Austrian coalition talks at ‘difficult phase’ as Conservatives take a break
Negotiations over a centre-right government coalition in Austria have hit a tough spot.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
Germany’s CDU leader ‘under threat of far-left violence’ after migration vote
Friedrich Merz, the lead candidate for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to become Germany's next chancellor, was believed to be at risk of violent attacks from…
‘Test French politicians for drugs,’ says Green party Mayor amid rising drug use in the country
The French left-wing Green Party mayor of Grenoble, Éric Piolle, has been pushing for anonymous drug tests targeting France’s political elite, including ministers,…
German gays back hard-right AfD, poll suggests
The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is the most popular among German users of gay dating app Romeo.com, according to the site's survey.
France slumps into housing crisis, report warns
The French Housing Foundation, formerly known as the Abbé Pierre Foundation, has warned that France was "sinking into a housing crisis, with 4 million people who…
NGO wants ‘carcinogenic’ non-sugar sweetener banned
Food NGO Food Watch, food consumer app Yuka and the French foundation League Against Cancer have launched a Europe-wide petition calling for a ban on aspartame,…
Asylum applications plunge in Germany
Asylum applications in Germany fell by 34 per cent last year, the country's interior ministry has said.
Norway’s ‘Trump whisperer’ Stoltenberg in as new finance chief, urges US engagement
Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who has became Norway's new finance minister, said engaging with the administration of US President Donald Trump on trade was…
Berlin daily sex crimes soared by 79% last year, report finds
In Berlin, sexual crimes soared last year, according to local government data.
EU and Starmer plot Brexit ‘reset’ meeting in May
It has been announced that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host European Union leaders at a meeting in May aimed at "resetting" the relationship between London…
Ex-MEP Arena’s son and 14 others arrested in international drug bust
Ugo Lemaire, son of Belgian former Socialist MEP Marie Arena, has been arrested in a major international investigation into alleged cannabis trafficking.
US reasserting their role as the primary superpower with breathtaking speed
As I have written elsewhere, I have always been suspicious of the idea of an emerging multipolar world order.
‘Western companies make billions selling oil tankers to Russia,’ report claims
Western shipowners have earned billions by selling tankers to Russia’s shadow fleet, helping Moscow circumvent European Union sanctions and keep its war economy…
Two-thirds of Poles ‘support border controls inside EU to combat migration’, poll finds
Almost two-thirds of Poles want the reintroduction of border controls within the European Union to combat illegal migration, according to the latest attitude poll…
Austria’s Beer Party calls last orders
The Austrian Beer Party (Bierpartei) has announced it was ending its political aspirations.
Tusk tries to seduce Trump with US weapons purchase proposal
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the European Union to stay “united” and respond in a “clear and firm” way to US President Donald Trump’s warning…
First porn app on iPhone under EU rules angers Apple
Apple has criticised a pornography app newly available on iPhones in the European Union, claiming it was "required by the European Commission to allow it".
AfD leader’s Hungary invitation shows erosion of German far-right party’s isolation
An endorsement from Elon Musk, €5 million in financial donations this year alone, and now an invitation to meet Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán: once…
New Belgian PM wants to cool EU ‘regulatory fervour’, defend Europe within NATO
New right-wing Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said he wants to cool the European Union's "regulatory fervour" to boost corporate competitiveness and that European Union defences…
Georgian police arrest government opposition leaders at protest
Georgian police have arrested two government opposition leaders during street protests against the ruling administration.
US special envoy Grenell advises Germany’s CDU to ‘purge wokeness’
Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump’s special missions envoy, has offered the German Conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) some "free advice".
Belgium gets new government after 236 days of negotiations
Almost eight months after the national elections on June 9, Belgian parties agreed to form a coalition.
German vice-chancellor’s brother under fire for alleged public funds ‘mismanagement’
The younger brother of Germany’s vice-chancellor and economics minister Robert Habeck (Greens), has come under fire for alleged wasteful spending of taxpayer money.
‘Take X down if it refuses to conform,’ says German SDP MP Wiese
German Social Democratic Party (SDP) MP Dirk Wiese has called for using “all measures” against social media platform X under the European Union’s Digital Services…
Austrian Socialists must pay right-wing party leader Kickl damages over ‘false accusations’
Herbert Kickl, leader of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), has won a court case against the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ), which now has to pay him…
EU Socialists fined for ‘funding UK Labour Party’
A left-wing think-tank connected to the Socialist faction in the European Parliament, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), has been fined €35,960.
EC says Poland will not be exempt from EU Migration Pact
The European Commission has said that Poland will not be free of the obligations of the European Union Migration Pact.
Polish PM Tusk’s MPs vote for detention of ex-justice minister in Pegasus case
The Polish parliamentary committee investigating the purchase and use of Pegasus spyware by the former Conservative (PiS) government has voted to have former PiS…
Trump plays hardball on tariffs, EU plays pretend
There are few things as predictable in global politics as Brussels being caught off guard.
Second ship seized in Baltic Sea cable damage investigation
Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized and boarded a Norwegian ship with an all-Russian crew on suspicion of involvement in causing damage to a telecoms…