Europe’s budget war starts now

EU leaders gather in Brussels for a summit focused on two key discussions: the extent to which Europe should challenge China and the formation of the bloc’s next long-term budget. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton analyze the increasingly tough stance towards Beijing, the disagreements between capitals, and the conflict over Europe’s financial priorities.
Next, they introduce the four new govern

MEPs have backed the EU-US trade deal, saying it is a “pragmatic and necessary agreement that gives European businesses the certainty they need in uncertain times.”
Meeting in Strasbourg, member of the European Parliament voted in favour of the two regulations implementing the EU-US Turnberry tariff arrangement.
The main proposal, adopted by 440 votes to 151 with 50 abstentions, eliminates tarif

A World Cup opener in Dallas unites English hopes and Croatian tournament legacy
England kicks off their 2026 FIFA World Cup against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, a clash influenced by factors beyond the group stage. For Thomas Tuchel’s team, it’s a chance to see if their talented squad can translate potential into success. For Croatia, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that tournament

Macron and his allies believed they had some leverage with Trump, as the U.S. needed European mine-clearing capabilities to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize the oil trade post-Iran war, as Trump demanded at the G7 summit.
The second phase of U.S.-Iran talks, if the initial deal is signed Friday, will focus on Iran’s nuclear program and include France, Germany, and the U.K., who orig

The EU has warmly welcomed the agreement reached between the US and Iran.
This, it goes on to say, follows “sustained diplomatic effort” by several partners.
The priority now, cautions the EU, is its “swift and full implementation by all parties.”
The war began with US and Israeli strikes across Iran on 28 February, prompting Iran to attack Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf
Commission pres

Parliament supports expedited procedures, extended detention, and return hubs as key safeguards in the migration debate
The European Parliament has sanctioned a new EU-wide system for returning third-country nationals lacking legal residency rights, providing political momentum to one of the most debated aspects of Europe’s migration overhaul. The reform aims to speed up and make return decision

Despite current divisions, the Anthropic saga could potentially revitalize global AI regulation efforts, which have been struggling since U.S. President Donald Trump started his second term. This optimistic outlook emerged even though Trump’s administration has not yet announced any resolution in its ongoing dispute with Anthropic, a leading U.S. AI developer.
During the discussions, China freque

It is difficult to see how the Europe question will not resurface once Labour has decided to politely thank Sir Keir Starmer for his work in making Labour re-electable after the lost Corbyn years but look for a new leader and prime minister who is a professional politician not a government legal manager who decided to go into politics as a retirement hobby.
In his latest  batch of opinion polls

The European Environment Agency (EEA) reported that most of Europe’s bathing waters met the EU’s highest ‘excellent’ quality standards in 2025, with 85% achieving this rating. Additionally, 96% of all monitored sites met minimum quality standards, and only 1.5% were labeled ‘poor’. The water quality remained stable compared to the previous year. Austria, Bulgar

In Strasbourg, lawmakers approved a resolution on the 2025 Commission Report regarding Albania, urging an immediate halt on new permits and construction in protected zones.
This aligns with the Commission’s warnings that Albania’s EU accession risks stalling without an environmental impact assessment.
The European Parliament and Commission demand Albania reverse its protected areas law chang