Author: staff

The European Parliament had wanted medicines tenders to prioritize critical medicines with at least 50 percent of the product’s value made within the EU. The final compromise gives procuring bodies the option to prioritize EU-made products, with a sliding reward scale for medicines with a greater proportion of production in Europe. The capitals had opposed a mandatory preference for EU products, since these medicines are expected to come with a significantly higher price tag. And with Europe’s public health systems already under budgetary pressure, higher drug prices will be hard to absorb. Tiemo Wölken, Parliament’s negotiator with the socialists, told…

European Union energy ministers are expected to discuss domestic natural gas drilling during an informal meeting in Cyprus on 13 May, against a backdrop of rising oil and gas prices and concerns over supply shortages, according to a document seen by Euronews. Since the US-led conflict involving Iran, the EU has been grappling with an escalating energy crisis. Natural gas prices have remained elevated, standing at roughly double those in the United States and China, despite four years of market disruption following Russia’s withdrawal from the European market in 2022. The document highlights the bloc’s success in cutting its reliance…

Viewers across the world are gearing up for the semi-finals of the world’s biggest music competition, the 70th Eurovision Song Contest which begin in earnest on Tuesday night. This year, we’ve already been treated to a number of bangers like Liekinheitin, by Finland’s Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, Ferto, by Greece’s Akylas and My System by Sweden’s Felicia. However, given the event’s rich and varied history, there have been several iconic hits and artists over the past 70 years that have become part of our wider popular culture. A new report by Spotify highlights some of the most-streamed Eurovision entries…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s premiership is in grave peril after a key member of his Cabinet told him to set out an exit plan following dire nationwide election results. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood last night told Starmer to oversee an orderly transition of power and consider setting out a timeline for his departure. The PM hosts a weekly Cabinet meeting at 9.30 a.m. More than 70 Labour MPs have now called on Starmer to go. Westminster eyes are on a potential intervention by health secretary and possible leadership challenger Wes Streeting. Follow the POLITICO team for key moments and analysis…

Good morning. Defence – be it military, political or strategic – sits at the heart of Tuesday’s conversations in Brussels. Angela Skujins in the trenches for you, ready to lay out the war plans for today’s newsletter. Like a loaded gun: EU defence ministers are meeting for high-level talks focussing on security across three major areas, spanning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and its ongoing implications, and European defence readiness. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov will connect via videolink to provide an on-the-ground update to his counterparts of how Russia’s invasion, grinding into its fifth…

Russia launched several drone strikes at eastern Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, just hours after the expiration of a three-day truce. The strikes killed a man and wounded at least four in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Ganzha reported on Tuesday. “The enemy attacked five districts of the region more than 20 times with drones, artillery, and aerial bombs,” he wrote on Telegram. Russian forces also targeted Kyiv and struck a 20-storey residential building in the capital, Ukrainian media reported citing local officials. And the Fastiv region, near Kyiv, also became the target of Russian…

While there will be little tangible impact on Merz’s federal coalition, he will bear much of the political blame should mainstream conservatives suffer major losses to the AfD in those states. That’s partly because, in an increasingly populist age, Merz has a hard time projecting himself as a man of the people. Even before he became chancellor, Merz — a former BlackRock executive known for flying his own private jet around Germany — was often accused of being out of touch with regular voters. Indeed, Merz often seems more at ease engaging with business leaders than fielding questions from the public. This…

Choosing to travel solo is brave enough, and if you’ve already taken the plunge to travel sans friends, there’s nothing you can’t do. Perhaps your flavour of adventure is to do with wildlife, and you want to spot bears and wolves in their natural habitat? Or maybe you’re more about hiking, and it’s the via ferratas of Italy calling your name? Can’t decide where to go? Luckily for you, Much Better Adventures has come up with a list of the very best places for solo adventure travel this year. Each one has been evaluated based on numerous factors like its…

Ukraine wants Europe more involved in peace efforts with Russia — but who exactly would represent Europe in those talks? After Vladimir Putin floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible negotiator, Brussels reacted with disbelief. Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the growing debate around Europe’s role in future peace negotiations, including Nick’s interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zoya’s conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on why Ottawa is moving closer to Europe on Ukraine, defense and security. Then: Europe’s latest attempt to get ahead of the artificial intelligence boom before it spirals…

Während Friedrich Merz mit den Schwächen seiner Koalition kämpft, bringen sich hinter ihm die Ministerpräsidenten in Stellung. Ob Hendrik Wüst, Markus Söder oder neuerdings Boris Rhein: Sie alle sehen die Risse im Kanzleramt und positionieren sich für die Pole-Position. Gordon Repinski darüber, wie dieser Positionskampf das Machtgefüge der Union schleichend verändert. Heute Abend tagt der Koalitionsausschuss. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview: Der ehemalige Kanzleramtsminister Wolfgang Schmidt. Er ordnet die Sinnhaftigkeit dieser Treffen ein und stellt die systemische Frage: Liegt das Problem an den festgefahrenen Strukturen oder schlicht an den handelnden Akteuren, die keine Einigung mehr finden? Rixa Fürsen blickt auf die „härteste Tür…