Author: Press Room

Published on 16/03/2026 – 19:34 GMT+1 Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said on Monday there was “no appetite” to extend the mandate of the EU’s naval mission Aspides into the Strait of Hormuz despite growing calls for Europe to help secure the waterway and prevent major disruptions to global oil supplies. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The discussion was that it (Aspides) should be strengthened because it does not have too many naval assets,” Kallas told reporters at a press conference following a gathering of foreign ministers in Brussels. “But the discussion on whether we are also extending this mandate to…

The United Arab Emirates Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh launched an appeal to the world to force Tehran to lift its stranglehold on the vital shipping waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, and hailed the support provided by the European Union since the start of the Iran war. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a wide-ranging interview with Euronews in Abu Dhabi, Nusseibeh said, “Iran must not be allowed to hold the global economy hostage by its rogue state behaviour.” In the interview, Nusseibeh warned that the consequences of the disruption of the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman extend far beyond the region,…

Published on 13/03/2026 – 15:57 GMT+1•Updated 16/03/2026 – 10:33 GMT+1 Despite reducing its fossil fuel imports since the invasion of Ukraine, the EU still heavily relies on foreign reserves. According to Eurostat, in 2023, the bloc’s energy dependency rate reached 58%, meaning that imports accounted for more than half of the EU’s energy needs. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT While import reliance varies across member states, 65% of the EU’s overall energy imports in 2023 were oil and petroleum, 25% were natural gas, 5% were solid fossil fuels, and only 2% were renewables. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East shows that energy…

A missile strike that hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh primary school in southern Iran, killing more than 170 people, has sparked international outrage as the Iran war continues. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT UNESCO called it a “grave violation of humanitarian law”, with authorities and news outlets widely labelling it the deadliest attack of the conflict so far. The US and Iran were quick to point the finger at each other, with an investigation into what exactly happened and who is responsible underway. Euronews’ fact-checking team, The Cube, looked at satellite imagery and news reports to dissect how the events leading up to and…

Published on 16/03/2026 – 14:14 GMT+1 The US trade deficit in goods with the EU declined by just 7% in 2025, despite tariffs imposed by the White House to narrow the gap, according to a study released Monday by the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham), highlighting the deep trade interdependence between the two partners. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The report comes as Washington and Brussels remain at odds, due to the White House’s current aggressive trade policy, which includes tripling US tariffs on the bloc. A lopsided agreement was struck last summer between EU Commission president Ursula von…

Good morning from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT EU foreign ministers are expected to mull bolstering the EU’s Aspides naval mission when they gather in Brussels later today, a diplomatic source told Euronews, as US President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on allies to support the forced re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has called for an international naval coalition that would escort commercial ships through the Strait, a critical maritime artery that has been under a de facto blockade since the start of the Iran war, sparking a global energy supply shock, spiralling prices and economic volatility.…

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, said on Monday that she would propose changing the mandate of the bloc’s naval mission, as pressure on Europe grows to help secure access to the Strait of Hormuz and prevent major disruptions to global oil supplies. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “We will discuss with the member states whether it is possible to really change the mandate of this mission,” Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. “It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open,” she added. Ministers are gathering in Brussels today to discuss…

France held the first round of its 2026 municipal elections on Sunday, with nearly 48.7 million voters called to the polls across around 35,000 villages, towns and city boroughs. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The vote was also marked by a high abstention rate. Analysts point to several possible reasons, including growing distrust in politics and broader democratic fatigue among voters. Around two-thirds of French villages, towns and smaller municipalities are expected to elect their mayor in the first round, often often due to there only being one candidate listed, or limited competition. The picture is far more uncertain in France’s largest cities,…

Published on 16/03/2026 – 9:18 GMT+1 On today’s show: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Euronews’ EU Editor Maria Tadeo reports on the latest developments and reactions to the US-Israeli war on Iran, with the impact of the conflict to Europe’s energy system expected to be front and centre in today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers. A live connection with Associated Press’ Philip Crowther, who joins Europe Today from the Strait of Hormuz with the latest updates. Interviews with Oana Țoiu, Romania’s Foreign Minister, and Lana Nusseibeh, United Arab Emirates Minister of State. Our Stefan Grobe looks into the news indicating that Manfred Weber,…

Military strikes and rising tensions have made it harder to ship goods through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and large amounts of liquefied natural gas. Tanker traffic has dropped sharply due to security concerns, insurance costs are up, and some big energy facilities in the Gulf have stopped production. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT As a result, global energy markets reacted sharply: oil prices have jumped, and natural gas prices, particularly in Europe, are rising as traders fear prolonged supply disruptions. A severe energy crisis is pending. The European Union imports most of…