32 h. ago ‘Nothing is off the table’ on EU defence funding, says Ursula von der Leyen

Commission president says ‘something fundamental’ has shifted and democracy and rule of law are under threat“Nothing is off the table” when it comes to raising money for defence, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said, as she warned European values such as democracy and the rule of law were under threat in a increasingly “transactional” world.Without mentioning Donald Trump by name, the head of the EU executive told reporters there was a new sense of urgency in the geopolitical sphere and that “something fundamental” had shifted since she began her second term in office on 1 December, nearly 100 days ago. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Zelenskyy says he is ‘ready to work under Trump’s strong leadership’ to negotiate Ukraine peace deal – Europe live

Ukrainian president says his country is ready to sign minerals and security agreement while admitting issues over White House meetingNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen proposes €800bn ‘rearm Europe’ defence fund plan to step up Ukraine support after Donald Trump’s US suspension

Ursula von der Leyen has proposed an €800bn ($841 billion) plan to boost defences of EU nations to counter possible US disengagement following Donald Trump's decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine.

Politics

6 d. ago Ukraine can maintain frontline, says its PM, after Trump puts military aid on hold – Europe live

Denis Shmyhal says Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal after Trump paused aid and says country ‘will continue to work with US in a calm manner’New EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Europe ‘ready to step up’ as Kremlin welcomes Donald Trump decision to pause aid for Ukraine – Europe live

EU ready to increase defence spending and military capabilities as Kremlin welcomes US ‘contribution’ to the cause of peaceNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago EU plans to strengthen defence spending could cost €800bn, says von der Leyen – Europe live

EU Commission president says bloc is ready to massively increase defence spending and military capabilitiesUS has suspended all military aid to Ukraine, White House official says, in wake of Trump-Zelenskyy rowNew EU plans to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and increase military capabilities could mobilise close to €800bn ($841.4bn), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Brussels.The EU will propose to give member states more fiscal space for defence investments, as well as €150bn euros in loans for those investments, and will aim to mobilise private capital as well, Reuters reports von der Leyen said Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago EU ponders 800 billion euro plan to beef up defenses to counter possible US disengagement

The chief of the European Union’s executive proposes an 800 billion euro ($841 billion) plan to beef up EU defenses to lessen the impact of potential U.S. disengagement and provide Ukraine with military muscle to negotiate with Russia following the freeze of U.S. aid to the embattled nation

Events

8 d. ago Starmer’s diplomatic flurry puts him at centre of attempts to shape Ukraine

PM’s decision to bring forward Zelenskyy meeting and forge Franco-British peace plan shows UK can still play global leadership role Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesAs Keir Starmer and his aides huddled to discuss their response to Friday’s calamitous White House meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the prime minister’s team pondered whether to issue a statement on social media.Already messages of support were flooding in for the Ukrainian president from other European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron of France and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago European Commission chief says India and EU have agreed to conclude a free trade agreement this year

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU and India have agreed to push to get a long pending free trade agreement done this year

Events

1 week ago Trump praises Starmer’s ‘hard’ lobbying as he again suggests UK will be exempt from US tariffs – live

Trump calls Starmer meeting ‘tremendously productive’ and says ‘we have a very good chance at arriving at a very good deal’Trump-Starmer visit: the key takeawaysEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump hints UK could avoid the sanctions he plans for EU during White House talks with Starmer – follow live

US president says UK is ‘very different place’ where he has investmentsTrump-Starmer visit: the key takeawaysEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump invited to UK for state visit as US president calls Starmer ‘a special man’ at White House talks – follow live

King Charles also invites US president to Scotland ahead of the unprecedented second state visitTrump-Starmer visit: the key takeawaysEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump praises Starmer as a ‘special man’ as they meet at the White House – follow live

The two leaders will hold talks, followed by a joint press conferenceEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago White House ‘very pleased’ with UK’s increase in defence spending ahead of Starmer

The two leaders will hold talks later, followed by a joint press conferenceEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Trump says US won’t give Ukraine security guarantees ‘beyond very much’ ahead of Starmer meeting – UK politics live

Starmer said he wants Trump to agree that, in the event of a peace settlement in Ukraine, US will offer security guarantees that make it durableEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to London this Sunday to take part in an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security, the European Commission has just confirmed. Jakub Krupa has more on his Europe live blog.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has confirmed that President Trump has the ability to veto the deal that the UK has negotiated transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Isands to Mauritius. Speaking on ITV’s Peston last night, Lammy said:If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago EU executive plans a major reset of economy as critics fear climate will suffer

The European Union has announced plans for a major revamp of its economic strategy to meet demands of the bloc’s captains of industry

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer reveals what he told Zelensky on call before flying to meet Trump

The PM spoke on the phone to Ukraine's president yesterday, before also speaking to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Lyon today

Politics

2 w. ago EU envoys approve more sanctions against Russia to mark the third anniversary of its war on Ukraine

European Union envoys have approved new sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Events

3 w. ago Europe at ‘turning point’ as leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine crisis

Ursula von der Leyen urges ‘emergency mindset’ in response to US decision to enter bilateral talks with RussiaEurope live – latest updatesEurope’s security is “at a turning point”, the president of the European Commission has said, as leaders from major European powers prepared to meet in Paris for emergency talks on their role in an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.After last week’s shock move by the US to sideline Kyiv and its European backers from peace negotiations, Ursula von der Leyen said the issue was “about Ukraine – but also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defence. And we need both of them now.” Continue reading...

Politics