Author: Press Room

Military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran in a joint effort — followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran on Gulf energy infrastructure — have triggered a major escalation in tensions, culminating in the almost total closure of the Strait of Hormuz. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The waterway is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling roughly a quarter to a third of global oil shipments and around a fifth of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its closure has sent shockwaves through global markets. The EU estimates gas prices have risen 70% and oil by 50% resulting in an…

Published on 31/03/2026 – 11:50 GMT+2 The Iran war may seem far away, but its oil is not. For European drivers, the pain at the pump is real, with some countries seeing price spikes of over 30%. So how are EU governments stepping in to help? Let’s look at the different strategies together. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Spain went big, rolling out a €5 billion package and slashing VAT on motor fuels from 21% down to 10%. Madrid claims this will reduce petrol prices by around 30 eurocents per litre. Poland followed, with fuel VAT dropping from 23% to just 8%, saving…

Published on 31/03/2026 – 12:51 GMT+2•Updated 12:53 A group of investigative journalists on Tuesday released a recording of a phone call between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in which Szijjártó offered to assist in removing a Russian oligarch’s sister from EU sanctions at Lavrov’s request. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In the 94-second recording published on YouTube and disclosed by the investigative outlet Insider, Lavrov asked Szijjártó to help remove Gulbahor Ismailova — the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov — from the EU’s sanctions list. “I am calling at the request of Alisher, and he just…

Damage to the Druzhba pipeline, the world’s longest oil conduit and so far exempt from EU sanctions, has halted oil deliveries from Russia to Hungary and threatened to torpedo a billion-dollar loan to Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Ukrainian officials say the damage was caused by a Russian strike and that repairs are challenging, compounded by the fact that Ukrainian engineers can only work during the day due to nightly air raids. Hungary, meanwhile, has accused Kyiv of sabotage and dragging its heels on repairing the damage. In the midst of the issue, the European Commission has formally proposed an inspection and…

Published on 31/03/2026 – 7:50 GMT+2•Updated 8:46 On today’s show: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Top story: Debrief by Maria Tadeo, Euronews’ EU Editor, of the G7 energy and finance ministers’ meeting yesterday. Explainer by Jakub Janas: How EU countries are reacting to rising energy prices. Interview: Adel Nassar, Lebanese Justice Minister, as Israeli strikes leave over 1,200 dead in Lebanon. Iran war update with Euronews’ Babak Kamiar. Euronews’ Sasha Vakulina reports on the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Ukraine as today marks the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre perpetrated by Russian forces. When and where to watch Europe…

Good morning from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The US and Israel traded more strikes with Iran overnight after President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum yesterday, saying the US would “completely obliterate” Iranian electricity and energy sites unless the Strait of Hormuz opens to international shipping. In Lebanon, two more UN peacekeepers have been killed in the second such lethal incident in the space of 24 hours, according to the UN Interim Force, UNIFIL. The killing of a first peacekeeper on Sunday triggered firm condemnations from the leaders of Belgium, Spain and Ireland. Speaking to Europe Today on…

Published on 31/03/2026 – 8:44 GMT+2 The EU is set to urge Israel to reverse course after its parliament approved a bill allowing the execution of Palestinian convicted of nationalistic killings. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a draft statement seen by Euronews, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warns the move marks a “grave regression” from Israel’s previous commitments under international law and the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The text, to be issued on behalf of the 27 member states, highlights “particular concern” over what it describes as the bill’s “de facto discriminatory character”. “The EU urges Israel to abide by its previous principled…

The veto right allows member states to block Council decisions in areas where treaties require unanimity instead of majority voting. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Activating this power can send the entire EU into a political gridlock: one opposing member state is enough to halt proposed actions from being adopted. National governments use this right only if they consider that Council decisions harm their sovereign interests. Yet it is increasingly used as a power move to extort concession from the EU, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to Michal Ovádek, lecturer in European Institutions, Politics and Policy at University College…

Hungary’s upcoming general election on 12 April is marked by a clear generation gap with many young voters strongly favouring the opposition Tisza Party headed by Péter Magyar. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Most independent polls show that more than 60% of voters under 30 support Magyar’s party while only 15% support Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz. Orbán’s campaign appears to be speaking to older voters. One campaign promise is a 14th month pension, promising security for Hungary’s older citizens where Fidesz has a definite lead among voters over 64. Based on earlier elections, young voters are harder to mobilise, so the generation issue…

Published on 30/03/2026 – 19:16 GMT+2 Slovenia’s newly elected parliament will come together on 10 April opening the way for tough coalition talks after the liberals’ razor-thin win this month, the EU country’s president said on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “As soon as the official results are published, I will call the constitutive session of the new parliament on April 10,” Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar told journalists after her first consultations with the leaders of seven parties that entered parliament at the 22 March vote. She warned current geopolitical circumstances require swift coalition negotiations that will put in place a…