Euobserver.com

So far in 2023, all EU member states, but Greece, have raised their minimum wage levels. However, only five of these increases have offset inflation.

The catastrophic earthquake in Turkey has put on hold its row with Sweden on Nato expansion — but is Stockholm missing an opportunity to really mend relations?

MEPs called on the European Central Bank to explain how its monetary policies are affecting society, employment and climate policy.

Far-right and conservative MEPs either opposed or abstained from a vote on setting up an independent ethics committee to weed out corruption across all major EU institutions.

One week after Turkey's earthquake left more than 30,000 people dead, hope of survival has been replaced by public anger. For two decades, Turkey's government has failed to enforce its own construction requirements, resulting in catastrophic building collapses.

In this episode, a Socialist MEP gives a first-hand account of being obstructed and misled by two of the prime suspects in the Qatargate scandal. She also shares her feelings of vindication now that the truth is coming out.

Instead of building walls, European countries must devise systems that allow for more and decent work permits for people to come to work in Europe, across skills and sectors.

EU sanctions meant to degrade Russia's war machine include a renewed ban on symbolic items, while letting strategic industries off the hook.

EU ambassadors signed off — with qualified majority — on two decisions that would give the green light on EU ratification of the convention in areas where the EU has exclusive legal competence.

Mali has kicked out European forces. Instead, the Russians, and their Wagner paramilitaries are welcomed in. What can we learn from it? What do Mali's pro-Russian civil society actors themselves say? What drives the choice to invite Russia in?

As Beijing cajoles Europe back to "business as usual", even lifting mutual sanctions, European governments shouldn't waver in their recent resolve to hold Beijing accountable for its deepening human rights abuses, writes the China director of Human Rights Watch.

MEPs are scrambling to declare trips paid by countries in the wake of a corruption scandal that has landed the parliament's former vice-president in pre-trial detention. Among them are two MEPs who had chaired the EU Qatar friendship group.

Levits also criticised western European countries for having a provincial understanding of Europe and for naively developing a dependency on Russian energy.

Israel is still a functional democracy and no sanctions are foreseen, the EU has said, amid mounting concern on its new rightwing government's abuse of rule of law.

Proposals in December to stamp out corruption at the European Parliament in the wake of Qatargate have been progressively watered down, says the Left. Manon Aubry, Left co-president, said decisions being made behind closed doors are burying pro-transparency efforts.

European finance ministers sought to unblock talks over reforming the EU's debt and deficit rules.

It's become clear Qatargate is being used by rightwing MEPs to cast doubt on civil society. For them, the sometimes successful campaigns by often under-financed and understaffed NGOs is a pain — it counters their private sector and neo-liberal ideology.

EU ministers of finance and economy updated the list to add British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Marshall Islands, and Russia — in an update not comprehensive enough for everyone.

Ardern had many important achievements, but more important is the remarkable manner in which she achieved success. The departing PM was not afraid of acting as a woman, showing her true feelings, her 'soft' feminine side and also her compassion.

The EU Commission published detailed rules defining hydrogen and when it can be counted as green, but experts slam reporting requirements on renewables as too weak, opening the door for increased fossil fuel burning.