European Union

Two ministers from former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s government and the former CEO of state company Bulgargaz are under investigation for allegedly generating millions in losses after Russia cut gas ties with Bulgaria last year.

Croatian state oil transportation company Janaf slapping a several million-per-year raise to its oil transit fees has made it difficult for Slovak oil refinery Slovnaft to rid itself of Russian crude.

Czechia opposes the European Commission’s Euro 7 emission standard, which intends to reduce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions that are emitted by vehicles, said Transport Minister Martin Kupka, who wants to discuss the issue with Commissioner Thierry Breton on Friday.

Poland has purchased second-hand vehicles worth €2.24 billion as part of its bid to modernise the military, following a big increase in spending since the war in Ukraine started, according to the WNP.pl portal. Warsaw ordered 189 K2 tanks and...

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the centre-right opposition Partido Popular had a heated exchange in parliament Wednesday over reforms that were adopted since Sanchez’s government entered office, with the opposition reiterating its calls for Sánchez to resign. While being one...

International prosecutors said they had found "strong indications" Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the use in Ukraine of a Russian missile system which shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) over the east of the country in 2014.

The implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan must be accelerated, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Wednesday, announcing that he will also receive Prime Minister António Costa for an update next week. The president made these comments...

Staff shortages and long waiting lists for treatment have prompted the Italian government to allocate €125 billion to the national health system, announced Health Minister Orazio Schillaci on Wednesday. Healthcare facilities in all parts of Italy are complaining of a...

Trucks represent less than 2% of Europe’s vehicles but cause 25% of road transport emissions, and their electrification is key to meeting the EU's climate goals. Decision makers, energy regulators, and grid operators should move quickly to optimise the charging infrastructure, writes Julia Hildermeier.

Terrorist threats against Sweden have increased, the Swedish Security Service warned in a press release on Wednesday, citing the burning of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in February as one of the main reasons. According to intelligence services, Sweden...

Asylum State Secretary Nicole de Moor heavily criticised the request for a temporary suspension of deportations to Iran that was put forward by political groups from the majority and the opposition on Wednesday. Asylum issues resurfaced in the public discourse...

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters on Wednesday (8 February) addressed the UN Security Council at Russia's invitation, condemning Moscow's invasion of its neighbor as illegal - though adding he believed it was provoked - and calling for a ceasefire.

Austria will block the joint final European Council declaration at the two-day summit starting on Thursday if the EU does not adopt a harder line on migration, Chancellor Karl Nehammer told Die Welt on Wednesday. In the run-up to the...

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full commitment to accompany Ukraine to victory and during reconstruction after the war, following a dinner at the Elysée with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy  on Wednesday evening. “Russia cannot...

Agreements regarding Kosovo, including on the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, must be implemented, said US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill said on Wednesday, adding that the US wants to be a part of the implementation process. The US wants...

Large Finnish companies are worried the hotly-debated US Inflation Reduction Act could have significant implications on their operations and the rest of the EU, a recent survey conducted by the Finnish Confederation of Industries shows.

Germany’s Economy Ministry is currently deciding whether to block the acquisition of the insolvent Hahn airport by Russian investor Viktor Charitonin, who is considered close to the Kremlin. Charitonin is the highest bidder for the purchase of the regional airport,...

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday (8 February) admitted there were problems with his government's initial response to a devastating earthquake in southern Turkey, amid anger from those left destitute and frustrated over the slow arrival of rescue teams.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a seismic shift in how we work, with millions of Europeans switching to working from home. But after restrictions were lifted, many were reluctant to return to the office.  Realising they can work from anywhere, millions...

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, having visited London and Paris, is expected to push EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday (9 February) for more weapons in the fight against Russia’s invasion and for a quick start to EU membership talks. Zelenskyy’s...