European Union

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I expressed his will to return to his homeland by the end of May, sources close to the ex-monarch told Spanish private radio station Onda Cero on Monday. According to the sources, the former monarch,...

Ukraine's military said on Tuesday (16 May) it was working to evacuate all remaining troops from their last stronghold in the besieged steel plant in Mariupol, ceding control of the city to Russia after months of bombardment.

The number of cyberattacks in Lithuania increased significantly at the end of February following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the first quarter of 2022, Lithuania recorded 1,020 cyberattacks compared to the 981 the country registered in the previous year. Overall...

It is “unacceptable” that an executive should be prevented from forming in Northern Ireland, said Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Monday, as the leader of Sinn Fein, which won the recent elections, visited Dublin. Michelle O’Neill, leader of Sinn Féin...

The Dutch may have to lockdown again in autumn as the government has not prepared an effective strategy in case another COVID-19 wave hits the country, Dutch media NOS reports. Another lockdown may be in order in autumn as the government...

Entering Austria no longer requires proof of vaccination, recovery passes, or testing after all COVID-19-related entry requirements were dropped from Monday. Provided there is no extension or change, these measures, presented by the health ministry Friday evening (13 May), should...

Germany’s three-party coalition struggled to regain composure on Monday after two governing parties faced crushing losses in an important state election on Sunday. In the regional election of Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday (15 May), Chancellor Olaf...

The Bulgarian-Greek gas connection in Stara Zagora, which is already connected with the national gas transmission network of the Bulgarian state-owned company Bulgartransgaz, has successfully passed the pneumatic tests for strength, tightness and gas metering, ICGB, the company working on...

The Czech Republic wants to establish a new “state energy trader” that would secure cheap energy supplies for the state and replace the private companies currently in charge of purchasing gas and other fuels. The trader would have the power...

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto from the Green Party played down fears that Turkey could block Finland’s NATO membership during a parliamentary debate on NATO on Monday, saying his country would not be a safe haven for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party...

President Emmanuel Macron appointed Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne as prime minister on Monday – an appointment other political parties have been quick to criticise. Elisabeth Borne is the second woman to be appointed French prime minister, after Edith Cresson, and...

From Sofia to Berlin, governments are contemplating expropriating, nationalising and otherwise seizing energy infrastructure owned by Russia-linked companies. Bulgaria is launching a political debate on the possible expropriation of strategic assets owned by Russian companies. The pro-European Democratic Bulgaria, part...

The EU has not found consensus on the new sanction package against Russia and an agreement could be still 'a week or two' away, EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell said on 17 May, as Hungary said it would not lift its veto.

The UK is expected to set out plans on Tuesday  (17 May) to table legislation allowing it to override parts of the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, though Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that this was only an ‘insurance policy’.

While the debate regarding the environmental taxonomy is raging between EU member state governments, the project of establishing a social taxonomy is put on the backburner by the EU Commission, according to multiple sources.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The European Union and Canada published a joint declaration following the third EU-Canada Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.

The EU issued a declaration on the 2022 International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), reaffirming its strong commitment to respect, protect and fulfil the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.

The Council prolonged the framework for restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the EU and its member states until 18 May 2025.

The Council adopted today a revised Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. The new rules aim to modernise, decarbonise and interconnect member states’ cross-border energy infrastructures in order to help the EU achieve its 2050 climate neutrality objectives. The revised regulation also aims to continue ensuring market integration, competitiveness and security of supply.