Action Plan for rare diseases
Driving excellence: A new EU Action Plan for rare diseases that drives innovation, creativity and competitiveness can position the EU as a leader on the global stage.
Will Biden recover from his debate debacle? Hereโs what to watch.
The Biden campaign is scrambling after an abysmal debate performance.
Out of time. Out of patience. Womenโs and adolescentsโ health and rights cannot wait.
Women are suffering and dying because of preventable health issues, exacerbated by climate change and conflict. This must end now.
Trump keeps flip-flopping his policy positions after meeting with rich people
Top CEOs were seen nodding their heads when Trump talked about finding ways to keep American-educated talent at home.
US officials donโt see clear path to ending war in Gaza as cease-fire talks stall
Biden officials say Hamas and Israel disagree on how to end all hostilities in Gaza.
EU HTA: If we want faster access to cancer treatment for all Europeans, we need to get it rightย
In January 2025 the EU HTA Regulation will become reality. Letโs work together to ensure it facilitates faster patient access to new cancer treatments.
Israeli army to pause some Gaza fighting during the day for humanitarian aid
Military to suspend fighting along a road in southern Gaza during certain hours to allow aid deliveries to reach Palestinians.
Momentum grows for quick von der Leyen deal ahead of Monday summit
EU leaders meet on Monday to discuss top Brussels jobs in the wake of the European election.
Over-reliance on gas delays G7 transition to net-zero power
G7 countries have only 10 years left to act on their commitment to reach net-zero emissions power systems.
Belgiumโs make-or-break election, explained
A triple vote could shake up Belgian politics, or drive it into gridlock.
Scholz, Macron adopt โcompetitivenessโ guidelines to set EU agenda
With the EU set for a new five-year term, the blocโs powerhouses France and Germany are insisting that their economic priorities are taken into account most of all.ย
Iran leaderโs helicopter makes โhard landing,โ rescuers despatched
Tehran is yet to confirm details of the incident involving Ebrahim Raisi.
France gets a reprieve on credit rating, but doubts persist on fiscal outlook
Moody’s and Fitch keep assessments unchanged, but are cautious on French government’s ability to meet deficit targets.
How large parts of Trumpโs trial are playing out in the shadows
Critical aspects of the case have been shielded from the media and the public.
Relieved by US progress on Ukraine aid, Europe grapples with its own support for Kyiv
Estonia and Sweden are among European countries warning against complacency, as EU foreign ministers are set to discuss Ukraine on Monday.
Meet Russiaโs Christian soldier who wants to oust Putin
โWhen we have enough forces, we will liberate a whole Russian region. We will set up a government โฆ The rebellion will grow, and we will move on to other regions until we march on Moscow,โ says Caesar.
French National Assembly, impatient with EU, pushes for โforever chemicalโ ban
On Thursday (4 April), the French opposition party Les รcologistes pushed a proposal to reduce the use of the so-called “forever chemicals” through the National Assembly, but the government favours a European solution to this environmental and health p…
France votes to ban โforever chemicals,โ exempting frying pans
Kitchen utensil manufacturers get win after lobbying blitz.
Some advice for Russiaโs newest opposition leader
Opposition movements, especially those based abroad, rarely succeed.
Belgian PM warns Israel against using hunger as โweapon of warโ in Gaza
Alexander De Croo also urges Israel to abandon plans for an offensive into the city of Rafah.
Denmark to begin conscripting women for the military in rare move
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen outlined Danish defense overhaul, with an eye on Russia.
Eliminating cervical cancer to save womenโs lives
Leading international cervical health experts call on governments and health care authorities to address low and declining cervical cancer screening participation rates.
Gleeful Russia relishes German Taurus leak scandal
The Kremlin is jubilant after humiliating Berlin by revealing top-secret missile talks.
Itโs official: Sweden to join NATO
Hungary finally lets Sweden into the military alliance, dealing a blow to Russia.
Commission sparks greenwashing fears in row over โ100 percent recycledโ claims
The EU executive suggests laxer rules for calculating recycled content in products, siding with the chemical industry.
Far-right AfD moves to make amends with Le Pen
The French far-right leader has tried to distance herself from Germany’s AfD following revelations of a clandestine extremist meeting.
Even the Bank of England is giving in to the banks
Lenders on either side of the Atlantic have been campaigning hard against incoming standards
Countries must send more ammo to Ukraine: EUโs top diplomat
‘Doing nothing is not an option,’ Josep Borrell stressed.
Proposed SEP Regulation is a boost for EU innovation
New rules on standard-essential patents for technology will revamp the licensing ecosystem for innovators, while supporting the fundamental right to intellectual property.
Who is Yulia Navalnaya, Putinโs new enemy?ย
For years she sought to avoid the limelight. Now Alexei Navalny’s widow is vowing to continue his fight.
French MPs in favour of REACH revision before EU elections
The French parliament’s European affairs committee adopted on Wednesday (14 February) a European resolution tabled by Nicolas Thierry (Europe รcologie Les Verts, NUPES) calling for a revised REACH regulation on hazardous chemicals in everyday products.
Ukraine sinks Russian ship off Crimean coast
Russiaโs Black Sea fleet suffers further losses.
UKโs David Cameron slaps sanctions on โextremistโ Israeli settlers
Foreign secretary’s department says Israel has allowed settlers to act with ‘near total impunity’ in the West Bank.
Biden ramps up pressure on Netanyahu over plans for Rafah attack
Biden told Netanyahu that โa military operation in Rafah should not proceedโ without a plan to protect the more than 1 million people living in the city.
Council, Parliament strike provisional deal on EU fiscal-rules framework
The revision to the rules aims to reduce debt ratios and deficits while safeguarding investment in strategic areas.
In Northern Ireland, โa Protestant stateโ finally has a Catholic leader
Sinn Fรฉin’s Michelle OโNeill vows to be โa first minister for allโ in a divided society where stable government has been a casualty of Brexit.
Connectivity can steer Europe back to competitiveness
5G-connected technologies must be deployed at scale and at speed to improve lives, drive growth and compete with China and the U.S.
NATO chief: Iโm not worried that Trump will pull out of the alliance
Jens Stoltenberg is meeting with Republicans in Washington to drum up support for Ukraine funding.
PFAS: Brussels top brass found to have โforever chemicalsโ in their bloodstream
European NGOs have tested the blood of the EUโs political top brass and found several banned โforever chemicalsโ, upping the pressure on Brussels to put the blocโs chemical regulation back on the agenda.
UN chief denounces Israel for โutterly unacceptableโ killings as Gaza death toll soars
UN Secretary-General Antรณnio Guterres renewed calls for a humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as Palestinian deaths hit 25,000.
US rethinks gas exports, spooking Europe
The EU is banking on Washington approving major new LNG projects. The Biden administration might not play ball.
โBeyond crazyโ: The liberal jew mugged by a post-10/7 world
French rabbi Delphine Horvilleur says the antisemitism in the U.S. following Hamasโ attack on Israel is not so surprising โ and all too familiar.
Israeli strike kills senior Hamas official in Beirut: Reports
Hamas has confirmed the death of Saleh al-Arouri, according to media reports.
Uniting Europeโs resources to put greener aircraft into service by 2035
Clean Aviation is harnessing synergies to foster dialogues and cooperation for a sustainable future in aviation.
Billionaire-backed think tank played key role in Bidenโs AI order
Researchers from the RAND Corporation โ which took more than $15 million this year from a group financed by a Facebook co-founder โ were a driving force behind the White Houseโs sweeping new AI reporting requirements.
The two days that salvaged a climate deal
โThere were times in the last 48 hours where some of us thought this could fail,โ U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said later.
John Kerry warns UK and Germany against โbusiness as usualโ on climate
“Nobody should be going backwards,” Kerry told POLITICO. “We must meet the Paris goals.”
The mystery of the untouched lawmaker at the heart of Qatargate
Belgian police place Maria Arena at the heart of the corruption ring in the European Parliament โ but have not questioned her.
Transforming HIV prevention in Europe
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, has revolutionized HIV prevention. New technologies, including injectables, wider availability and the reduction of stigma are the next frontier.
EU and Mercosur give up on clinching trade pact next week
Argentina says it intends to leave decisions on the trade deal to incoming President Javier Milei, who has threatened to quit Mercosur.
Macron says Israel โmust more precisely defineโ goal of Hamas assault
‘The total destruction of Hamas โ does anyone think it is possible?’ French president says.
Kamala Harris at climate summit: World must โfightโ those stalling action
US vice president uses her international platform to polish her climate credentials โ but it comes with political peril.ย
Why more leading companies are helping to tackle harmful drinking
Leading producers are growing a movement that can accelerate the reduction in harmful drinking and better promote a more responsible drinking culture.
Unveiling the power of Hydrogen in Europe: Itโs time to execute
The EU has already made strides with hydrogen energy โ but thereโs so much more that can be done in order to secure a more sustainable and secure future.