European Union

Angela Merkel has made a plea for multilateralism, international cooperation and Nato at the Security Conference in Munich. Her speech and that of US Vice President Mike Pence were the main focus of attention on the weekend. The meeting serves as an indication of the current state of transatlantic relations and the global order, commentators say.

US President Trump has tweeted that Europe should take back roughly 800 European citizens who fought with the IS terrorist organisation, threatening Germany, France and Britain that otherwise their citizens would be released from their Syrian prisons. The press argues over how to deal with IS returners.

A team of Australian scientists has assessed 73 studies on species extinction from around the world and come to a dramatic conclusion: the populations of almost half of all insect species are declining so rapidly that insects could die out completely in the next hundred years. The major causes are intensive farming and urbanisation, the researchers say. What should be done?

A plan by Spain's Balearic Islands to switch to 100% renewable energy and ditch coal power became law last week, while 26 islands across the EU are launching a new clean energy strategy on Monday (18 February).

The center-right is set to remain the biggest group in the EU legislature after elections in May that should also show a surge in seats for the far-right, a survey by the European Parliament showed on Monday (18 February).