European Union

The exiled ex-Catalan president and independence leader Carles Puigdemont has been barred from running in the European Parliament elections in May by Spain's electoral authority. Two of his former colleagues, Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati, were also banned Monday. Puigdemont, in exile in Belgium, called it a "flagrant violation of the fundamental human right to stand in elections", and signs of "collusion" between judges and unionist politicians in Madrid.

Today is one of those days when it’s nice to step outside the EU bubble, leave behind the whole election spiel and walk into the cool shade of the Western Balkans, where things unfold at a more leisurely pace.

In 2018, countries invested as much money in the military as they did in 1988, before the end of the Cold War, the latest data by the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows. World military expenditure is estimated to have hit...

French far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, is campaigning to 'save' Europe by transforming it into what she calls a De Gaulle-inspired 'Alliance of Nations'. She also warns against pushing Russia into the arms of China.

“I’m in this because I want to address the causes of Brexit. I want to stop Brexit, fix Britain and reform the EU.”

Marking a departure from its existing policy, Europe’s biggest business lobby group said it was discussing a carbon tariff at the EU's border in order to restore a level playing field with countries like China or the US, which do not impose a pollution constraint on their industries.

Slovakia's Supreme Court on Monday (29 April) ruled against banning a far-right anti-immigrant, anti-Roma party currently polling at just over 10%, saying prosecutors had not produced enough evidence against them.

As the London marathon aims at becoming a world leader in sustainable sports events, the Sunday (28 April) edition introduced a new set of measures to become greener.

Spain's social democratic PSOE party has won a clear victory in the general election but falls short of a majority even together with the left-wing Podemos party. The conservative coalition formed by the People's Party PP, the centre-right Ciudadanos and the far-right party Vox also failed to achieve a majority. Some observers see this as a worrying starting position for the formation of a government. Others see the outcome as a hopeful sign for Spain's future.

French President Macron has presented the conclusions he has drawn from the grand debate. The measures announced - some in detail and some still sketchy - include higher pensions, lower taxes, reduced public spending, more civic participation and increased support for single parents. Commentators assess the president's speech - and the promises he made.