European Union

Growing mistrust among European political groups, who are supposed to form a pro-EU majority after the June European election, is prompting some in Brussels to consider a written national government-style coalition agreement. 

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the Italian financial police have jointly uncovered an alleged fraud scheme involving €600 million related to the Next Generation EU recovery fund, and extensive raids are underway across Italy, the EPPO said on Thursday (4 April). 

Thinking of populism and authoritarianism in less absolute terms might be key to dealing with the 'hybrid democracies' and 'soft authoritarians' popping up across Europe.

Belgium's national health agency has endorsed a European Commission proposal to loosen rules on gene-editing techniques, underscoring its potential to improve sustainability in agriculture in a report published on 21 March.

The EU’s emissions trading scheme sectors, industry and power, saw emissions drop by 15% in 2023, putting them on track for their 2030 targets, but experts question whether this was because of - or despite - Europe's carbon trading framework.

The world is preparing for a phase-out of fossil fuels following the historic COP28 agreement, but what does the energy mix of the future look like? According to Japanese engineering company IHI, interest in green ammonia in Europe is growing as heavy industries make the transition to greener technologies.

Turning 75 on Thursday (4 April), NATO will celebrate the success of its open-door policy that has charmed many over the decades but will remain keenly aware that it is facing possibly the biggest security challenges since its inception.

Nato was founded on 4 April 1949 in Washington, D.C. with the ceremonial signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. Initially composed of twelve member states, it now encompasses 32. On its 75th anniversary, Europe's press takes a look at the top priorities for the alliance.

Following the death of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen charity in the Gaza Strip, Israel's government has admitted mistakes and said it has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The founder of the aid organisation has described it as a targeted attack on a clearly marked vehicle. International allies, including the US and Poland, have also voiced harsh criticism.

A run-off election this Saturday will decide who becomes Slovakia's new head of state. The liberal former foreign minister Ivan Korčok faces off against leftist parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini, who belongs to the camp of the controversial Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Korčok won the first round with a lead of five and a half percentage points.