European Union

On Monday France's top court ruled that treatment must be resumed for Vincent Lambert, who has been in a vegetative state since 2008. Doctors had begun switching off life support in accordance with another court ruling, but his parents have been fighting to have him kept alive. Commentators are critical of this impassioned battle over life and death.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte has upped the ante in the Dutch campaign for the European Parliament elections, turning the vote into a two-way battle between his liberal-conservative VVD party and the far-right FvD, led by the controversial, ideologically extreme Thierry Baudet.

A group of Socialist employment ministers set out five requirements for a new European Social Contract, ranging from equal pay and social dialogue to reducing inequality.

Danish voters are posed to send six MEPs into the liberal Alde group in the European parliament following elections on Sunday, (26 May), according to a survey from Epinion. Currently, there are three Danish members in the group from two pro-EU parties. The Danish People's Party, set to join Matteo Salvini's group, will lose one seat, while the Social Democrats will get four MEPs. Denmark elects 13 MEPs.

Voters in the world's second-biggest election, the European Parliament ballot, will know before midnight on Sunday to what extent a foretold far-right surge has come to be.

The Dutch government must "make every effort" that new EU sanctions on human-rights abusers will be named after Russian activist Sergei Magnitsky, Dutch MPs have said.

Major European cosmetics, food, medicine and plastic producers are breaking the EU's key chemical safety regulation, REACH, by using millions of tonnes of chemicals without completing important safety checks, according to an analysis of government files by Germany's largest environmental charity BUND, a member of the European Environmental Bureau. Two-thirds of 700 chemicals investigated were breaking the rules, it said. It also identified 654 companies in breach of rules.

Shady Facebook users have been promoting far-right views ahead of the EU elections, sometimes using graphic images of sex and violence, an investigation has found.

German chancellor Angela Merkel was lobbied by a number of EU leaders during the summit meeting in Sibiu, Romania, on 9 May trying to make her accept the EU post as president of the European Council, according to three people familiar with the lobbying, reported Bloomberg. Merkel rejected the offers. Meanwhile, Germany is pushing for Bundesbank president, Jens Weidmann, to succeed Mario Draghi as president of the European Central Bank.

MPs from across the UK's political spectrum rejected on Tuesday a 'new' Brexit deal from prime minister Theresa May, which included the option of holding a second EU referendum. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would not back "a repackaged version of the same old deal" while many Tory MPs refused to vote for a bill leading to a second EU referendum and called for May to step down.

Only 28% of Europeans aged 16 to 24 voted in the last EU election in 2014 compared to a total turnout of 42%. Ahead of this week's vote, EURACTIV looked at the proposals for young people coming from the main European political parties.

If British politics has always had a strong streak of tribalism, Scotland often gives the impression of being a one-party state, with the nationalists now firmly in power. But a pro-EU "Remain Alliance" for the European elections promises to shake things up.

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.