European Union

Prime Minister António Costa on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of compulsory military service making a comeback, adding that Ukraine must deepen its association agreement with the EU. Costa was speaking with the Journalists Club, in partnership with Lusa and the Escola...

Mediterranea, the civil society organisation that reports on migrants at sea, has criticised Italian authorities for handing over two boats to Commander Youssef Bishi of the Libyan General Administration for Coastal Security (GACS) on Wednesday. Two of the six Rigid...

The Norwegian government decided to donate a Mistral air defence system to Ukraine, Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced on Wednesday “The Mistral air defence system is an effective weapon that has been used in the navy, and which will...

The Swedish government’s flagship reform in the country’s spring budget, which promises a hefty boost for the country’s pensioners ahead of the autumn elections, could be derailed by the opposition. One of the most controversial points in the spring budget...

Accommodation for refugees from Ukraine is running short in Ireland, forcing authorities to prepare arenas to house incoming refugees temporarily. Up to 70 refugees will be housed in the Millstreet Arena in County Cork from Wednesday, Irish media reports, and...

Face masks will no longer have to be worn in schools from next week in Austria, Education Minister Martin Polascheck from the conservative ÖVP confirmed on Wednesday. The new measure also applies to unvaccinated teaching staff who currently have to wear...

Germany will work with the Dutch exploration and production company, ONE-Dyas, to operate a gas field in the North Sea above Schiermonnikoog and the German Wadden island of Borkum, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported on Wednesday. The announcement was made on...

Ukrainians and Russians should not be referred to as “fraternal peoples” in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in response to Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s call for the war to end between “fraternal...

Over three-quarters of Hungarians want local energy production and zero dependence on Russian gas but want to remain firmly out of the war, according to polls published on Wednesday, Telex reported. Most people think renewables should be the basis of Hungary’s energy...

Spain’s secret services fully comply with the relevant legislation, defence minister Margarita Robles said after it was revealed by Citizen Lab that dozens of pro-independence Catalan politicians had been targeted with the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware between 2015 and 2020....

The UK government is ready to unilaterally change the Northern Ireland protocol even if it does not reach an agreement with the EU, Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees Mogg told lawmakers on Wednesday. Giving evidence at a hearing of the...

The two presidential candidates confronted each other on the topic of Russian sanctions, while the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron called Marine Le Pen out on her financial dependence on Moscow. Unsurprisingly, the debate for the second round of the presidential...

Ukraine proposed talks with Moscow over evacuating troops and civilians from Mariupol after a Russian surrender-or-die ultimatum expired on Wednesday (20 April), leaving many trapped at a steel plant, the last main stronghold of resistance.

During his visit to Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel condemned Russia’s atrocities and highlighted the EU’s support to Ukraine: political, financial, military and humanitarian.

A last-minute proposal to change the liability regime for online search engines in the Digital Services Act (DSA) was circulated in the European Parliament. It is expected to receive the support of the EU Commission and Council.

Polish kings used to protect the Białowieża Forest in north-east Poland from locals, but now it is the EU's turn to play that role amid plans to build an anti-migrant wall.

The way the EU has helped Ukrainian refugees should be a gold standard for how Europe responds to all people in need — regardless of the colour of their skin.

In response to the EU probe, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán's government called for a referendum on the anti-LGBTI legislation, but it failed to to muster enough votes earlier this month to be valid.

With German chancellor Olaf Scholz increasingly caught in a crossfire over his hesitancy to assist Ukraine, foreign minister Annalena Baerbock stressed on Wednesday (20 April) that the shipment of heavy weaponry would now be on the table.

Reality or alarmist?: EUobserver talks to two leading experts who question the conventional assumption that climate change will drive millions of people to migrate to Europe.