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“It is with deep regret that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has had to cancel his participation in the M100 Media Award due to scheduling conflicts. Prime Minister Donald Tusk can also not attend the ceremony in person due to important national commitments,” the organisers said.

Tusk cancels trip to Germany amid deteriorating relations

By: EBR | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called off his visit to Germany, planned for later this week, as relations between the two countries worsen

Greece (131,957 sq. km) is a special case. It has been a member of the EU since 1981, and a full member of Schengen since 2007. But Greece does not have a land border with the rest of Schengen – and remains a de facto island.

EU’s three biggest islands

By: EBR | Friday, September 6, 2024

The EU’s biggest islands, according to geography, are Ireland, with 84 thousand square kilometres, Sicily (25,000 sq. km), and Sardinia (24,000 sq. km)

Now, Michel Barnier has to see if he can find a majority for the laws that France needs passing to be governed.

Meet Michel Barnier, France’s Prime Minister-Designate

By: EBR | Friday, September 6, 2024

Michel Barnier, 73, is the politician for all seasons in France

Russia’s war against Ukraine has now become part of local politics in European countries. It was the dominant overarching topic in Germany’s elections in Thuringia and Saxony in East Germany.

The Instrumentalization of Russia’s War in European Politics

By: EBR | Thursday, September 5, 2024

Elections in East Germany reveal how Russia’s war on Ukraine can be exploited for political gain

Now, the burning question for millions across the EU is: how will the next budget be allocated? What will the priorities be? Or if we put it very simply, where will the money go?

2025 EU Budget: Priorities and Allocation

By: EBR | Friday, August 30, 2024

Whether we’re ready to accept it or not, time is slipping away

Although some experts had suggested that she reset the commissioner appointment process and asked member states to come up with other (female) names, the Commission President looks determined to play the hand she has been dealt.

Von der Leyen lets Parliament do the dirty job

By: EBR | Friday, August 30, 2024

Instead of asking member states to reconsider their commissioner picks, von der Leyen is putting commissioners up for a vote in the European Parliament for lawmakers to separate the wheat from the chaff

In the wake of an alleged stabbing attack by a Syrian migrant that left three people dead, the federal government’s migration policy is at the top of the political agenda at a time when the ruling coalition is under immense pressure and is expected to lose two upcoming state elections by large margins.

German CDU suggests ‘national emergency’ to curb migration

By: EBR | Wednesday, August 28, 2024

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz urged the government to enforce the Dublin Regulation after meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Of the 22 candidates already proposed, 16 are men, and six are women, with familiar faces France’s Thierry Breton, Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis, the Netherlands’ Wopke Hoekstra and Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi (all men) having been asked by their respective governments to serve another five-year term.

Commission update: Men and domestic politics prioritised as deadline looms

By: EBR | Tuesday, August 27, 2024

As the deadline for EU countries to submit their commissioner picks draws closer, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appears to have dropped her vision of a gender-balanced Commission

“The controls at all German state borders must be continued,” the respective heads of the CDU and the CSU, Friedrich Merz and Markus Soder wrote in an op-ed for Bild, referring to the temporary checks that were introduced during the European Football Championship.

German neighbours ring alarm bells over potential border controls

By: EBR | Tuesday, August 27, 2024

As pressure grows in Berlin to reintroduce checks on all German borders, its neighbouring EU countries are warning the move could lead to a domino effect

Under the recent changes, Hungary has eased requirements for Russians and Belarusians to enter the country to work, granting “guest workers” a stay of two years, renewable by an additional three years.

Hungary remains defiant on explanation of easing entry requirements for Russians, Belarusians

By: EBR | Tuesday, August 20, 2024

A European Commission deadline for Hungary to respond to questions about the easing of entry requirements for Russian and Belarusian nationals expired on Monday

Tziritis explained that Greece had never had such a plan or an analysis of the causes or drivers of fire. He also warned that if the authorities do not act, many places across the country—which have been burnt more than two times—will be deserted.

Expert: EU, Greece should change mentality to face future wildfires

By: EBR | Monday, August 19, 2024

By only focusing on firefighting without a prevention-focused holistic approach, it will be hard for the EU countries to face future wildfires

“Cross-border train travel is still too difficult for many citizens,” von der Leyen wrote in her political guidelines, a document that accompanied her 18 July re-election speech to European parliamentarians.

Von der Leyen’s second attempt at single-ticket rail travel

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 31, 2024

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen promised single-ticket rail travel across the continent in her re-election pitch to the European Parliament

Citing comments made after the meeting with Mr Putin in which Mr Orban accused the EU of having a "pro-war policy", Mr Borrell told reporters: "If you want to talk about the war party, talk about Putin.

Hungary stripped of EU meeting over Ukraine stance

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 24, 2024

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, has stripped Hungary of the right to host the next meeting of foreign and defence ministers over its stance on the war in Ukraine

Meloni was not swayed by von der Leyen’s tougher stance on immigration, her reference to the external dimension, or the announcement of a special commissioner for the Mediterranean—positions that many observers thought would have won her support.

Meloni’s vote against von der Leyen risks backfiring

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 24, 2024

After months of mutual wooing, Giorgia Meloni voted against the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission

“Don’t expect us to come out with a decision,” group co-chair Nicola Procaccini said as he entered the meeting with von der Leyen, adding that another two group meetings will follow during the day.

EU hard-right parties to back von der Leyen after ‘intense’ meeting

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 17, 2024

On Tuesday morning, the ECR group met with von der Leyen two days before a crucial vote in the EU House that will determine whether she will be re-elected at the EU Commission’s helm

Over the weekend, the name of Reunion island’s president, Huguette Bello, had been put forward by the Communist Party (PC). PS, however, came out against it, deeming the candidate “too radical” and “too close to LFI”, Mediapart reported.

French left at loggerheads over the choice of new prime minister

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 17, 2024

The NFP parties, which managed to put aside their differences within hours after Macron dissolved the parliament on 9 June to form a coalition against the RN

“I will never shy away from taking the difficult decisions. My door will always remain open, Members will be treated fairly and with dignity” Metsola said, addressing the chamber prior to voting.

Metsola re-elected to second term as EU Parliament president with large majority

By: EBR | Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Roberta Metsola has been re-elected president of the European Parliament

Now the dust is settling, the effects on the two sides of the English Channel are coming into focus. The positive result of both elections is that a strong majority of voters have rejected slick populist solutions to deep-rooted social problems.

Election lessons - a tale of two cities: both ducked the issue of Europe’s ageing

By: EBR | Tuesday, July 16, 2024

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” wrote Charles Dickens in his French Revolution novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ set in Paris and London

“Emmanuel Macron is seeing himself into a victory he can’t achieve, so he won’t be able to appoint Mr Breton,” said the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN), Marine Le Pen, on Cnews, the day after the European Council.

Macron intends to keep control on French commissioner’s appointment in Brussels

By: EBR | Monday, July 15, 2024

With no majority emerging in the French parliament following the 7 July legislative elections, President Macron has to deal with opposition parties trying to interfere in the appointment of a future French commissioner