European Union

After the traumatic experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 194 member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have agreed on a treaty aimed at improving responses to future pandemics, for example in the procurement and distribution of protective equipment and vaccines. Commentators assess its prospects of success.

In a landmark judgement, the UK's Supreme Court has ruled that when it comes to gender equality, the biological sex and not the social gender is decisive. The decision affects issues such as whether trans women are categorised as women in gender quotas and to what extent they have access to women's refuges and changing rooms.

And the US competition cases and cyber rollercoaster.

In today’s edition of The Capitals, read about the Latvian parliament approving withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, Bulgaria signing a deal with Shell to explore the Black Sea for oil and gas, and so much more.

Opposition MPs say showing a debate amounted to support for the front-runner.

"Nobody fights without knowing why they are fighting,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said.

“Not even a wild boar could figure out what we're voting on here”, one MP complained.

"We are pretty relaxed," said one EU diplomat ahead of the Italian premier's meeting with Trump. "And if Meloni uses her personal chemistry with Trump for the benefit of the EU, the better."

Austrian construction company Strabag in US court seeking €350 million after Germany changed offshore laws

Across Europe, budgets are being restructured towards defence.

The Commission will try to break the deadlock at a meeting with member state representatives in June, but farmer and industry lobbies – as well as some MEPs – are losing patience.