Author: staff

EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a summit dominated by two major debates: How far Europe should go in confronting China and how the bloc should shape its next long-term budget. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton break down the tougher mood toward Beijing, the divisions among capitals and the battle over what Europe should spend its money on. Then, they meet the four new heads of government taking their seats around the European Council table — and assess who could become the next ally, wildcard or obstacle on Ukraine, sanctions and Israel. And finally, inside the Commission’s enlargement department, officials…

The party’s collapse in the region has turned Makerfield decisively into Reform territory — as witnessed in Reform’s sweep of last month’s local elections in the area — and Public First’s model shows Labour faces a steep challenge to win in Makerfield again. No constituency in Greater Manchester has worse odds for Labour against Reform than Makerfield, and the seat is among the worst for Labour in the entire north of England. But that risk also comes with upside: Surviving that test could give Burnham and his supporters the ability to claim they know how to win back the voters who have left…

In recent weeks, he has gone further than many of Israel’s European defenders, reversing Slovenia’s arms embargo on Israel and lifting an entry ban on both Ben-Gvir and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel subsequently announced plans to open an embassy in Ljubljana, a move Janša hailed as “a new era in Slovenia-Israel relations.” That opposition may not be decisive, however. If Germany softens its stance on sanctions, other holdouts — including Slovenia — could become more willing to fall into line, according to the first European diplomat. The Russia hawk: Latvia’s Andris Kulbergs Latvia’s parliament last month voted to…

Europe’s drug problem is becoming more complicated. On June 9, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) released its 2026 European Drug Report, which covers 27 EU countries, Norway, and Türkiye. The findings are worrying. Drugs are now more accessible, potent, and difficult to intercept. Synthetic substances are stronger, supply chains are more sophisticated, and trafficking-related violence has increased near major ports, including Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg. The EUDA estimates that at least 7,600 people died from overdoses in the EU in 2024, primarily due to polysubstance use, with opioids as the leading cause. The EU launched a new Drugs Strategy,…

Published on 17/06/2026 – 20:30 GMT+2 The European Union likes to see itself as an economic superpower — a market of 450 million consumers, home to some of the world’s biggest companies and the largest trading bloc on the planet. But in an increasingly competitive global economy, Europe is facing uncomfortable questions about whether it is keeping pace with rivals such as the United States and China. Growth in the EU remains sluggish, entire industries are under pressure, and businesses complain about high energy costs, excessive regulation and a lack of investment. At the same time, Washington is pouring billions…

On stage, the French president was beaming. As the G7 summit drew to a close on Wednesday after three days of high-stakes diplomacy, Emmanuel Macron hailed what he called an “objectively successful” gathering, pointing to a joint declaration endorsed by all leaders — including US President Donald Trump. In the weeks leading up to the gathering, there had been widespread speculation that President Trump might skip the summit altogether or leave early. French diplomats also worried about potential clashes, diplomatic missteps and a lack of unity that could have rendered the G7 format useless on the global stage. A year…

Firms now have 28 days, Kyle said, to prepare to begin exporting to India under new provisions that slash tariffs on whisky from 150 percent to 40 percent and new quotas that cut duties on cars from 100 percent to 10 percent. The deal is the largest trade pact the U.K. has forged post-Brexit and is expected to boost U.K. GDP by £4.8 billion annually. Implementation follows last-minute wrangling over Britain’s new steel protections between the U.K.’s Kyle and his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi on June 2. Kyle flew to New Delhi after Indian officials said they…

Published on 17/06/2026 – 21:18 GMT+2 Finland’s parliament voted to lift a total ban on nuclear weapons on Wednesday, to bring the country in line with NATO’s deterrence policy after joining the alliance in 2023. The bill will permit nuclear weapons to be brought, transported, supplied, or possessed in Finland where the country’s military defence requires it. While 125 deputies backed the government proposal, 61 voted against it, with another 13 absent from the chamber. Now that it has been approved by parliament it only requires the approval of the president. The decision repeals the national ban on the import,…

Still, Macron and his allies also believed that, for once, they held some cards in their dealings with Trump. The United States needs European mine-clearing capacities to re-open the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize the world’s oil trade after the war in Iran, something Trump repeatedly demanded at the G7 summit.  The second phase of U.S.-Iran talks, if the first deal is signed Friday, will address Iran’s nuclear program and will involve France, Germany and the U.K., the original custodians of the 2015 U.N. sanctions against Iran.  The U.S. is also coming under heavy pressure at home over fears the…

Published on 17/06/2026 – 22:57 GMT+2 One of Europe’s biggest technology and startup events, VivaTech, is underway in the French capital, with AI at the top of the agenda. Around 200,000 visitors, including one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, alongside ViveTech regular, French President Emmanuel Macron. Out on the show floor, Euronews has been asking visitors the same two questions: which technology worries them most, and which one excites them most. The answer to both, more often than not, is artificial intelligence. “Oh, definitely AI,” said one student from Morocco. Spanish tech worker Maria Isabel…