Compromise proposal on tobacco ‘is opposite of harm reduction’
A leaked compromise proposal from the Cypriot presidency on the European Union’s Tobacco Excise Directive has drawn sharp criticism for undermining harm reduction.
EU bubble
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If US firms dislike fines, they can leave Europe, says French economy minister
US technology companies that do not like the fines imposed under European digital rules can leave the European market, France’s economy minister said.
EU weighs whether to label Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group
The European Union is considering adding the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Pasdaran, to its list of terrorist organisations.
Portugal to pay €8.4 million to keep 420 asylum seekers out under EU migration pact
The Portuguese Government has agreed to make a financial contribution of €8.
German military mission to Greenland just 13-strong
In response to heightened US pressure, including repeated statements from President Donald Trump emphasising the strategic necessity of US control over the Arctic…
Polish President Nawrocki tells Europe to stay out of Greenland issue
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has distanced himself from European leaders who have supported Denmark in its dispute with US President Donald Trump over the…
More deaths than births in Europe for the first time since 1918
For the first time since the end of the First World War, more people are dying than are being born in Europe.
Embrace the chaos
It has generally been the tendency of every generation to think that its own times are somehow worse and/or more disruptive than those of the preceding age or even…
UK says Dutch right-wing commentator Vlaardingerbroek ‘not welcome’ after critical Starmer post
A Dutch right-wing political commentator and activist is no longer welcome in the UK.
‘Civilisational erasure’, what it really means for Europeans
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, released last December, was chock-full of terms and phrases which made waves across the world.
German parliament push to deny access and pay to ‘extremists’ working for MPs
The leader of Germany's Bundestag, or parliament, is pushing for stricter rules to deny both access and pay to “extremists” who work for German MPs.
UK investigates X and contemplates ban, US pushes back
The UK regulator for communications, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into X following reports that the US Grok AI chatbot account on the platform was…
Russian energy ban depends on EU members’ choices not EC, says Energy Commisisoner
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said European Union nations — not the EC — ultimately hold the power to stop buying Russian energy.
Trump’s death-blow to Iranian regime would be splendid and uplifting
As this is written, I continue to watch my preferred American news channel in hopes of hearing of the arrival in the Iranian airspace of the US Air Force and Naval…
EU replaces China EV tariffs with a ‘price floor’. Who benefits?
Replacing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) with a minimum price system would lower consumer prices while raising margins of European manufacturers and…
Ukraine ambassador: Europe is stepping up but US support still crucial
Ukraine’s ambassador to the European Union said European support for Kyiv had intensified but warned it still could not replace the US military role in ending…
German foreign ministry deletes poem mocking Greens politicians from staff magazine
The German foreign ministry has deleted a poem published in its internal magazine InternAA due to its satirical content.
The Danes protecting Greenland: They must learn from de Gaulle
“May you live in interesting times!” was a famous sentence a century ago.
French RN party President Bardella’s use of European Parliament funds under investigation
Jordan Bardella, President of France's right-wing National Rally (NR) and an MEP, is under legal scrutiny over his use of European Parliament funds.
Polish Government attempts to prepare population for nuclear and chemical attacks
The Polish Government is sending a printed booklet with advice on preparing for emergencies such as nuclear, chemical and biological attacks to all 17 million homes…
Moldovan President favours unification with Romania
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has publicly stated that she would vote in favour of unification with Romania if a referendum were held on the matter.
Is Brussels weakness making Tusk turn Right?
Some of Donald Tusk's voters who are less familiar with the current behind-the-scenes goings-on may have had the impression that someone mixed up the texts during…
Council of Europe wants to make questioning gender identity illegal
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) wants to make it illegal to question someone’s self-chosen gender via a new proposal criminalising 'conversion…
EXCLUSIVE: Steve Bannon moves to revive ‘gladiator school for nationalists’
US 'MAGA' strategist Steve Bannon is said to be close to launching a “gladiator school for nationalists” at a monastery in Italy.
Fading, forgotten Europe has been dropped from the world order
Metaphors mislead. What is going on in the world in the first month of the second quarter of the 21st century is unlike anything that has occurred before.
Ex-Tory finance minister defects to Farage’s Reform UK
Former UK Conservative minister Nadhim Zahawi announced today he had defected to Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK, the latest and highest profile switch by an…
“Bonsai armies” no more: EU chief wants standing military force
The European Commission is urging member states to consider establishing a standing military force of 100,000 troops.
Second Polish Conservative politician flees to Hungary
The former justice minister with Poland's previous Conservative (PiS) government has become the second senior Polish politician granted asylum by Hungary.
Polish President vetoes government’s attempt to implement EU’s digital regime
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed legislation passed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government that sought to implement the European Union’s Digital…
Mercosur is the public humiliation of France
In the wake of the Trump tariffs, European leaders have loudly proclaimed the merits of free trade, often pointing to the stupendous increase in general prosperity…