The EU’s lawmaking assembly and one of its seven institutions.
Migration into Ceuta has escalated tensions, turning a migrant influx into a political flashpoint. Real Madrid players have worn solidarity shirts for Ceuta, with Mbappe, Vinicius and Konate partly rolling up the text before removing their shirts, prompting criticism from some groups and support from others. The dispute reflects broader Spain-EU debates on migration ahead of elections.
Thousands have been protesting nightly in Tirana and along Albania’s southern coast for more than a month against a multi‑billion‑euro resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Demonstrators have adopted flamingo symbols to oppose work inside the Vjosa‑Narta wetlands and on Sazan island and are demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation amid clashes with police.
Multiple Edinburgh schools face overcrowding as VAT on private school fees is cited as contributing to demand shifts. Parents report cramped spaces, with pupils eating in toilets and sharing facilities while councils contemplate urgent action and longer-term plans.
Marine Le Pen faces a key appeal ruling over a 2025 EU funds embezzlement conviction and a five-year ban on holding public office. The outcome could restore her bid, trim the ban, or keep her from running, reshaping the National Rally’s path to the presidency in 2027.
The EU has introduced a 3-euro duty on small packages and tightened steel import rules to curb a flood of low-value online orders and protect European producers. The move follows years of rising Chinese exports and a broader push to safeguard EU industry and consumers. The changes include tariff-free quotas, out-of-quota duties, and transparency requirements for origin tracing.
Armenia has received EU support to diversify its trade away from Russia as Moscow’s sanctions bite. The EU will grant tariff-free access to about 80% of Armenian exports and supply an additional 18 million euros to bolster trade, while Armenia seeks to expand ties with Brussels amid broader regional tensions.
Citizen Lab has found that Stelios Kouloglou's iPhone was infected with Pegasus at least three times in 2022–23 while he served on the European Parliament's PEGA committee investigating spyware. Researchers say they have high confidence in the forensic evidence but do not attribute responsibility; the findings have prompted calls in Brussels for stronger limits on spyware.
Marine Le Pen remains under a court ruling over alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. A fresh appeal could bar her from office, lifting Bardella into the lead. The National Rally’s future now hinges on the outcome, with the 2027 election in view.
A French court has reduced and suspended Marine Le Pen’s prison sentence and ban on public office, allowing her to run for president while she appeals. She will wear an electronic monitor for a year and plans to challenge the decision in the Court of Cassation. Other courts have convicted her twice of embezzlement tied to EU funds for party staff.
Marine Le Pen has secured permission to run in France’s 2027 elections after a Paris appeals court shortened her electoral ban while maintaining her conviction for embezzlement. She must wear an ankle monitor during campaigning, and her bid remains subject to possible higher court review.
EU discussions on curbing trade with Israeli settlements face deep division over ban, tariffs, or licensing. Several member states have already imposed or considered unilateral measures amid rising settlement activity and calls for accountability under international law. The debate follows new data on settlement expansion and international rulings.
Ann Widdecombe has been found dead at her Haytor, Devon, home after sustaining serious injuries. Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in Rotherham and counter-terrorism officers have taken over parts of the inquiry. Authorities say there is currently no information to indicate a political motive or that the attack is terrorism-related.
Gibraltar and Spain move past decades of tension as a post-Brexit treaty brings border checks to an end and integrates Gibraltar into Schengen. The border fence is removed and officials begin new clearance procedures at the Rock’s airport and port.
Ann Widdecombe, 78, has been found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon; prosecutors have charged 28‑year‑old Joshua Kerry with her murder after his arrest in Rotherham. Counter‑terrorism teams have taken the lead and police are continuing to investigate whether the attack had a political or terrorist motive.
The Balogun case has escalated into a broader dispute over political neutrality in FIFA’s governance, following Trump’s intervention that led to a suspended red card ban. Balogun has returned to action but the episode has sparked criticism from football bodies, human rights groups and lawmakers about integrity and influence in the sport.
Three years after the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, rights groups say the pact has intensified border controls and serious human rights violations, amid calls to suspend the agreement and reassess safeguards. Reports detail intercepted departures, abuses, and restricted asylum access, with EU funding tied to Tunisian authorities.
The European Commission has proposed extending free emissions permits and slowing the rate at which caps fall, extending some allowances to 2038 and allowing outside-EU carbon credits from 2036. The shift aims to cushion industry from energy shocks while keeping climate targets in view, triggering debate among member states and green groups.
EU foreign ministers are debating options to curb trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights amid growing pressure from member states. While some push for a full or partial ban, no decision has been made as Brussels weighs legal and political hurdles. Meanwhile, Israel expands settlements and a Gaza-related aid package is discussed.
FIFA has proposed selling up to 20% of a new commercial arm, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to raise about $4.2bn and offer one‑off $20m payments to each of its 211 member associations. UEFA and several confederations have threatened boycotts, lodged legal and ethics warnings, and flagged potential arbitration over links to investors including Joshua Kushners firm.
Former MP Ann Widdecombe has been killed in a targeted attack on her Dartmoor home. A 28-year-old man is in custody as counter-terrorism police look into possible left-wing extremist motivation. The National Protective Security Authority has published guidance on safe rooms for high-risk figures, published online before Widdecombe’s death.
France has moved to allow temporary exemptions for acetamiprid and flupyradifurone to help struggling farmers, triggering resignations and heated debate. Barbut has warned this marks an environmental setback as the government faces pushback from ministers, courts, and scientists.
Le Pen has been sentenced on appeal to a suspended term and an electronic ankle tag, with a subsequent 2027 presidential bid now in question. The Court of Appeal also bars public office for 45 months, altering eligibility for France's 2027 vote. An accompanying one-year term will be served via monitoring, not prison. RN debates futures between Le Pen and Bardella.
Andrea Pirlo has announced he is no longer a candidate for Italy’s national team head coach, following political concerns over his sponsorship deal with Russian bookmaker Fonbet. Maldini’s backing for Pirlo is under scrutiny as Italy’s football federation reshuffles its leadership after missing a third World Cup.
Public mourners gathered at Buckfast Abbey for Ann Widdecombe’s private requiem, following her death on 8 July at 78 after a fatal assault. The service featured tributes from family, political figures and clergy. A public memorial is planned later this year, with donations split between Leprosy Mission and Abound India.
Ceuta remains at the center of a political firestorm as thousands of migrants surged into the enclave from Morocco, prompting Spain to escalate border controls and Italy to suspend Schengen travel with Spain. Officials report dozens dead, and the EU faces renewed scrutiny over border security and humanitarian obligations.
Spain has imposed reciprocal border checks on travellers from Italy after Rome has kept controls that it introduced following a deadly mass crossing into Ceuta on 30–31 July. Italy has said it will not lift checks until it is satisfied there is no new migration wave or security risk. The dispute has fractured EU unity and left thousands still in Ceuta.
Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election with a reduced majority, while Count Binface punctuates the race as a satirical counterpoint. With no major parties running, the race becomes a barometer for Brexit-era politics and Reform UK’s standing. Turnout sits around 44%, and the contest features a crowded field of 34 candidates.
Tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July. Spanish and local officials have said roughly 70,000 returned but Ceuta’s leader estimates 3,000–11,000 remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. The influx has provoked EU diplomatic rows and temporary border checks.
France is entering a pivotal presidential contest in 2027. Marine Le Pen leads early polls, while the left remains fragmented. Centre and reformist contenders contemplate primaries, amid debates on Europe, the economy, and national security.
Germany’s chancellor has convened northern European leaders to press for a leaner EU budget in response to the European Commission’s near-€2 trillion proposal for 2028-2034. The bloc’s leaders are negotiating how to trim the budget while protecting cohesion funds and agricultural subsidies. The dialogue unfolds as Berlin’s political fortunes hinge on upcoming elections.
A set of recent reports shows farmers adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather through drought-tolerant crops, smarter irrigation, and climate-smart farming. From Wales and Scotland to Africa and East Africa, communities are expanding local cultivation, improving soil health, and building resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
Germany says a drone with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport has been linked to Russian hybrid operations. Investigations identify suspects and prompt closures of Russian facilities in Bonn and Berlin, with EU allies pledging solidarity while preparing further sanctions.
A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity and criminal association in the 2017 car‑bomb killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict has provoked outrage from the victim's family, press freedom groups and politicians, and it has prompted a Council of Europe inquiry into judicial failures and calls for EU action on Malta's rule of law.
European five nations have agreed to concrete steps toward creating return hubs outside the EU to deport rejected migrants. The Group of Five has not named host countries and plans to reconvene in Munich at the end of September. Critics warn about human rights risks and call for stricter border controls and faster asylum procedures.
Climate patterns have intensified this year, driving heatwaves, droughts and floods across multiple regions. Governments are mobilising finance, strengthening resilience, and adjusting policies as temperatures and rainfall shift. Aid budgets face pressure while activists warn of rising humanitarian needs.
Serbia has held a large funeral for Ratko Mladić, the convicted Bosnian war criminal, with soldiers, several government ministers and church leaders taking part. The event has prompted condemnations from the EU, led to Bosnia downgrading diplomatic ties, and caused EU officials to pause visits and reassess Serbia’s accession prospects.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced renewed scrutiny as FairSquare’s complaints persist, with European bodies pressing for transparency and a fresh external review of the FFE plan. UEFA and others are seeking documents, while Infantino remains intent on a fourth term, with candidacies due next month.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that Canada become the EU’s first "associate member," and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the idea. The proposal has no defined legal model and member states say details will take time; the move comes as Ottawa pivots away from heavy U.S. trade reliance amid an escalating tariff dispute with President Donald Trump.
The EU Commission has proposed a framework to let cities curb short-term rentals in areas facing housing stress, with rules that require evidence-based, non-retroactive measures. The plan aims to stabilize urban housing by guiding local enforcement while protecting the housing supply and noting industry pushback.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won roughly 44% of the vote in Saxony‑Anhalt, taking 39 of 83 seats and falling three short of an outright majority. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned the result, calling the party's "remigration" plans ethnic cleansing, while international figures including Donald Trump and Elon Musk have praised the AfD's performance.
Canada is actively courting private capital to diversify away from the U.S. amid a deepening trade dispute. At the Canada Investment Summit, leaders pitch Canada as a stable, rules‑based partner with vast resources, while Washington expands tariffs and countermeasures that threaten interwoven supply chains.
Taiwan is considering sending a coast guard vessel to participate in a joint exercise near the Philippines, with funding included in the 2027 budget. The plan follows a recent push by Taiwan to engage with democratic partners amid regional tensions; details on the number of vessels remain unclear.
Emma Bonino, a relentless advocate for abortion rights and humanitarian causes, has died at 78. Her decades-long work spanned Italy and the European Union, from legalizing abortion to shaping EU humanitarian policy. Tributes emphasize her fearless defense of freedom and civil rights.
Turkish police have carried out coordinated raids in at least 12–15 provinces, targeting LGBTQ organisations, bars and activists in cities including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has said prosecutors have opened cases against 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses under a "My Family is Safe" operation tied to President Erdogan's "Decade of the Family." Rights groups say about 50 people have been detained and several websites and social accounts have been blocked.
Canada is pitching itself as a stable, rules-based home for global capital as Prime Minister Carney hosts a two-day Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Investors managing over $120 trillion are in attendance, seeking opportunities in energy, minerals, AI, infrastructure and broader economic resilience amid US tariff tensions.
The EU is advancing a plan to shield children from social media harms, with von der Leyen set to unveil the “EU Kids Act.” The package aims to make platforms safer for youngsters and considers age limits, while delegations discuss the broader digital and defense agendas ahead of the Strasbourg speech.
The EU will propose a new law to shield children from social media harms, while Ursula von der Leyen is due to outline a possible age limit for minors. Canada’s Carney will address the European Parliament as Brussels pushes for safer platforms and closer Canada–EU ties.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member,” promising closer ties on critical minerals, AI, defence and Arctic cooperation. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney attended the State of the Union address and will address the European Parliament on Thursday; details and legal form remain undefined.
Dati has gone on trial in Paris, accused of taking 900,000 euros from a Renault-Nissan subsidiary while she was an MEP. She denies the allegations, while Carlos Ghosn faces the case in absentia. The proceedings focus on whether the contract was for legitimate legal services or disguised lobbying.
Canada and Britain are pursuing closer European ties as Prime Minister Burnham hosts Canadian PM Carney for talks and a Carabao Cup match in Liverpool. The meeting centers on Europe, defence financing, and NATO cooperation, with a side note on the teams’ Everton fandom.