6 h. ago What would a youth visa scheme with the European Union look like?

As hopes grow for a youth mobility scheme with the European Union, The Independent looks at how it would work in practice

Politics

6 h. ago European Council president Costa praises Montenegro's advance on EU path

European Council’s president Antonio Costa has praised Montenegro for its progress on the path toward membership in the European Union, describing the small Balkan country as “one of the finest examples of the EU’s positive enlargement momentum.”

Politics

7 h. ago Merz vows to keep the US on board on Ukraine and strengthen Germany's military and economy

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will work to bring Europe and the U.S. together in their approach to Ukraine

Events

29 h. ago European economist says Russia's economy is strained due to the Ukraine war and sanctions

A leading economist has been telling EU finance ministers that Russia’s economy is under growing strain as its invasion of Ukraine drags on

Events

31 h. ago Albanian preliminary polls results show a clear win for the ruling Socialists

Preliminary results in Albania’s parliamentary elections give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country’s uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s bid for a fourth term

Politics

57 h. ago UK drivers warned of new MOT rules that would follow European Union's lead

The Department for Transport has not ruled out following new safety rules being considered by the European Commission. Certain aspects of vehicles are set to face stricter examination

Events

5 d. ago Keir Starmer can’t build a stronger European partnership by stealth. He has to declare it aloud | Rafael Behr

Britain has ‘reset’ relations with the EU, but with Farage ascendant again, our politics must be cured of the Brexit virusNot much about Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union is settled, but Keir Starmer can justifiably claim it has been “reset”. That word was artfully chosen before last year’s election to dress low aspiration as high diplomacy. There are 10 days of negotiation before the summit in London, where a new UK-EU partnership is due to be unveiled. It will be more outline than substance. But there is progress in the very fact that Britain’s ruling party sees Brussels as a partner, not a parasite.Old-guard Eurosceptics will, of course, denounce any deal as a betrayal of Brexit. If there are plans for a time-limited, youth exchange visa, it will be decried as a return to free movement by the back door. If there is agreement to align regulations so that goods can more efficiently cross borders and the European court of justice is involved in adjudicating ...

Events

6 d. ago The EU will hold talks later this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza

The European Union's top diplomat says that foreign ministers will hold formal talks on May 20 on a demand to review an EU pact governing trade ties with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza

Politics

6 d. ago The EU publishes a US product hit list and prepares for WTO action against Trump's tariffs

The European Union has published a list of U.S. imports to target with retaliatory duties if no solution is found to end President Donald Trump’s tariff war

Politics

6 d. ago Irish broadcaster requests discussion over Israel’s Eurovision participation

RTÉ asks European Broadcasting Union to discuss matter after 72 former contestants call for Israel’s exclusionIreland’s public broadcaster has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a discussion about Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision song contest, as 72 former contestants called for the Israeli broadcaster Kan to be banned from next week’s event in the Swiss city of Basel.The director general of Ireland’s RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago The Netherlands wants to force a review of EU ties with Israel as concerns grow over Gaza

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp is insisting on a review of the European Union's ties with Israel over its war in Gaza

Politics

7 d. ago UN experts demand action to avert ‘annihilation’ of Palestinians in Gaza – Middle East crisis live

More than 20 experts call on countries to act or ‘witness the slaughter of innocents’‘Desperate people’: Gaza faces wave of looting, theft and violenceThe Dutch government, seen as one of Israel’s most loyal allies in the European Union, is calling for an urgent review of the EU Israel association agreement, the basis for the EU-Israeli free trade agreement, the Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Guardian.Veldkamp described the Israeli ban on the supply of aid into Gaza as “catastrophic, truly dismal” and in clear breach of international humanitarian law.You cannot starve the people of the Gaza Strip. It is against international law. It’s morally wrong. It’s dangerous. I don’t think it’s in Israel’s own interest. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Greece and Egypt reaffirm their commitment to an undersea power cable

Greece and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to a major undersea electricity interconnection to deliver renewable energy from North Africa to Europe

Politics

8 d. ago US imposes sanctions on Myanmar ethnic militia for 'facilitating cyber scams'

An ethnic militia group in southeastern Myanmar that faces sanctions by the United States over its alleged involvement with human trafficking and online scams has criticized Washington’s actions

Politics

8 d. ago As the UK is denied access to crime databases... when will Starmer, the EU's most ardent suitor, wake up to its blinkered intransigence and desire to punish Britain?

Will the scales ever fall from Sir Keir Starmer 's eyes? Might our profoundly Europhile Prime Minister one day wake up to the reality that the European Union is a doctrinaire?

Events

9 d. ago Europe launches a drive to attract scientists and researchers after Trump freezes US funding

The European Union is launching a drive to attract scientists and researchers with offers of grants and new policy plans

Politics

1 week ago From Lamine Yamal to Mbappé: Could Team EU build a European identity?

A side made up of players from the European Union would be an ambitious project but the rewards could be pleasing for a continent looking to become more unitedImagine the scene: the television is on, the screen showing images of a packed stadium. Rodri collects the ball in midfield and launches it down the wing to Lamine Yamal, who switches play to Kylian Mbappé; the Frenchman swivels past two defenders before crossing for Robert Lewandowski, who surges forward and finishes with precision past Ederson in goal. Europe are leading the Rest of the World 1-0.Could the European Union have a football team, even if it is just for one game every other year? Why not? It is an ambitious idea that, paradoxically, could be both concrete and relevant. In an era marked by challenges to the cohesion of the union, conceiving a footballing Dream Team of the 27 countries is, in fact, one of the more plausible ways to give the continent a dimension beyond the economy or, as is highly relevant at the m...

Politics

1 week ago TikTok hit with £450MILLION fine after Ireland finds social media giant illegally sent user data to China

European Union privacy watchdogs fined TikTok £450million (530 million euros) on Friday after a four-year investigation found that the company illegally transferred data to China

Economics

1 week ago Key information issued for people going on holiday to Portugal and Spain after countries plunged into chaos

The European Union's cyber security wing ruled out that the power outage was the result of a hack

Events

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour leader of 'selling out' British fishing rights to the EU in exchange for a new trade deal

The Prime Minister is close to agreeing a reset with the European Union which will allow British defence companies to bid for a new €150 billion defence fund.

Politics