Euractiv.com

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has seconds thoughts about forming a new parliamentary group out of fringe parties from the right, fearing close association with more extreme nationalistic viewpoints.

Key parts of the proposed European Defence Industry Programme, designed to bolster production capacity, will face a mock vote on Thursday (26 June) to assess negotiations.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister, and leading Russian general Valery Gerasimov on Tuesday (25 June) for alleged crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Before the legislative elections on 30 June and 7 July, the president of the Rassemblement National (RN), Jordan Bardella, is explaining that Ukraine has "the right to defend itself", but the far-right party's long-standing friendship with the Kremlin is causing concern in Brussels.

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" is a saying that feels particularly relevant in Brussels as Hungary prepares to take over the presidency of the European Council—one of the EU's most crucial brokering positions—in less than a week.

Sixteen Nobel prize-winning economists signed a letter on Tuesday (25 June) warning that the US and world economy will suffer if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November.

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Tuesday (25 June) security was his "utmost priority" after protests against a bill to raise taxes descended into violence, with police firing on demonstrators trying to storm the legislature, killing at least five.

Former Swiss President Alain Berset was elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the parliamentary arm of the continent's human rights organisation announced on Tuesday (25 June).

Transparency International Hungary on Tuesday (25 June) said that it had come under investigation by a controversial new agency set up under nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government to curb foreign influence.

Russia said on Tuesday June) (25 it was banning access inside Russia to the broadcasts of 81 different media outlets from the European Union including Agence France-Presse and Politico in retaliation for a similar EU ban on several Russian media outlets.

Ahead of an EU summit on Thursday (27 June), the European Commission is scrambling to finalise plans that include 'innovative solutions' for funding the bloc's defence industry, with needs assessment awaited to justify a floated €500 billion fund.

Leaders from 13 countries with a relatively high burden from tuberculosis (TB), including Poland and Romania, renewed their political commitment to the eradication and treatment of this debilitating disease.

EU leaders representing the three main political groups agreed on Tuesday (25 June) on the EU top job package that would put incumbent European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen forward for a second term, Euractiv has learnt.

Jordan Bardella, the president of the far-right Rassemblement national (RN) party, said on Monday (June 24) he wanted to ban dual nationals from the most strategic government posts, to protect France from attempts at interference, drawing angry comments and warnings from political opponents.

On the hunt for lawmakers to bolster her chances at a second term at the helm of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen may end up taking the Greens to the ball – because, in their own words, they offer stability. It is a story of Germans working with Germans.

The European Union formally launched accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Tuesday (25 June), starting a long process that could once again redraw the geopolitical map of Europe.

EU agriculture ministers failed to reach their conclusions on the future of farming at a meeting on Monday (24 June) due to Romania’s disagreement on a point on the equalisation of subsidies between member states.

Ahead of the fifth World Nomad Games, taking place in Astana from 8-13 September, Euractiv spoke with Nail Nurov, Head of the Directorate for World Nomad Games. The Games promise a unique blend of sports, culture, and global competition.

The European Commission said in a formal 'statement of objections' on Tuesday (25 June) that Microsoft had violated EU antitrust rules by bundling its Teams app with its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 productivity suites.

The EU’s response to the gas crisis failed to take affordability into account, while the joint gas purchasing mechanism provides no apparent value, the bloc’s auditors have found.