European Union

The total losses caused to Ukraine's economy since Russia launched its invasion of the country on 24 February could amount to €550bn, according to the country's economy ministry. The estimate was made in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics, which released a study on Monday factoring in the indiscriminate shelling of civilian neighbourhoods, government buildings, infrastructure and businesses key to supplying food, such as warehouses and shopping malls.

Speaking in an interview with Russian state television on Monday, Russian foreign affairs minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not halt its invasion of Ukraine the next time the two sides convene. He also said that calls by the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, for the bloc to continue arming Kyiv marked a "very serious U-turn" in European policy.

Russia is "provoking hunger in the world" by destroying wheat stocks, and blocking boats from leaving Ukraine, preventing its wheat from being exported, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Monday after a meeting with ministers in Luxembourg. Borrell said that EU sanctions on Moscow are not causing food scarcity in Ukraine and beyond. "It's the Russian military [that] is causing the scarcity," he said.

Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate facing president Emmanuel Macron in the second round of voting on 24 April, wants to clamp down on digital platforms and even create a "free, public social network" if they fail to cooperate with her.

After launching a dirty war against Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has found himself isolated in the West, but he can still count on international support, including from some of the world's most populous countries.

Finland is expected to kick off a debate on the country's potential Nato membership. But Russia has clearly voiced opposition towards any potential enlargement of the western military alliance.

The two European Parliament co-rapporteurs finalised the Artificial Intelligence (AI) draft report on Monday (11 April), covering where they have found common ground. The most controversial issues have been pushed further down the line.

Belarusian support for Ukraine, at least by its people, not its government, is happening against the backdrop of Belarus being de facto occupied by Russia.

The Conference on the Future of Europe plenary met again in Strasbourg on 8-9 April to further develop proposals from the Conference’s working groups.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The Conference on the Future of Europe plenary met again in Strasbourg on 8-9 April to further develop proposals from the Conference’s working groups.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Wind energy will play a key role in helping Europe break away from Russian fossil fuels and increase its energy independence, but slow permitting and strains on the supply chain need to be tackled if Europe wants a fast rollout of wind power, according to Sven Utermöhlen.

The Conference on the Future of Europe Plenary session on 8-9 April debated concrete proposals.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The Conference on the Future of Europe Plenary session on 8-9 April debated concrete proposals.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

It is understandable that the EU is reorganising the fundamentals of its agricultural model in terms of strategic autonomy after the Ukraine war and the effects of both COVID-19 and climate crises, an official of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation told EURACTIV in an interview.

This month’s “10 Most Urgent” list from the One Free Press Coalition features journalists covering the war in Ukraine. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, millions of people are fleeing, hundreds are dying, and journalists are risking their lives to present...

As expected, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have placed first and second in the first round of the French presidential elections. After 97 percent of the votes had been counted, the liberal Macron had garnered 27.6 percent of the vote with his far-right challenger not far behind at 23.4 percent. The two will now be pitched against each other in a run-off vote in two weeks' time, as in 2017. Macron's narrow lead has Europe's press concerned.