Author: Press Room
France has been mired in political turmoil since Macron dissolved the National Assembly in June 2024 – and on Friday, Paris was effectively sidelined at a turning point moment for the European Union, as it failed to stop the Mercosur agreement. After weeks of farmers’ protests and under the threat of a no-confidence vote at home, Macron chose to oppose a deal negotiated by the European Commission over 25 years with Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. If implemented, the agreement would create a 700 million-strong free-trade area, opening new markets for EU companies at a time when the…
As Bulgaria begins the new year by bidding farewell to the Lev, a new Eurobarometer study found that almost 80% of respondents across the euro area believe the euro is a good thing for the EU. Support for the currency is the highest in Finland (91%), Lithuania (85%), Slovenia (85%) and Slovakia (85%). On the other hand, only 38% in Croatia claim the euro is good for their country, a figure that has dropped six percentage points since 2024. Support has also decreased significantly in Estonia and Belgium, a fall of 6 and 5 percentage points, respectively. Most respondents in…
Published on 09/01/2026 – 15:00 GMT+1 •Updated 15:10 CertiDeal is one of the leading French companies in the reconditioned electronics sector. Founded in 2016 with the goal of making technology accessible to everyone, it has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable players in the industry. “A few years ago, buying a cheaper product was something people felt embarrassed about” explains founder and CEO Laure Cohen. “We’ve seen that mindset change with growing ecological, environmental, social as well as economic awareness.” CertiDeal is a social and solidarity economy enterprise. One of its standout initiatives is the CertiAcadémie, a…
The European Union has sharply condemned the crackdown on protesters in Iran who have taken to the streets to show their discontent over the Islamic Republic. “The Iranian people are fighting for their future. By ignoring their rightful demands, the regime shows its true colours,” High Representative Kaja Kallas said on Friday. “Images from Tehran reveal a disproportionate and heavy-handed response by the security forces. Any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.” Separately, the European Commission denounced “the increasing number of deaths and injuries” and demanded respect for the right of peaceful assembly. “The people of Iran are expressing their…
Published on 09/01/2026 – 12:10 GMT+1 A qualified majority of member states backed the Mercosur agreement on Friday, ending more than two decades of difficult negotiations between the European Commission and a group of Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – as well as years of internal EU division. France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland voted against, while Belgium abstained, according to diplomats familiar with the matter who spoke to Euronews. The decision is a blow to French efforts to rally a blocking minority. The backing came after member states adopted a safeguard allowing tighter monitoring of the…
By Méabh Mc Mahon & Alice Carnevali Published on 09/01/2026 – 9:30 GMT+1 Since the start of 2026, one topic has dominated headlines and minds in Brussels: the US attack in Venezuela and whether Greenland will be next. Although it was a quiet, snowy week with policy makers gradually coming back to their desks, the incidents have set the scene for what is set to be an intense year for EU leaders. The US’s capture of Nicolás Maduro and rising concerns about US President Donald Trump’s interest in annexing Greenland have made the world’s instability even clearer. So, where does the European Union…
Published on 09/01/2026 – 9:32 GMT+1 •Updated 9:50 US President Donald Trump teased a visit to Hungary at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as the country readies for a crucial election in April. According to a letter published by Orbán, Trump praised what he called the “golden era of American-Hungarian relations” and highlighted his interest in deepening cooperation in the areas of defense, energy, and our shared fight against illegal migration. “Your leadership serves as an example to others around the world. You have consistently stood for the principles that make Hungary strong — faith, family, and…
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews. Nine months ago, I was travelling to Nuuk. After a five-hour journey, the snowy island came into view — only for the plane to suddenly make a sharp U-turn due to fog. Another five hours later, we completed our round trip. It took me ten hours to get from Copenhagen to Copenhagen. Greenland remained an enigma: easy to talk about, difficult to reach. It felt like a scene from the 1970s. Yet this reality is far from…
As Donald Trump marches ahead with his no-holds-barred agenda to expand America’s sphere of influence, the European Union is scrambling to find its footing, bogged down by internal divisions and a fear of antagonising the US president. The US operation to remove Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s president and Trump’s renewed threats to seize Greenland from Denmark have forced the bloc to confront uncomfortable questions about its decades-long alliance with the world’s largest economy – and the dependencies that relationship has entrenched. At the same time, the EU, a self-proclaimed advocate of the multilateral system, is dealing with growing doubts about…
Published on 08/01/2026 – 20:28 GMT+1 •Updated 20:33 France is set to reject the Mercosur deal in a vote among EU member states, after months of efforts by Paris to build a blocking minority against the contentious accord. If, as signals suggest, Italy backs the agreement, it would represent a severe diplomatic defeat for Macron, whose strategy to derail the deal would collapse. “France has decided to vote against the signing of the agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries,” Macron posted on X. He said the “EU-Mercosur agreement is a deal from another era, negotiated for too…