Author: Press Room

The EU is investing €115 million, under AGILE, into AI, drones, robotics, quantum, and cybersecurity. The science in Europe is world-class. The problem is deployment, Europe cannot weaponise its breakthroughs at speed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT This is the blunt conclusion of new BCG research with General Lavigne, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. The debate is no longer about innovation, it’s about deployment. “The Europeans have by far the most advanced publication and fundamental research, but the US, for the same technologies are much more advanced when it comes to patents and then obviously also to deployment,” says Nikolaus Lang, senior…

Published on 09/04/2026 – 8:30 GMT+2 Former US ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, said repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from NATO, as well as confrontations with America’s European allies over their refusal to join the war, have created the ‘worst crisis’ NATO has ever faced. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “The last six weeks have been extraordinarily damaging to NATO,” Daalder told Euronews’ Shona Murray. “We see a divided NATO, which has been the goal of first the Soviet Union and then Russia for the better part of 80 years,” he said. Daalder said Trump’s statements suggesting the U.S.…

Published on 09/04/2026 – 7:54 GMT+2•Updated 8:06 On today’s show: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Top story: Euronews’ Stefan Grobe with the latest on the US-Iran provisional, fragile ceasefire. Euronews correspondent Ekbal Zein live from Lebanon as Israeli strikes continue. Interview with Ivo Daalder, former US Ambassador to NATO, and Maria Demertzis, professor of economic policy, European University Institute Zoltán Siposhegyi live from Budapest on Hungary’s election campaign as the vote approaches. Explainer by Jakub Janas: Where do Orbán and Magyar stand on Europe ahead of Hungary’s vote? When and where to watch Europe Today? You can join Euronews’ chief anchor Méabh Mc…

European gas prices plunged sharply by around 20%, and Brent crude oil dropped significantly after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran, raising hopes of lower energy bills for consumers. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The US‑Iran deal included Tehran’s agreement to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical energy corridor that handles roughly 20% of global oil and LNG — and with Iran’s commitment to do so, global markets are hopeful that trade flows will resume, easing pressure on prices. However, while some experts anticipate a sharp drop in energy prices, others warn that…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 20:30 GMT+2 After years of working closely on EU migration files and spending hours in tense committee meetings, this week MEPs Juan Fernando López Aguilar and Lena Düpont meet on The Ring. Vehemently opposed on how to handle EU asylum procedures, they took completely different stances on the recent EU reform that would allow EU member states to establish so-called “migration return hubs” in third countries. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The measure, voted on 26 March, would see rejected asylum seekers be transferred to external facilities outside EU borders while awaiting return to their country of origin. Supporters…

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in 2023 to brief him on a debate among EU leaders over whether to open accession talks with Ukraine at a key summit in Brussels, according to one of the transcripts of leaked recordings published by several Hungarian investigative news outlets. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The transcript, stemming from a call recorded at an EU summit on 14 December 2023, reveals that Szijjártó stepped out of the meeting to call Lavrov and brief him on the state of negotiations. It also includes Lavrov reportedly saying: “Sometimes good-willed direct blackmailing is the…

Disinformation researchers are warning that Hungary’s ruling party, Fidesz, and its proxies are bypassing a ban on political advertisements across Meta platforms, ahead of the country’s national elections scheduled for 12 April. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT According to research by the Hungarian Digital Media Observatory, “there is a real risk that the Hungarian election campaign and other upcoming campaigns will be influenced by a significant number of illicit political ads — including deepfakes — with a huge reach.” Tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, banned all political, electoral and social advertisements on its EU platforms in October 2025, citing “unworkable…

Published on 08/04/2026 – 17:00 GMT+2 A video has gained significant traction online, purportedly showing the streets of Paris in turmoil following a recent riot. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Posts on X say that the clip shows scenes from the French capital in recent days, and question why there appears to be no reporting on it in the media. Another post, meanwhile, compares the scenes to missile strikes in the Middle East, as the Iran war continues, before pushing the blame onto French President Emmanuel Macron. These posts have been seen hundreds of thousands of times — some with even more than…

European leaders have hailed the initial ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, though key issues affecting their own interests — such as access through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz— remain vague and uncertain. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal brokered by Pakistan would bring “much-needed de-escalation” to the Middle East, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a solution leading to a “lasting end to the war”. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has emerged as one of Europe’s staunchest critics of the US-Israeli strikes, said the ceasefire was “good news”…

The European Commission’s new initiative, called AGILE, Accelerating Groundbreaking Innovation for Defence in Europe, targets small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and scale-ups working on AI, drones, robotics, quantum technology and cybersecurity. Unlike existing funds, it does not require companies to form consortia to apply. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The Commission describes the gap between a working prototype and a deployed capability as the “innovation valley of death.” AGILE is designed to close it, offering up to 100% cost coverage and a retroactive clause allowing firms to claim costs incurred up to three months before a call closes. Between 20 and 30 projects…