Author: Press Room

Establishing a “Made in Europe” preference in public contracts is a “fine line to walk”, Ursula von der Leyen has warned on the eve of an informal summit of European Union leaders where the divisive topic is set to be firmly on the table. “I believe that in strategic sectors, European preference is a necessary instrument that will contribute to strengthen Europe’s own production base. It can help create lead markets in those sectors and support the scaling-up of European production capabilities,” the president of the European Commission said in Strasbourg on Wednesday morning. “But I want to be clear…

Published on 11/02/2026 – 11:28 GMT+1 The European Union is setting up a strategy to efficiently detect malicious drones entering the bloc, with the Commission presenting an action plan on Tuesday in response to multiple incidents affecting critical infrastructure. The aim of the strategy is to increase investments in technologies that can improve the integration of surveillance systems as well as better detection technologies to distinguish malicious drones from others. In recent months, countries like Poland and Belgium have experienced several incidents of suspicious drones entering their national airspace or disrupting critical infrastructure and services, such as nuclear sites and…

Published on 11/02/2026 – 7:44 GMT+1•Updated 11:19 On today’s show: Our EU news editor Maria Tadeo reports from Strasbourg on the debate French President Emmanuel Macron has launched on EU common debt, or eurobonds. We interview Saskia Bricmont, a Belgian Member of the European Parliament from the Greens group. Our Jakub Janas explains what European Commission President von der Leyen means when she talks about a “multi-speed Europe”. Our Eleonora Vasques joins us in our studio to explain to our viewers the latest on the EU migration debate. Our Shona Murray updates us on why the US is not attending…

Published on 11/02/2026 – 9:07 GMT+1•Updated 9:45 “I’m part of the ones that say that the EU-US trade deal is a total capitulation”, Belgian MEP Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA) told Euronews’ Europe Today morning show in Strasbourg Wednesday, commenting on the political agreement European lawmakers reached the day before to approve the trade deal. “There is obviously a willingness from the von der Leyen majority to show signs of appeasement with Trump. I’m not sure this is the language he understands,” Bricmont said. Representatives of the European Parliament’s political groups have agreed on the conditions to attach to the deal, which…

Good morning, I’m Mared Gwyn writing in the early hours from Brussels. The real heavyweights steering EU policy – top industry chiefs – will join political leaders including the French President and German Chancellor at an annual industry summit in Antwerp later today, in what is set to be a taster session before EU leaders gather to talk competitiveness on Thursday. Corporate leaders called on the bloc to streamline and simplify its industrial policy in a statement at the same summit two years ago. Geopolitical upheaval, fiercer global competition and a lagging European economy are now adding an immense sense…

Europe’s top leaders will meet some of the most influential industrial chiefs at a gathering in Antwerp ahead of a crunch summit later this week focused on competitiveness. The meeting comes as the power dynamic between the industry and the political leadership shifts with a focus on reducing bureaucracy and cutting costs for European companies faced with higher energy costs, tariffs and increasing competition from China. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to particulate at the gathering held in the Belgian port city. They will be joined by the…

Published on 10/02/2026 – 18:10 GMT+1•Updated 11/02/2026 – 7:01 GMT+1 EU leaders will gather on Thursday to informally discuss priorities for Europe’s economic agenda, including how to strengthen the single market and make Europe more economically independent and competitive. Among proposals on the table include dismantling barriers for European Union-based businesses via a “simplification” agenda, attracting investment from outside the EU, using Eurobonds, and giving preference to EU firms in order to strengthen European industries. Although all leaders agree that the bloc need to be stronger and more resilient in the face of rising Chinese market dominance and the United…

Published on 11/02/2026 – 7:00 GMT+1 Political groups of the European Parliament reached an agreement on Tuesday on the EU-US trade deal, which was struck in July 2025 by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and still needs to be ratified. The agreement sets US tariffs at 15% on EU exports, while the EU committed to cutting its tariffs on US goods to zero, but its approval has proven controversial in recent weeks due to Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland. The Parliament froze the approval process in January after Trump said on…

MEPs from Hungary’s main opposition party, Tisza, voted against a resolution at the European Parliament on safeguards related to the EU’s Mercosur trade deal, breaking with the European People’s Party (EPP) for the third time in a month. On Tuesday, the Tisza delegation said it rejected the Mercosur safeguards to protect Hungarian farmers. “Tisza stands by Hungarian farmers even when it means going against the mainstream in Brussels,” a party statement said after the vote in Strasbourg. In January, Tisza supported a resolution to refer the Mercosur agreement to the European Court of Justice. Tisza MEPs also failed to appear…

Should the European Union pick up the phone and call Vladimir Putin? It depends on who you ask. The idea of re-engaging diplomatically with the Kremlin as part of the ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine has sharply divided the 27 member states, with some in favour, others against and most are on the sidelines, testing the temperature. Though the debate is not entirely new, it has taken on a new salience after both French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni endorsed the idea in back-to-back public statements last month. The two leaders, who have…