Author: Press Room
Hungary said it will block a €90 billion emergency loan for Ukraine as it accused the war-torn country of “blackmail” over a damaged pipeline used for the transit of Russian oil, escalating a confrontation ahead of a general election in April. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Kyiv, Brussels and opposition forces were working in coordination to disrupt energy flows for political reasons ahead of a key vote in which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is trailing in polls by double digits. “We are blocking the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the…
Published on 20/02/2026 – 17:34 GMT+1•Updated 17:52 The European Commission is seeking clarification from the White House after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in a landmark ruling that could have a knock-on effect on the European Union. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs on nearly all goods entering the US under a law used for national emergencies only, raising questions over the viability of the agreement struck by the EU and Washington last summer. “We remain in close contact with the U.S. Administration as we…
By Méabh Mc Mahon & Alice Carnevali Published on 20/02/2026 – 9:00 GMT+1•Updated 11:50 To answer these questions, Euronews’ weekly podcastBrussels, My Love?sat down with MLex managing editor for Europe, Kait Bolongaro, president of Eurochambres, Vladimír Dlouhý and President of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies and former EU Commissioner, Nicolas Schmit. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The panel reflected on the leaders retreat last week that took place in a Medieval castle. Former President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi and author of the report “The future of European competitiveness”, also known as the Draghi report, was invited as a special guest. How can…
Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, insisted on Euronews’ flagship Europe Today morning show on Friday that she will not step down from her position following what she described as “ludicrous” accusations from the French foreign minister. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Germany, France and the Czech Republic have been leading calls for Albanese to step down since last week over an alleged anti-semitic comment about Israel she denies making, blaming misinformation efforts. Albanese told Euronews the accusations against her are “ludicrous” and are meant to provide “a distraction” from reports she made in which she condemned dozens of…
The European Union’s new round of sanctions against Russia is still up in the air after ambassadors failed to reach a deal during a meeting on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The clock is ticking fast: the bloc has set 24 February, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as the deadline for approval. According to diplomats familiar with the process, the main point of contention is a full ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers, which, if enacted, would terminate the price cap that the Group of Seven (G7) established in late 2022. Brussels has concluded…
Germany has no plans to purchase additional F-35 fighter jets, a spokesperson for the German Defence Ministry confirmed to Euronews, dismissing earlier reports that Berlin might seek more US-made aircraft to offset delays in the German-French-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT While speculation had suggested that additional F-35 acquisitions could bridge a potential capability gap amid an apparent deadlock in the European trilateral programme, the ministry clarified to Euronews that there are no “concrete” or “political” plans to proceed with such a purchase. FCAS or F-35: Is Berlin forced to choose? Germany, France and Spain have been…
Published on 20/02/2026 – 12:34 GMT+1•Updated 12:35 European steel shipments to the US declined 30% between June and December 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to recent Eurostat data compiled by Eurofer, the Brussels-based industry group. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The decline underscores the impact of the US’s 50% tariffs on EU steel, even after the EU and US signed a trade agreement in July 2025 agreeing a blanket 15% US tariff on EU goods. Steel was carved out of that deal and talks to ease duties remain stuck. “A 30% drop in steel exports to the US…
Canada recently signed up to the EU’s Security Action for Europe agreement (SAFE) — a loan scheme aims to speed up procurement for defence equipment across the bloc — becoming the first non-European member state to do so. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT On X, allegations that the European Union asked Canada for a €10 million participation fee to participate in SAFE fully, while demanding €6 billion from the UK have gained traction. One post viewed more than 139,000 times, claimed that the EU is treating the UK unfairly and offering it a rough deal compared to Canada, sparking a debate over the…
The majority of Europeans appear to be unhappy with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in its current form, with many wishing to change migrant rules and large numbers unsure about what role it even plays today. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT EU citizens in five member states support modifying the convention’s rules to allow countries to deport immigrants who commit serious crimes, even if their family resides in the new country, according to a recent YouGov survey. German respondents support it the most at 75%, while Italians are the least likely to, even though their level of support still sits at…
Published on 19/02/2026 – 18:02 GMT+1 The death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque has reached the European Parliament, with the Patriots for Europe group calling for a minute of silence at next week’s plenary session, sources and MEPs from the group confirmed to Euronews. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A demonstration organised by far-right groups is also planned in Brussels on Thursday evening. Deranque, 23, died on Saturday in a hospital after being beaten during an altercation between far-left and right-wing activists in Lyon, following an event featuring far-left MEP Rima Hassan. Witnesses said Deranque was providing security at a protest against…