European Union

The European Commission has pledged to support investigations into potential war crimes in Ukraine — following reports of atrocities committed by Russian soldiers in Bucha, Irpin, and other Ukrainian cities.

EU ambassadors agreed on Wednesday to ease the exchange of Ukraine's hryvnia banknotes into EU currencies, to help people fleeing Ukraine, under similar conditions across the bloc. This system will allow refugees, including children, to exchange up to 10,000 hryvnias [€310] per person, free of charges and following the official exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine. Several countries already have such a system in place.

An upcoming scientific study expected before May is assessing the available detection methods for pneumonia-causing Legionella bacteria in the light of the new monitoring requirements included in the recently revised EU's tap water rules.

While foreign aid from countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reached historic highs in 2021, data analysis shows this was primarily fuelled by donating COVID-19 vaccines, many of which were out of date or unusable.

The war crimes committed in Bucha and Irpin leave us no choice: we must stop funding Putin’s genocidal war machine and switch away from Russian energy imports right now, writes Mark Lynas.

Both Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, the candidates that qualified for the second round of the French presidential election, support the revival of nuclear energy. However, they differ in their ambitions, strategies and modus operandi. EURACTIV France reports.

A case study: red tape, "Not In My Back Yard" (NIMBYs), and Green vs Green conflicts are putting brake on Germany's rapid wind expansion.

The EU's decision to include natural gas and nuclear power as "transitional activities" in its sustainable investments guidelines for green finance continues to generate massive controversy. Critics call it the "biggest greenwash ever."

Russia's president has stressed that the attack against Ukraine is proceeding according to plan and denied that the withdrawal from the Kyiv region was a defeat. He claims the intention was to first paralyse the enemy so that Russia would be better positioned for the planned major offensive in eastern Ukraine. Some observers say Moscow plans to take eastern Ukraine before 9 May. Europe's press is worried.

Many left-wing parties in Europe are facing a crucial test: what stance to adopt vis-à-vis Russia, which is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, but which as the successor state of the Soviet Union helped liberate Europe from fascism? And how do they feel about the US, Nato, arms supplies and rearmament? This dilemma is also reflected in the press.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have been issued with fines after the police concluded their investigation into the Partygate affair over lockdown-breaking parties. Johnson's opponents argue that this renders him morally and politically unacceptable and are calling for his resignation. But his supporters argue that he is indispensable if for no other reason than his clear stance on the Ukraine war.