Author: Press Room
Published on 16/09/2026 – 14:28 GMT+2•Updated 14:38 Belarus has released 25 political prisoners in exchange for the US lifting sanctions put on two Belarusian companies, in a deal was brokered by US envoy John Coale who was in the capital Minsk. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Coale announced the release of prisoners, describing it as “As a sign of goodwill”, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. He indicated further talks could lead to “a further release of individuals and additional sanctions relief”. The US and many other Western countries imposed sanctions on Belarus after it allowed Russia to use its territory to…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT With this iconic Charles Dickens quote, Ursula von der Leyen began her one-hour-long State of the Union speech in Strasbourg, laying out solutions to cope with the “exceptional” challenges and the “incredible” change that Europe is undergoing. “In this world, Europe has chosen to forge its own path. And a stronger, independent Europe is now emerging,” she told lawmakers. “Europe is there for Europeans. And that in the cold fragility of today’s world, only Europe can provide true sovereignty to Europeans.” Here are the five takeaways…
The European Commission President is “very slow” to make the necessary decisions on the current challenges facing the European Union (EU), Charles Michel, who headed the European Council during von der Leyen’s first term as Commission chief from 2019 to 2024, said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT His comments came ahead of von der Leyen’s highly anticipated annual State of the European Union address before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, in which she outlined her vision and priorities for the coming year. Michel, however, was focused on her failure to fulfil the promises made in previous years. “I’m observing that, today,…
By Alessio Dell’Anna & video by Maud Zaba Published on 16/09/2026 – 11:34 GMT+2 European homes and businesses appear to be getting safer. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The number of break-ins across the EU has dropped by more than a third in just a decade (35%), falling to 1.2 million from to 2014 to 2024, according to new Eurostat data. These figures cover both residential and business premises, yet despite the good news, Europe continues to be a battleground between intruders and private citizens and business owners, with many countries having a significant rate of burglaries relative to their populations. Austria faces a huge wave…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a “new European heatwave plan” during her inaugural State of the Union speech on Wednesday, after a dramatic summer that saw thousands of hectares burnt and tonnes of crops lost to raging wildfires. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “We need better early warning systems and better health preparedness. We need urban adaptation and cooling. And we need to support the most vulnerable,” von der Leyen told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg. She described the summer as a “summer of truth”, pointing to hundreds of thousands of hectares burned, crop losses and more than 35,000 excess deaths.…
Published on 16/09/2026 – 9:41 GMT+2 The EU will support industry efforts to slow the development of more disruptive AI technologies and will collaborate with partners such as Canada and the UK on AI safety, the Commission chief said on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed AI’s potential to benefit humanity, provided its risks and opportunities are properly balanced. She singled out the growing risks posed by so-called frontier AI models, those pushing the boundaries of the technology. “As the frontier models become…
There is a saying in Brussels: in a legislative term, you spend the first year thinking about what you want to do, the second year announcing it, and the third to fifth years actually doing it. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT By that logic, this is von der Leyen’s last real window to unveil big initiatives she might still see through before she leaves office. So, what made the cut, and what won’t? Let’s dive in. Three tipping points are shaping von der Leyen’s speech: climate change turning from forecast to lived reality after devastating wildfires and heatwaves, AI technology moving faster than…
Published on 16/09/2026 – 8:01 GMT+2 On today’s special edition of Europe Today: Méabh Mc Mahon from Brussels and Maria Tadeo from Strasbourg set the stage for the day’s key announcements and themes from today’s State of the Union. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Interviews with: Charles Michel, former European Council President Nicolas Herbst, MEP from the European People’s Party Bernd Lange, MEP from the Socialist & Democrats Sergei Lagodinski, MEP from the Greens/EFA Charlie Weimers, MEP from the European Conservatives & Reformists Reporting from the ground and our studio: Jorge Liboreiro with an analysis of what’s at stake for Ursula von der…
Published on 16/09/2026 – 6:36 GMT+2 Belarus has begun four-day military exercises near its borders with Poland and Lithuania, the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe reported, citing the defence ministry in Minsk. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The drills involve mechanised and tank battalions, with troops training in border protection, counter-sabotage operations and defence against drone and light aircraft attacks. The location is significant. Some exercises are taking place near the Suwałki Gap, a narrow corridor between Poland and Lithuania considered strategically critical by NATO. Of particular note are the Hoża training ground, situated on the Lithuanian border, and the Brzeski and…
Published on 15/09/2026 – 10:24 GMT+2 Is the EU demanding that Ukraine mobilise women to bolster its forces against Russia’s invasion? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT It’s a question that many social media users are debating after the allegations emerged on X and through Russian-language Telegram channels in recent weeks. The answer, however, is no. Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, a working body of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said that the claim originated from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Agency (SVR), which claimed, without evidence, that Brussels is pressuring Kyiv to forcibly conscript women. Russia also wrongly said that the EU’s…