Konstantinos Bogdanos, our regular Brussels Diarist, on how the bills for Europe’s political class are finally coming due in a city where the Belgian middle-class can’t afford to eat out any more.
Recent comments by the former health secretary have plunged Brexit back into national conversation, but what does Labour actually think?
The reform concerns a pre-existing law on the Regulation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and has been in place since June 2007.
As European policymakers push a ‘Buy European’ line, lobbyists and officials in Washington are keen to maintain dominance over the European arms market
Trade bodies warn that biometric entry requirements will lead to massive delays for travellers
Five years since leaving the European Union, Britain has not yet taken advantage of the levers of free trade, writes Ted Newson
EU institutions have postponed the release of a long-anticipated industrial policy instrument, a move that has frustrated several national governments and delayed work on broader competitiveness initiatives. Reporting by EU policy outlets says the so-called Competitiveness Coordination tool has been delayed again, slowing progress on related Council workstreams tied to the European Competitiveness Fund and other flagship programmes.
The European Parliament has backed its negotiating position on the EU’s proposed Critical Medicines Act, a flagship attempt to curb shortages and reduce reliance on external suppliers for key drugs and ingredients. The vote gives MEPs a mandate for talks with member states and the Commission on a law first tabled in March 2025, as Brussels pushes to boost production capacity inside the bloc while making procurement rules less dependent on lowest price awards.
Thousands of farmers descended on the streets of Strasbourg and other European cities this week ahead of a key vote in the European Parliament on the controversial trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.
Davos is meant to be the place where the global public affairs class can compress a year of stakeholder management into five days, with a badge, a diary, and a blizzard outside. In 2026 it is also where the public language of cooperation collides with the private mechanics of leverage.
Bayer’s crop science ambitions gain momentum as the EU eases regulation of gene edited plants, opening pathways for agricultural innovation
New EU rules aim to speed up and align chemical safety assessments, reducing duplication between agencies while maintaining health and environmental protections
Washington imposes travel bans on Thierry Breton and others, deepening transatlantic tensions over online regulation, free speech and tech rules.
The European Commission launches a public consultation to update EU Arctic policy amid climate pressures and rising geopolitical stakes.
Beijing imposes provisional anti subsidy duties on EU dairy products, deepening trade tensions and hitting exporters across the bloc
Berlin urges a full rethink of EU foreign subsidy controls, warning current rules impose heavy burdens and risk harming investment.
EU governments approve targeted revisions delaying the deforestation regulation, easing compliance demands while keeping core environmental safeguards in place
Brussels plans to widen its carbon border levy, targeting downstream goods and loopholes to prevent carbon leakage and protect EU industry
EU governments back tougher steel import limits, opening talks with Parliament on new rules to counter global overcapacity pressures facing
Brussels pushes back against Washington as Ursula von der Leyen warns the Trump administration to stay out of Europe’s democratic choices.
Italy aligns with Belgium to oppose Brussels’ plan to deploy frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, complicating efforts ahead of key EU summit.
Deep splits among EU capitals force Brussels to delay its Buy European procurement push amid fears of protectionism and higher costs.
Brussels approves annual EU UK fisheries agreement for 2026, setting shared quotas and access rules under the post Brexit framework.
European legislators agree major reforms to medicines law, reshaping market exclusivity, boosting access, and tightening rules on shortages and antibiotics
Russia threatens legal and economic retaliation as the EU advances plans to leverage frozen Kremlin reserves for sustained Ukrainian financing
Meta agrees to overhaul its EU ad model, offering clearer data-sharing choices for users after regulators ruled its previous system breached competition rules.
EU states back new asylum and return measures, including safe-country rules and a solidarity pool, ahead
EU research spending reaches record levels but remains well below the three per cent goal, prompting renewed debate over investment gaps and competitiveness.
MACE marked its 5th anniversary with a high-profile Commons reception of politicians, diplomats, media figures and lobbyists, launching its influencers report
Talks between London and Brussels collapsed after the EU demanded a high entry fee for SAFE, leaving the UK limited to third-country participation.
The resignation of Andriy Yermak after anti-corruption raids disrupts Ukraine’s leadership and triggers uncertainty across Europe during a critical phase of the war.
Spain has emerged as the leading contender for BYD’s third European vehicle plant. The country’s competitive manufacturing costs, renewable-energy grid, and EV incentives are major advantages. A final decision, still pending approval from Chinese regulators, is expected before year’s end.
Reappointed French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled his second cabinet and must deliver the 2026 budget within days. With opposition parties preparing a no-confidence motion and markets showing unease, his government faces a test of survival that could decide the fate of Macron’s presidency and France’s fiscal stability.
The European Commission is preparing to accelerate the exit from Russian oil, gas, and fossil fuel imports ahead of its prior 2028 deadline. Pressure from the United States has intensified. Resistance from Hungary and Slovakia remains. Legal changes and bans on new contracts are key components of the revised plan.
Brussels enters autumn beset by stalled reforms, budget shortfalls and vanishing credibility. From climate targets to defence procurement, the Commission’s priorities are collapsing under internal division and global pressure.
France’s Prime Minister has been ousted after losing a confidence vote over a failed austerity budget. The collapse leaves President Macron facing the task of appointing yet another prime minister amid a gridlocked parliament, growing economic pressures, and increasing political instability at home and abroad.
Norway is ramping up investment in oil and gas even amid green energy expansion. Output continues to exceed expectations, with new licensing rounds and record field development. Political parties differ on the strategy, but the petroleum sector remains central to the economy and Europe’s energy supply.
French business leaders warn of economic damage after Prime Minister François Bayrou set a 8 September confidence vote linked to budget plans. Stocks fell and bond spreads widened as opposition parties refused support. Markets partially stabilised, but sentiment remains fragile ahead of the vote and any budget revisions.
President Lee Jae Myung begins a visit to Washington on 23 August with fifteen senior executives from South Korea’s largest companies. The trip comes ahead of his 25 August summit with President Trump and will address trade, investment pledges, energy purchases and defence cost-sharing between the two countries.
Pieter Cleppe reveals how Brussels lobbyists are behind the EU’s latest ‘Green Deal’
Donald Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August to discuss ending the Ukraine war, including potential territorial swaps. Ukraine and European leaders reject any agreement involving land concessions and insist Kyiv must be part of negotiations. Preparations are under way amid increased diplomatic activity and heightened military vigilance.
The European Commission has approved 13 new strategic projects outside the EU to secure critical raw materials vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence. Spanning countries from Greenland to Brazil, the projects support the bloc’s plan to reduce import dependency and strengthen supply chain resilience by 2030.
The European Commission and ECB have approved Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone, with the country set to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026. Final approval from EU finance ministers is expected in July, completing the process of economic integration that began with Bulgaria’s EU accession in 2007.
Poland’s public deficit hit 6.6% of GDP in 2024, driven by defence and social spending. Rising debt, polarised politics, and stalled reforms have raised concerns among ratings agencies and EU institutions. With a 3% target set for 2028, analysts question whether fiscal consolidation is possible without broad political consensus.
Britain and the European Union have agreed a major new post-Brexit settlement, extending fishing rights, easing trade barriers, and opening defence and youth mobility cooperation. The deal marks a strategic reset in UK–EU relations and includes measures on carbon, energy, and migration. Political reactions at home remain sharply divided.
The EU has agreed a €201 billion budget for 2025, prioritising research, health, education and climate action. Key programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ receive increased funding, despite concerns over rising debt repayments. Environmental groups criticised regulatory delays on sustainability reporting, while the Commission pushes €100 billion towards clean industry. Tensions remain over balancing competitiveness with climate goals and managing long-term fiscal pressures across member states.
The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against Apple over suspected breaches of the Digital Markets Act, focusing on restrictive App Store policies. Developers claim Apple’s compliance measures deter competition, despite regulatory obligations. This marks the first major enforcement action under the DMA, signalling a tougher EU stance on Big Tech. Apple faces potential fines of up to 10 percent of global turnover while also contending with parallel antitrust action in the United States.
Huawei representatives faced a Brussels court this week, accused of corruption and money laundering linked to their lobbying efforts in the EU. As the investigation unfolds, it could reshape how foreign entities operate within European institutions.
Patriots for Europe has launched an unprecedented transparency offensive, submitting 86 freedom of information requests to the European Commission demanding access to thousands of EU contracts with NGOs. With the Commission rejecting these requests, Brussels now braces for a political clash as PfE prepares appeals and possible legal action.
The “Effective Anti-smoking Policies” Index analyses public policies aimed to eradicate smoking, in 59 countries
Luigi Di Maio’s candidacy irks key countries across the EU and the Gulf
Policymakers must ensure that Europe’s demand needs are met in an affordable way while at the same time supporting the transition to low-carbon fuels.
The U.K.’s current political and economic turmoil offers a model that no one on the continent would wish to follow right now – but its Due Diligence system, introduced in 2021, should be studied very closely
Mental health crisis is a complex problem, but there are simple things Europeans can do to cope
By directing the state’s remembrance policy towards score-settling, Spain’s left-wing government is dangerously reawakening a long-defunct conflict.
Azerbaijan and its capital Baku have become must-visit tourist destinations
Did post-imperial syndrome cause Britain to join and then leave the EU?
How Ukraine’s post-Soviet history has played out on the set of the Eurovision Song Contest
The Malaysian palm oil industry is one of many making strides towards stamping out forced and trafficked labour
There may be dissent within the EU – but key changes and a new mindset can yet win the day
Hungary’s opposition seems united around little more than its dislike of the PM and his Fidesz party. Will that be enough to beat him in April’s elections?
The EU’s Due Diligence plans are significantly more restrictive, prescriptive and burdensome than the UK’s legality standard
György Hölvényi MEP reveals his expectations for a new partnership deal between the European Union and the African Union
Mace hears from economist and climate expert Professor Dieter Helm on his assessment of Cop26
The Swiss Ambassador on how regular referenda and a devolved government embeds Switzerland’s politics with accountability and rooted decisionmaking
Can new laws make farming pay? If not, our countryside faces the biggest threat for centuries
Why reports of the death of Davos Man are exaggerated
True strategic autonomy will do much to strengthen the global economy for the EU and its allies
Democracy is under attack in Europe
Many thought the EU was too technocratic to embrace the wave of wokeness washing over the West. They may have been proved wrong
With the right ingredients, gastrodiplomacy in Brussels is proving to be the ideal conversation starter for ministers within and beyond the EU
Europe took a decidedly neoliberal shift thirty years ago, but centre-left moderates still view the union as a beacon of progressivism
Ahead of Cop26, can Joe Biden’s bold climate change action plan help save the planet?
For Bill Cash, trade is the policy area where the UK can most significantly, and successfully, depart from the Brussels bureaucratic model.
Europe’s digital strategy must harness innovation, maximise personal freedom and protect against new threats, writes Francesco Cappelletti of the European Liberal Forum.
Introducing the first chapter of the 2021 Liberal White Book, Hilde Vautmans MEP sets out the key reforms that would revive the EU’s institutional framework.
Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum, argues for a concrete European roadmap for action addressing all the complexities of modern challenges facing the continent.
As Boris goes from one blunder to the next, the German chancellor has kept the virus under control, says John Kampfner
James Tilley on why our Brexit identities still dominate four years on from the referendum.
Contemporary, quirky and classic, William Cash reviews the Hotel Amigo – a converted 16th-century prison with an award-winning Italian restaurant.
The Establishment has been wrong before, notes Tim Congdon. Is it so crazy, he asks, to think that it might be wrong again?