Author: Press Room
Published on 23/02/2026 – 10:48 GMT+1 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union has become effectively paralysed by two back-to-back Hungarian vetoes. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A €90 billion emergency loan for Kyiv and a new package of sanctions against Moscow are being held up by Budapest over an energy dispute involving the transit of Russian oil through the Soviet-era Druzbha pipeline. “We should not tie together things that are not connected to each other at all,” High Representative Kaja Kallas said on Monday morning before heading to a meeting of foreign affairs ministers…
Published on 23/02/2026 – 9:17 GMT+1 Postponing sanctions against Russia is a “failure” for Europe, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told Euronews’ morning show Europe Today on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “Every delay that we have in the adoption of a sanctions package is a failure for Europe,” the minister said, calling for more support for Ukraine. “We need to increase the pressure on Russia, hence the sanctions, and I expect them to behave like Europeans today, but I’m not sure,” she added. Her comments come just 24 hours after Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Budapest would block any…
Published on 23/02/2026 – 7:43 GMT+1•Updated 9:07 On today’s show: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Our Shona Murray and Sasha Vakulina fill us in on the Foreign Affairs Council taking place in Brussels, amid Hungary’s blockade of the EU’s €90 billion loan for Ukraine. An interview with Maria Malmer Stenergard and Kęstutis Budrys, the foreign ministers of Sweden and Lithuania, respectively. Our Jakub Janas takes a look at the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Donald Trump’s tariffs, while our Maria Tadeo reports on the EU’s reaction and potential response to extra tariffs proposed by the US President. When and where to…
Published on 23/02/2026 – 8:00 GMT+1 The EU is the second largest global economy, but old and new regulatory and non-regulatory barriers still obstacle its growth potential and resilience. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The European Economic and Social Committee estimates that the single market’s fragmentation holds back €500 billions of additional GDP per year, leads to higher costs for businesses, reduces competition, and decreases consumer welfare. Non-tariff barriers between member states compare to tariffs of around 44% for goods and 110% for services, so the International Monetary Fund. These frictions hamper the bloc’s competitiveness, widening the economic gap with the US and…
By Lucy Davalou &  with AP Published on 22/02/2026 – 14:36 GMT+1 Russia targeted Ukraine with another heavy night of bombing as it launched 50 missiles and nearly 300 drones across different Ukrainian regions, days ahead of the four-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The country’s energy infrastructure remains one of the main targets, as well as logistical infrastructure such as railway facilities and water infrastructure in cities, according to a social media post by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Fifteen people, including four children, have been injured, and one man has been killed in a Russian strike on the Kyiv…
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…