Author: Press Room

The easiest part to predict is how it will end. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “Long live Europe” is the line Ursula von der Leyen has used to close all her State of the Union speeches and major addresses to the European Parliament — with one notable exception: the Italian “Viva l’Europa” she chose for her 2021 speech, delivered in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The real question is what she will say before reaching that familiar sign-off. The State of the Union speech is one of Brussels’ best-kept secrets, and its final version can be tweaked right up until the very…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 12:41 GMT+2 Norway made history on 6 March 2024 when it settled on a new deal for peaceful coexistence between the Sámi community and one of Europe’s largest onshore wind power sites. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The agreement granted Sámi reindeer herders more winter grazing land, partly free electricity and the right to veto potential future wind farm concessions in exchange for allowing 151 turbines operated by Roan Vind to remain in the coastal Fosen district. Nevertheless, two years later, the story was turned on its head by a false social media narrative with hundreds of thousands of…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 15:11 GMT+2 Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced amendments to the country’s so-called child protection law, which has faced longstanding criticism from Brussels and LGBTQ+ rights groups over its discriminatory provisions. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The law was initially adopted in 2021 under Viktor Orbán’s government as a measure to protect minors from paedophilia. It was subsequently amended to effectively prohibit the depiction of homosexuality to minors, on the grounds that such content could pose a risk of paedophilia. The legislation led to books, newspapers and films being pulled from shelves and television schedules. Following protests from…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 16:53 GMT+2 A member of the UK armed forces died in Ukraine on Saturday, the British Ministry of Defence has announced. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The unnamed service member died as the result of a “road traffic incident,” the ministry said in a statement posted to social media. “The family have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released,” it reads. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the individual’s loved ones at this difficult time”. Writing on X, British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting added: “This is very sad news for the family…

Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver one of the EU’s most closely watched speeches of the year, outlining her vision and priorities before the European Parliament in Strasbourg. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The State of the Union address is known for its breadth and length, covering issues ranging from defence readiness to natural disasters while setting the agenda for the next legislative cycle through new policies, strategies, initiatives and action plans. Yet the sheer number of promises means some inevitably go unfulfilled, while others are quietly dropped or simply fall apart. Euronews looks back at last year’s speech to assess…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 16:18 GMT+2•Updated 17:40 The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said they believe the future of their nations belong “in the European Union”. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The three leaders met in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, where their parties signed a joint agreement asserting the right of their nations to self-determination. The three leaders met in their capacity as party leaders rather than as representatives of their respective governments. Scotland’s John Swinney leads the Scottish National Party (SNP), Wales’ Rhun ap Iorwerth leads Plaid Cymru, meaning “the Party of Wales”, and Northern Ireland’s Michelle O’Neill…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 18:13 GMT+2 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on Monday, hours after it emerged that he had left the country after resigning amid a major corruption probe that had reached his own office. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Kravchenko crossed the border overnight, according to Ukrainian media citing law-enforcement sources. Kravchenko also released a video saying he had signed a notice of suspicion against Semen Kryvonos, director of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). Kravchenko alleged that Kryvonos had forged official documents to obtain an unlawful benefit. Kryvonos rejected the allegation and told reporters later on…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 19:00 GMT+2•Updated 19:40 The German military is turning to compulsory assignments to fill positions in a brigade stationed in Lithuania. The move is said to be necessary because of difficulties recruiting enough volunteers, leaving a shortage of specialist personnel. According to information obtained by Bild, the first soldiers could be ordered to serve in Lithuania from the end of September, with up to 1,000 Bundeswehr personnel potentially affected. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT By the end of 2027, the 45th Panzer Brigade is expected to have around 4,800 German troops and be permanently based in Lithuania, on NATO’s eastern…

Finland and France committed to deepening their defence partnership on Monday, with Helsinki formally joining a French initiative aimed at strengthening European security through forward nuclear deterrence. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a joint statement, the two nations called the decision an “important step for European security, and for bilateral cooperation.” “It will strengthen their partnership, and offer opportunities for strategic signalling, as well as the ability to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold,” it continued, adding that a “Nuclear Steering Group” would be set up within the next few months to “begin the implementation of this cooperation.” In a post on…

Published on 14/09/2026 – 21:35 GMT+2 Former Moroccan intelligence officer Mehdi Hijaouy contacted people close to ex-Venezuelan spy chief Hugo Carvajal in the summer of 2024, offering information to Spanish authorities in exchange for protection from a potential extradition to Morocco, The Objective reported. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT At the time, Hijaouy, who was reportedly forced into exile following a conflict with some of his intelligence colleagues, was in France, but he would move to Spain over fears for his safety and that of his family. Hijaouy turned to a lawyer who had taken part in efforts to persuade Carvajal to cooperate…