Author: Press Room
Published on 09/03/2026 – 10:26 GMT+1 As the old Hollywood rule goes, attributed to Alfred Hitchcock, a good thriller starts with an explosion, followed by rising tension. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In the ongoing crisis between Hungary and Ukraine, the blast was a literal pipeline. Since late January, the Druzhba pipeline has been down. Kyiv blames Russia for the explosion, halting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Budapest, on the other hand, accuses Kyiv of exploiting the disruption and is blocking a critical €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. But escalation did not stop at financial vetoes. Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán vowed…
By Alessio Dell’Anna & video by Maud Zaba Published on 09/03/2026 – 10:32 GMT+1•Updated 10:33 If you ever wondered whether young Europeans tend to vote for political parties on the left more than the right, the answer might be neither way. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Across the EU’s five largest member states, the majority of people aged 16 to 39 gravitate towards the political centre, particularly in Italy and Germany. That’s according to the Allianz Foundation’s 2026 Next Generation Study. Spain stands out as the most left-leaning country among young people, with 28% identifying either with the left or the far-left. At the other end…
Good morning from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Europeans are today pushing for diplomacy and de-escalation amid signs that the conflict in the Middle East is spiralling further, with targets on both sides of the conflict widening to include civilian infrastructure – including key energy sites. Bahrain’s state oil company Bapco has just declared force majeure after a suspected Iranian drone hit its refinery, while oil depots in the Tehran area were also hit over the weekend, engulfing the Iranian capital in black smoke. Crude prices have now soared to over $100 (€87) per barrel for the first time…
Ahead of the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday, the Greek economy and finance minister told Euronews that the EU is “being tested” as the situation in the Middle East remains deeply problematic and highly uncertain, leaving energy markets in turmoil. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “Energy is going to be a core element of our discussion,” said the Eurogroup president, adding that “the impact on energy prices is significant already and we want to see how we are going to meet that challenge on the ground.” Oil prices eclipsed $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Monday as the…
Published on 09/03/2026 – 8:00 GMT+1 The escalating crisis in the Middle East directly threatens Europe’s stability and security. The EU has already activated several emergency mechanisms, but the US-Iran war requires increased EU preparedness, particularly given the lack of a unified European military force. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Similar to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East are challenging Europe’s crisis response strategy. The recent evacuation and repatriation efforts have raised concerns about the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Rising oil prices increased Europe’s external dependencies, while potential hybrid attacks and economic shocks may soon test…
Published on 08/03/2026 – 19:03 GMT+1 Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has called on Russia to refrain from interfering in the country’s parliamentary elections, amid allegations that the Kremlin has deployed a covert task force to influence the outcome in favour of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Hungary goes to the polls on 12 April in a vote widely seen as the most significant challenge to Orbán’s rule since he first came to power in 2010. Magyar, the leader of the Tisza Party, is currently leading in opinion polls. Last week, the VSquare investigative portal reported that Russia had…
Crowds gathered in the streets across Europe on Sunday to mark international women’s day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Women protested against violence, for better access to gender-specific health care, equal pay and other issues in which they don’t get the same treatment as men. Roughly 20,000 people attended a march for International Women’s Day in Berlin. German news agency dpa reported Sunday that the crowd was double the amount police had expected. Speakers at the event decried violence against women in Germany, as well as gender discrimination. In Barcelona, an attendance of over 22,000…
Strength, equality and responsibility. These were the three concepts that resonated between European leaders on the 8 March, also known as International Women’s Day. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT As world conflicts try to steal the headlines, heads of state took to social media to celebrate this day, and remind us of the importance it holds. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, tribute to girls and women everywhere who continue to fight oppression, calling on them to find the power within themselves and never back down. Another call to action was made by Ukrainian president Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, who called…
Published on 07/03/2026 – 21:58 GMT+1 Lion-emblazoned flags of pre-revolution Iran fluttered in cities across Europe as protesters gathered on Saturday to express support for the Iranian people amid the ongoing war with the US and Israel. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Many of the demonstrators, including in Berlin, Stockholm and Paris, voiced support for the exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, who presents himself as an alternative after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli-American strike. In London, people demonstrated against the war while some others marched in support of Khamenei. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people…
Published on 07/03/2026 – 8:00 GMT+1 France will push back against a European Commission plan to fast-track ratification of trade agreements by circulating only English-language versions during talks with EU governments and lawmakers, skipping translation into the bloc’s 24 official languages, according to several sources. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The slow ratification of the contentious EU–Mercosur trade deal has frustrated the Commission, which wants to accelerate negotiations and bring deals into force more quickly as it seeks new markets amid rising geopolitical tensions. Translating the agreements into every official EU language can take months due to the legal scrubbing required before the…