European Union

Talks with Canada are ongoing, and look more promising, suggests the European Commission

The Council also backed a proposal to allow duty-free imports of US lobster, following the expiration of the previous arrangement in July

The EU continues to spearhead efforts to keep Russia off the board. The outcome comes against the backdrop of intense negotiations over a peace plan for Ukraine

A leaked document shows Paris preparing a policy shift long deemed too dangerous, with new teams set to patrol the coast

Prime Minister Bart De Wever has denounced the scheme as “fundamentally wrong” and urged the EU to support Kyiv by using the headroom in the bloc’s long-term budget

The social democrats would also want the committee to look into whether relations with third countries are delaying the application of EU digital rules

France's army is to be strengthened by voluntary military service. There will be no conscription for the time being and service will be limited to the "national territory", President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. This followed a statement by the Chief of the Defence Staff General Fabien Mandon, who warned that the country must be prepared to "lose its children" faced with the Russian threat.

The Estonian parliament decided last week to add a language component to the Military Service Act, making B1-level language skills a prerequisite for conscription. Wise decision or false incentive?

Britain's Treasury chief Rachel Reeeves presented the budget on Wednesday. By combining tax increases to the tune of 30 billion euros, more child subsidies and less debt, Keir Starmer's Labour government hopes to lead the country out of crisis. The budget proposals are "fair but necessary," Reeves claims. Opinions from the press are divided.

Germany's plan to lower electricity costs for its energy-intensive industries through state subsidies as of January next year has put a cat among Europe's pigeons. Commentators point beyond Germany's borders, where the subsidies present an existential threat to the competitiveness of other European nations with similarly electricity-intensive structures.