Euractiv.com

Israel's celebrations to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of Israel were the target of abuse on Wednesday, with guests "harassed and abused" by activists, the Israeli embassy in Portugal has complained.

Portugal is no longer at risk of being suspended from the Schengen area, the country's intelligence platform, the Internal Security System (SSI), said on Thursday, stressing that it had overcome delays in installing the new digital and biometric border control system.

Dolors Montserrat, the leading candidate in the European elections for the right-wing Partido Popular (EPP), refused to clarify during a live TV debate on Wednesday with her rival from the ruling Socialist Party, Teresa Ribera, whether the right-wing formation would make a pact with the far-right VOX party and other "ultra" forces in the European Parliament.

Russia joined Moldova's leftist opposition on Thursday (23 May) in denouncing Romania's prime minister for remarks saying ex-Soviet Moldova's population was made up strictly of Romanians who spoke Romanian.

The Italian government is trying to silence dissent and take control of public media, the European Movement International and several European organisations said in a letter to European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová as the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) raised the alarm over political influence in the country's media.

The US was imposing new visa restrictions and reviewing relations with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday (23 May), after it pushed forward a Russian-style "foreign influence" law that triggered mass protests.

France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and far-right Rassemblement National (RN) lead candidate Jordan Bardella engaged in an unprecedented TV debate on Thursday, hoping to sway voters just days before the European elections.

The new roadmap of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been leaked, and it includes a position on nuclear energy, with nothing new or concrete on new financing, fuelling the fantasy of support for the development of the construction of new reactors. 

In spite of the very public backlash against the EU Green Deal, several key environmental files continue to pass through the EU's legislative machinery without major controversy.

Four Dutch parties, including Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom, have agreed on a government programme emphasising nationalism and a tougher stance on Europe.

Approaching the first official state visit of a French president to Germany in 24 years, the Franco-German engine is again struggling to design a framework for the EU of the future, but upcoming national elections add unprecedented urgency to their task.

The far-right Identity & Democracy group in the European Parliament kicked out the scandal-plagued German far-right party AfD on Thursday afternoon (23 May), but the German delegation said it might fight the decision.

The UN General Assembly voted Thursday (23 May) to establish an annual day of remembrance for the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, despite furious opposition from Bosnian Serbs and Serbia.

“What kind of europe do we want? A Europe that puts patients’ needs at the forefront, or that prioritises the interests of big pharma?” says Greens health expert Tilly Metz

The ongoing tensions in France's overseas territory of New Caledonia weighed heavily in a debate at the French Senate, where Senators strengthened and approved a bill on foreign interference.

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday (23 May) accused an unnamed EU Commissioner of trying to "blackmail" him over the adoption of a controversial ‘foreign agent’ law.

Politicians have been quick to celebrate France's 5.8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 from a year earlier, but environmental NGOs questioned whether the progress can be sustained without additional policy measures.

Food and agriculture stakeholders are asking the European Commission to finalise the details of the EU's deforestation regulation while a group of agriculture ministers seek a postponement, a move opposed by NGOs and ruled out by the Commission for now.

What a difference a few weeks can make. Until recently, this was a standard description of New Caledonia: A French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific, known for its palm-lined beaches, marine-life-rich lagoon, and a barrier reef that surrounds the main island, Grand Terre, a major scuba-diving destination.

Embracing open digital ecosystems is vital for Europe's future. By focusing on openness, choice and collaboration, the EU can foster innovation and competitiveness. Lynx CEO Stan Larroque and Wire Group CEO Benjamin Schilz argue for bold action in creating a more competitive digital Europe.