European Union

The mental health of Ukrainians and those in exile was at the heart of discussions for the first time at the WHO mental health coalition meeting on Wednesday (4 May), attended by EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. EURACTIV France reports.

The EU should confiscate and sell Russian assets it has seized and use the proceeds to rebuild war-scarred Ukraine, EU chief Charles Michel said in an interview published Thursday (5 May).

MEPs called on all EU member states, especially Poland, to guarantee Ukrainian women access to emergency contraception and abortion — after growing reports of rape and sexual violence in Ukraine.

In its attempt to create an EU-wide market for clean hydrogen, the European Commission aims to build on years of experience spent trying to integrate EU markets for gas and electricity. These lessons could prove crucial to grow the hydrogen market and meet the bloc's 2030 climate goals.

MEPs welcomed Moldova's formal EU membership application, submitted in early March, supporting its candidate status under the treaties. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament raised concerns over the explosions and rocket attacks recently reported in the Russia-controlled Transnistrian region. Additionally, EU lawmakers called on the EU to provide more financial assistance to Moldova, one of the major destinations for Ukrainian refugees.

Members of European Parliament passed a resolution on Wednesday (4 May) supporting the outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe and changing EU treaties to facilitate the implementation of citizens' proposals.

French President Emmanuel Macron is not expected to name the next prime minister before the end of next week although he is already being officially sworn in for a second term on Saturday (7 May), as several prominent figures have reportedly already turned down the job.

Coreper agrees negotiating mandate for regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market

During his visit to the Republic of Moldova, European Council President Charles Michel met with President Maia Sandu. At the joint press conference, President Michel reiterated the EU's full solidarity with Moldova and support to stability, security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

The press briefing ahead of the Brussels VI Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region of 10 May 2022 will take place on Thursday, 5 May 2022 at 15.00. This press briefing will be "off the record" and it will be given by a senior official in a hybrid format.

As Russia’s war continues, the German government has been frantically looking for alternatives to Russian pipeline gas and mobile floating tankers repurposed to process LNG from around the world have become the government’s solution. To ship gas long-distance, it needs...

The EU Commission plans to further tighten its sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a sixth package on Wednesday, which also includes an oil embargo. Transitional periods are intended to make it easier for skeptical member states to agree to the measures. European commentators pose questions about the potential consequences.

On 9 May, Russia traditionally celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Hitler's Germany with a large parade on Red Square. The Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic countries also commemorate the victims on this day, and celebrate the end of the Second World War. The press examines the significance of 9 May this year in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.