Sweden to join NATO after Hungary gives green light
The Hungarian Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of Sweden joining NATO, which will see the Nordic country ending a 200-year policy of neutrality.
From the capitals
Latest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
French farmers fair jeers President Macron, but cheers opposition leader Bardella
Angry farmers stormed Paris's annual agricultural fair during President Emmanuel Macron's visit February 24.
Fighting back: Poland’s conservatives change their guard ahead of European and US elections
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński has demanded the resignation of his party’s top brass MEPs, in order to substitute them ahead of this year's European elections.
Are the Spanish regions drifting apart?
Galicia, Spain Is Spain about to be pulled apart by its regional identities? Recent events in the country appear to suggest that this could be the case.
If Fidesz joins the ECR that would be good for Hungary – and good for Europe
The Hungarian Prime Minister has expressed a strong interest in having his party, Fidesz, join the European Conservatives and Reformers parliamentary group after…
Russia ‘spreads fake reports of Macron’s assassination fears’
Russia has been accused of spreading fake reports of a possible attempt to assassinate French President Emmanuel Macron in Ukraine.
Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine ‘shot dead in Spain’
A Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine with his helicopter last year was found dead in an underground garage in Spain last week, his body riddled with bullets,…
Biden bids to smooth Tusk-Duda relationship in Poland as PiS backs Trump
US President Joe Biden has invited both Poland’s Liberal Prime Minister Donald Tusk and its Conservative President Andrzej Duda to visit the White House.
Sikorski makes clear Poland won’t let reparation claims get in the way of good relations with Germany
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski now admits Warsaw cannot legally make reparations claims for Second World War damages from Germany, as the matter was…
Wilders suggests new lead negotiator for Dutch Cabinet formation
Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders has suggested Kim Putters, chairman of the Social Economic Council (SER) and member of the Socialist Party, to be…
EU claims of Azerbaijani expansionism are ‘baseless’, senior official says
Claims of Azerbaijani expansionism made by certain European Union officials are "baseless", a senior official from the country has told Brussels Signal.
EU leaders ‘should think again’ about a UK Labour election win
With the latest polls showing the UK Labour Party commanding a 25 per cent lead over the governing Conservatives, European Union leaders may think a Labour victory…
Italian defence minister Crosetto hospitalised
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto has gone to hospital with heart problems.
Russia puts Estonian Prime Minister Kallas on ‘wanted list’
According to the Russian interior ministry's website, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is "wanted under the criminal code".
Spanish opposition may negotiate ‘conditional pardon’ for Puigdemont
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the Spanish opposition, would be open to negotiate a “conditional pardon” to former president of the Catalonia region,…
German Right makes ground in Berlin election re-run
The German Right achieved small but “significant” electoral gains after a partial re-run of the 2021 federal elections in parts of Berlin.
In a further sign of the decay of the EPP, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s hopes of snaffling a top EU job have been dashed
A resolution adopted by the European Parliament on February 7 accuses the Greek government of violating the rule of law, controlling the media, spying on its opponents…
Hungarian president Novak resigns over sex abuse case pardon
Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigned on February 10 after coming under mounting pressure for pardoning a man convicted of helping to cover up sexual abuse…
Put up, or shut up: US Republicans tell Poland’s Tusk to take US migrants to release Ukraine aid
US Republicans have reacted strongly to what they felt was Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s excoriation of them for rejecting Washington’s aid package for…
Belgium should be split up – here’s how, says Flemish leader
Separatist leader Tom Van Grieken says he wants to see Belgium dissolved and a new Flemish state set up within five years of this year's elections
Berlin ‘looks to take over Russian oil assets in Germany’
The German Government is laying the groundwork for a possible nationalisation of Russia-backed oil company Rosneft Germany.
Poland seems set to pivot towards Germany and France and away from the US
Poland under the Donald Tusk-led Government looks set to prioritise co-operation with Germany and France over its alliance with the US.
Boris Johnson is the West’s strongest advocate for Ukraine, yet is backing Trump for the White House: The strategy makes sense
Donald Trump is overwhelmingly likely to be the Republican candidate for President, and some polls show him beating Biden in approval ratings by a significant margin.
Biden drops the ball in mixing up Macron with Mitterrand
US President Joe Biden has come under scrutiny after mixing up sitting French President Emmanuel Macron with one of his long-dead predecessors.
Right on? Brexiteer Farage open to ‘joining Tories’ after UK elections
Former leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage said he is “open-minded” about joining the Conservative Party after the next UK elections because he said he believes in…
Dutch Government may defriend Facebook over ‘privacy issues’
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s outgoing Government is considering banning the use of Facebook for all public authorities.
Get your motors running: End of the (cheap) road for SUV drivers in Paris?
Parisians are to vote on whether to hit owners of 4x4 vehicles with parking fees as high as €18 an hour – three times the current rate.
Poland’s PiS backs Orbán’s Fidesz bid to join ECR in European Parliament
Poland’s Conservative (PiS) party has declared it is open to the idea of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, joining the European Conservative…
Orbán rallies protesting farmers ahead of crucial EU summit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made a surprise appearance at a farmers' protest in Brussels ahead of a crucial European Union summit regarding the Ukraine…
Northern Ireland to get a government as EU food and goods rules tip balance
Northern Ireland will get a government again after two years as a rudderless ship in a deal involving stickers and sticking with European Union food and goods rules.