Euobserver.com

If parts of Europe are cold and hungry while others are able to protect themselves, there will be a political backlash that could tear the EU apart — a solidarity mechanism can prevent this.

In a report, EU auditors found that only 20 of 40 examined EU agencies considered any potential revolving-doors cases of their senior staff.

The European Central Bank raised interest rates by another three-quarters of a percentage point despite strong political opposition.

Norway opposes the EU proposal to set a dynamic price ceiling for natural gas transactions, instead strongly advocating for commercial agreements to tackle the energy crisis, the country's minister of oil and energy Terje Aasland said.

An EU office for combatting anti-Muslim hatred has stood empty for over a year, in what risks smelling of neglect.

Europeans "are split about the long-term goals" with regards to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a study shows, with hardline and opportunist political groups trying to exploit the emerging divide. Will EU unity hold?

"National governments have to come out of their comfort zone to shape Europe together, including the prospect for change treaties. And if all this is not possible with 27, let's move forward with a coalition of the willing."

Popular during the first and second world wars when energy use in households was down to a minimum, 'cooking boxes' are simple, portable ovens that exploit the natural heat-trapping properties of wool to slow cook meals.

"Our friends from other political parties and groups in the European Parliament are well too aware of their inconsistencies. They claim righteousness but are hypocritical."

"Christian Democrats need to decide whose side they're on."

Few took notice when a 4.2-km subsea cable in the Arctic Ocean vanished without trace in April 2021, but these days undersea infrastructure security has become a hot topic.

The Czech EU presidency is proposing an annual minimum on the number of asylum seekers EU states are willing to relocate. The idea is part of bigger discussion on solidarity sharing, a concept that has long eluded member states.

As part of efforts to achieve zero pollution by 2050, the European Commission unveiled stricter rules to tackle air and water pollution.

What the EU needs most of all is an honest conversation on the role it wants to play in a transformed world.

EU energy ministers met to hammer out the bloc's energy plan. And although they approved new measures to tackle high gas prices, the EU's 27 energy ministers shied away from radical market reform as proposed by the EU Commission.

Journalists in Europe are fighting back against malicious lawsuits, but the swelling tide of abuse merits EU intervention.

Serbia last week scrapped its visa free regime with Tunisia and Burundi amid EU pressure. Now it may end up culling more nations from its visa free regime as it seeks to align itself with EU visa policy.

EU ministers agreed to discuss a climate compensation fund as part of the COP27 UN climate negotiations but did not make any concrete commitments.

Supporting investment in Ukraine's renewable energy sector and importing green electricity back into the European Union is a quadruple policy win at minimal cost to taxpayers.

The European Court of Auditors is only able to attract wealthy trainees because of the cost of living in Luxembourg. The court pays trainees €1,500, plus travel expenses, per month. But Zacharias Kolias, the court's secretary general, says trainees have to put down €10,000 deposits for housing in the city. "What is the end result? The end result is that we are attracting very wealthy trainees," he said.