European Union

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Europe adopts a form of collective defence on Thursday (30 August) as he strengthens calls for EU integration in the face of concerns over the United States' security commitments.

Theresa May completed the final leg of a charm offensive tour of three sub-Saharan countries on Thursday (30 August), with her Kenyan host appearing to snub her leadership rival Boris Johnson.

The EU's anti-migrant smuggler operation, Sophia, could collapse after defence ministers declined Italy's request in Vienna Thursday for a snap decision on rotating EU ports for migrant disembarkations. "If you ask me whether we'll succeed or not [to continue Sophia] ... I wouldn't say," EU foreign relations chief Mogherini said. Italian interior minister Salvini the same day threatened to can the mission "if we get the umpteenth no from Europe".

UN human rights commissioner urged EU leaders to condemn violence that recalled the 1930s, but the local situation in former East Germany does not apply to the whole country.

Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström confirmed on Thursday that the EU would be willing to reach a “reciprocal” agreement with the US to scrap car tariffs as part of a new deal, but she added that both sides still have “profound disagreements” on trade.

As chief negotiators Raab and Barnier meet again in Brussels on Friday, UK demands for guarantees on the future relationship have put chances of no-deal Brexit over 50 percent.

Theresa May’s whistle-stop tour of three African capitals this week offered an insight into the UK’s post-Brexit trade priorities, but also hinted at the changing power dynamic in world trade.

From September, German and Belgian military aircraft will take over responsibility for patrolling Baltic skies as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, at a time of growing concerns over security in Eastern Europe.

The African Union wants to have a continent-to-continent dialogue with Europe, a change that could make the framework of the Cotonou Agreement implode and leave the Pacific and Caribbean states out in the cold.

The EU is finally heading the way we are proposing in terms of migration policy, the Visegrád Group countries say. But two Czech MEPs point out that the V4’s contribution to the change may be limited and other factors should be considered as well.

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán want to do more to "protect Europe" against the influx of migrants. At their meeting in Milan they announced the formation of an anti-migration alliance. Commentators express concern about the future of the EU and cite reasons for the rise of sovereigntism in Europe.

After rioting by far-right demonstrators in the city of Chemnitz in eastern Germany on Sunday and Monday, the debate about xenophobia in the country has reignited. Some commentators blame the East German legacy or the EU for the clashes. Others see them as legitimate protest against the flow of migrants.