European Union

According to the organisers nearly 200,000 people took part in this year's Budapest Pride – far more than in previous marches. Around 70 MEPs also joined the ranks of those demonstrating for LGBTQ rights. Budapest's mayor had framed the event as a municipal 'freedom festival' to foil the Orbán government's attempts to ban it. Commentators shed light on various aspects.

Multi-billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos married Lauren Sánchez in Venice on the weekend in a three-day wedding extravaganza. While the rich and famous guests partied protected by heavy security, there were protests against the mega celebration, which cost an estimated ten million dollars. The Venice authorities defended the event as a PR coup for the lagoon city. Europe's press has been unsparing in its criticism.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade again on Saturday to protest Aleksandar Vučić's government and demand early parliamentary elections. Violent clashes between police and demonstrators ensued. The protests have gone on for eight months and were triggered by the tragedy at the railway station in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024 in which 16 people died.

“You grow it or you mine it”, as the saying goes. Simple as it may sound, it highlights a fundamental reality of our life – nearly all critical resources come either from earth below or the soil above. As potato and apple farmers in the EU, we stand proudly on the side of growing.

Europe’s startup scene is dynamic, ambitious and growing – but when it comes to shaping the rules that govern it, the continent’s most innovative voices remain sidelined.

Greece is pushing ahead with a transitional compensation scheme for innovation, while also focusing on developing data infrastructure.