European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a five-part plan to mobilise some 800bn euros ($842bn) to beef up Europe’s defence and provide “immediate” military support to Ukraine after the United States suspended aid. “A new era is upon us,” the president said in a letter presenting the plan to 27 European … Read moreEU weighs $841bn ‘rearm’ Europe plan to counter possible US disengagement
The number of people entering the European Union by irregular crossings dropped almost 40 percent in 2024, according to the bloc’s border agency Frontex. Preliminary data reveal a significant 38 percent drop in irregular border crossings into the EU in 2024, “reaching the lowest level since 2021, when migration was still affected by the COVID … Read moreIrregular migration into EU dropped sharply in 2024: Border agency
Japan and the European Union have announced a security and defence partnership, as they seek to step up military ties amid growing tensions with China, North Korea and Russia. “We live in a very dangerous world,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Tokyo on Friday, alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. “We live … Read moreJapan and EU announce security partnership amid growing regional tensions
European Union trade ministers have agreed to impose prohibitive tariffs on grain and other agricultural products from Russia and Belarus from July 1. The tariffs will be 95 euros ($102.76) per tonne for cereals and 50 percent of their value for oilseeds. Tariffs will also apply to beet-pulp pellets and dried peas. The ministers’ decision … Read moreEU agrees tariffs on Russian, Belarusian grain imports from July
The European Commission says it will end a years-long dispute with Poland over the rule of law. The commission said in a statement on Monday that it intends to withdraw the procedure launched in December 2017 under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union after Warsaw’s new centrist government took steps to restore judicial … Read moreEU to drop rule-of-law dispute with Poland
The European Union has launched a probe into TikTok’s spinoff Lite app and threatened to suspend an “addictive” feature on it that rewards users for watching and liking videos, amid child-safety concerns. TikTok Lite arrived in France and Spain in March allowing users aged 18 and more to earn points that can be exchanged for … Read moreEU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite app’s rewards feature
In January, Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis featured prominently at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Among the various topics, he was asked to comment on was migration. “Greece has probably managed the migration problem better than most other European countries,” he said confidently in an interview with CNN’s Richard Quest on the sidelines of … Read moreThe EU’s migration policies and the end of human rights in Europe
The European Commission has recommended that the European Union slash net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040, an ambitious target that will test political appetite for the region’s fight against climate change before EU elections. While the overall target was within the range recommended by the EU’s official climate science advisers, the EU … Read moreEU recommends ambitious 2040 climate target, goes light on farming
European Union leaders are preparing for a crucial meeting that will be dominated by a second attempt at passing a 50-billion-euro ($54bn) amendment to the EU budget that will help finance Ukraine over the next four years. That amendment was vetoed by Hungary at December’s regular summit along with 20 billion euros ($21.7bn) in military … Read moreUkraine funding, Orban’s opposition set to dominate crucial EU summit
Jacques Delors, former European Commission chief and a founding father of the European Union’s (EU) historic single currency project, has died. He was 98. The French socialist and ardent advocate of post-war European integration died in his sleep at his Paris home on Wednesday, his family said. Delors served as president of the European Commission … Read moreJacques Delors, founding father of EU’s single currency project, dies at 98