European Union

Portugal is facing a critical moment for the future of its motorway network.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou suggests he could fight UFC legend Jon Jones or ex-boxing world champion Deontay Wilder in 2026.

"We shouldn't take sovereignty to the extent of blocking anyone unless [they're] European," deputy minister for digital policy, Nicodemos Damianou, told Euractiv

Despite starting the week furious over an EPP power grab, the socialists, Renew and the Greens ended it saying the final carve-up felt fair enough

Donald Trump has reiterated the criticism of Europe recently expressed in the US National Security Strategy. In an interview with Politico, he said that Europe's top politicians were too "weak" and too "politically correct", and that their efforts to control migration and end the war in Ukraine had failed. European commentators make suggestions as to how the bloc should position itself.

In the battle over the 2026 budget, the French government under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has taken a major step forward: thanks to a compromise with the Socialists and despite abstentions within its own camp, the National Assembly has passed the 'social security budget', which makes up the bulk of the overall budget, by a narrow majority. Europe's press nonetheless warns that not all hurdles have been cleared yet.

At an informal meeting of Council of Europe ministers, steps were taken that could lead to changes in the migration provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was adopted in 1950. Initially proposed by Denmark and Italy, the "recalibration" aims to give states more leeway on border controls, deportations and measures against human smuggling.

So far, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have announced that they are boycotting the 70th European Song Contest in Vienna. The cause of contention for the broadcasters is Israel's participation, as the country faces criticism for its actions in the Gaza war. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided last week that all member broadcasters wishing to do so may take part in the competition.