55 h. ago EU leaders consider using seized Russian assets to fund a loan to Ukraine

European Union leaders are weighing a scheme to provide long-term financial and military support to Ukraine using hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets

Politics

64 h. ago The European Union was designed for peace – it is never going to be a war machine | Anand Menon

Reacting to the Russian military threat would require the bloc to be agile and decisive. It is many great things, but it is not thatIn her 2025 state of the union speech last month, Ursula von der Leyen didn’t mince her words. Europe, the president of the European Commission declared, is engaged in a “fight for a continent that is whole and at peace”. Her analysis of the problem was pretty accurate. What is increasingly clear, however, is that the European Union is not the whole solution. The EU is good at many things. Being an effective defence organisation is not one of them.Don’t get me wrong: European integration has, over the decades, performed an important security function. By binding former enemies together, it helped them overcome centuries-old rivalries. By incorporating new members, it calmed potential tensions (not least among those countries formerly within the Soviet bloc).Anand Menon is director of UK in a Changing Europe and professor of European politics and foreign...

Events

4 d. ago German identity doesn’t rely on cars – Brussels should face down the mighty automakers

Mercedes-Benz and other big manufacturers want to overturn the EU’s 2035 ban on petrol cars. This would be as disastrous for jobs as for the climateThere is something rather old-fashioned about the way Germany views its car industry. When the prime minister of Bavaria, Markus Söder, calls the car the destiny of Germany and the heart of its economy, and says that “without the car, collapse is imminent”, the vehicle he seems to be describing is one with a combustion engine, running on fossil fuels or their derivatives. This nostalgic attachment to the heavy-duty, polluting industries of the 20th century is now colliding with the urgent realities of the climate crisis.Earlier this month, heads of European automotive companies gathered in the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, for a meeting with its president, Ursula von der Leyen. German car manufacturers came with two demands: to reverse the EU ban on the manufacture of new cars with CO2-emit...

Politics

4 d. ago German identity doesn’t rely on cars – Brussels should face down the mighty automakers | Tania Roettger

Mercedes-Benz and other big manufacturers want to overturn the EU’s 2035 ban on petrol cars. This would be as disastrous for jobs as for the climateThere is something rather old-fashioned about the way Germany views its car industry. When the prime minister of Bavaria, Markus Söder, calls the car the destiny of Germany and the heart of its economy, and says that “without the car, collapse is imminent”, the vehicle he seems to be describing is one with a combustion engine, running on fossil fuels or their derivatives. This nostalgic attachment to the heavy-duty, polluting industries of the 20th century is now colliding with the urgent realities of the climate crisis.Earlier this month, heads of European automotive companies gathered in the Berlaymont building, the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, for a meeting with its president, Ursula von der Leyen. German car manufacturers came with two demands: to reverse the EU ban on the manufacture of new cars with CO2-emit...

Politics

7 d. ago Europe prepares for war with Putin: EU plans 'drone wall' to stop Russian attacks as Poland vows to shoot down UAVs over Ukraine and Kremlin threatens direct conflict with NATO

Ten nations, including Denmark, Finland, and Poland will join Ukraine at a summit to thrash out plans for what EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has described as 'the bedrock of credible defence.'

Events

7 d. ago Recognising statehood is the minimum – now the EU must protect Palestine with money

As Europe’s socialist leaders, we call for a trade deal and aid package for Palestine – along with sanctions on Israel to halt the genocideApplause rang out through the UN general assembly this month after it endorsed the so-called New York declaration on the revival of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Adopted by a large majority, 142 countries, this initiative from France and Saudi Arabia offers a rare glimmer of hope in one of the most devastating crises of our time.Separately, the conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry have echoed what human rights organisations and genocide experts have been warning for months: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. As the ground invasion of Gaza City intensifies, the international community has a legal and moral obligation to act. This includes the immediate imposition of sanctions on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt war crimes.Pedro Sánchez is the president of the Socialist International, secretary general of PS...

Politics

8 d. ago Talks on European ‘drone wall’ after Danish airport incursions

European ministers to hold talks on Friday on how to defend infrastructure after airports affected, including the closure of CopenhagenEuropean ministers are to meet for urgent talks on building a “drone wall” to defend against incoming incursions from the skies after Denmark said it had been the victim of a “hybrid attack” on four airports in the second such incident in days.Ministers from 10 European countries, including Ukraine, will hold talks on Friday to discuss plans for what the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has described as “the bedrock of credible defence”. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago European ministers to meet for urgent ‘drone wall’ talks to protect skies

Meeting comes after Denmark says ‘professional actor’ behind ‘hybrid attacks’ that closed it airports in recent daysEurope live – latest news updatesEuropean ministers are to meet for urgent talks on building a “drone wall” to defend against incoming incursions from the skies after Denmark said it had been the victim of a “hybrid attack” on four airports in the second such incident in days.Ministers from 10 European countries, including Ukraine, will hold talks on Friday to discuss plans for what European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has described as “the bedrock of credible defence”. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Spanish military jet with minister onboard suffers GPS disruption near Russia’s Kaliningrad

It comes after the GPS system of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was jammed

Politics

9 d. ago If Europe keeps placating its own far right, how can it possibly stand up to Trump? | Thu Nguyen and Jannik Jansen

European leaders have been pulled to the right on migration, the climate crisis and Israel. Their weakness is undermining the democratic principles on which the EU was builtWhen Ursula von der Leyen made her pitch to become president of the European Commission back in 2019, she put the “European way” at the heart of her appeal. Under her direction, she said, Europe would be a principled power built on multilateralism, fair trade and the rules-based order, standing firm and united against authoritarianism, protectionism and the politics of zero-sum thinking.Six years on, she is again calling on Europe to “fight” for that future. But the vision is fading fast. This summer brought a cascade of negative headlines decrying Europe’s “humiliation”; it was the worst in years, if not in a century, some critics said. All pointed to the same reality: European leaders, fearing both a trade war and the loss of US support for Ukraine, had bowed to the wishlist of the Trump administration and left...

Politics

1 week ago World, business leaders hope to keep momentum in fight against climate change despite US

Hundreds of world and business leaders are gathering to keep the fight against climate change alive

Politics

1 week ago UK, Canada and Australia announce formal recognition of Palestine, with wave of Israel’s allies to follow

Partly symbolic move by up to 10 states comes amid fears Israel could respond by annexing parts of West BankA wave of Israel’s allies are announcing their recognition of the state of Palestine, as part of a wider manoeuvre designed to ostracise Hamas and challenge attempts by the Israeli government to erase the chance of a Palestinian homeland.But the delicate and partly symbolic move by as many 10 states, pioneered largely by the French government, has the potential to lead to a negative spiral of further confrontation amid fears Israel will respond by annexing parts of the West Bank, leading in turn to European trade sanctions and further political isolation for Israel, including an ultimate possible suspension from the UN. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK to explore ‘reparations loan’ for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets

Treasury officials also declined to discuss the mechanisms the UK would consider.

Politics

2 w. ago Poland says Russian jets violated oil platform safety zone in Baltic Sea as Nato confirms it intercepted MiG

Nato spokesperson condemns ‘reckless Russian behaviour’ after three MiG-31 fighters enter Estonian airspace for 12 minutesHere we go: we are now getting more details on the 19th package of sanctions, via Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.We are still waiting for the announcement on when we will get more detail on the 19th sanctions package. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Nato confirms it intercepted Russian aircraft over Estonia as EU calls violation a ‘dangerous provocation’ – Europe live

Nato spokesperson condemns ‘reckless Russian behaviour’ after three Mig-31 fighters enter Estonian airspace for 12 minutesHere we go: we are now getting more details on the 19th package of sanctions, via Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.We are still waiting for the announcement on when we will get more detail on the 19th sanctions package. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Nato intercepted Russian aircraft over Estonia as EU calls violation an ‘extremely dangerous provocation’ – Europe live

Nato spokesperson condemns ‘reckless Russian behaviour’ after three Mig-31 fighters enter Estonian airspace for 12 minutesHere we go: we are now getting more details on the 19th package of sanctions, via Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.We are still waiting for the announcement on when we will get more detail on the 19th sanctions package. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago EU chief urges bloc members to sanction Russia's LNG exports

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU should slap new sanctions on Russia’s exports of liquefied natural gas, its shadow fleet of aging oil tankers and major energy companies over its war on Ukraine

Politics

2 w. ago Russia has shown ‘full extent of contempt for international law’, says von der Leyen, as EU proposes new Russian sanctions – Europe live

Ursula von der Leyen says Russian strikes on Kyiv that hit EU office ‘are not the actions of someone who wants peace’Here we go: we are now getting more details on the 19th package of sanctions, via Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.We are still waiting for the announcement on when we will get more detail on the 19th sanctions package. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago European Commission puts forward new package of sanctions against Russia – Europe live

Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will set out details in a press statement later todayThe European Commission had adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the commission’s chief spokesperson Paula Pinho has just confirmed.Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will set out details in a press statement later today, she said. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago EU expected to unveil latest round of sanctions on Russia – Europe live

The sanctions will target banks and energy, and come amid pressure from Donald Trump for the bloc to phase out Russian oilThe European Union is expected to unveil the latest, 19th, package of sanctions against Russia today, which the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said would target crypto, banks, and energy, among others.The EU is also reportedly looking at imposing sanctions on companies in China and India helping Russia’s oil trade, as reported previously by Bloomberg (£). Continue reading...

Politics