Monday, 17 August 2026Europe · Analysis
Independent · Brussels & Berlin
Politics · page 2 of 14
The Pact on Migration and Asylum took effect in June alongside a tougher returns law, yet no mechanism exists to measure when migration flows exceed a member state's ability to integrate newcomers.
Hamish Falconer, appointed last month as the prime minister's chief EU negotiator, says Britain wants a more ambitious partnership but rules out single market or customs union membership.
Italy's prime minister suspends Schengen with Spain and adopts tougher tone on borders to protect her right flank ahead of a possible spring election.
Parliament will vote next Tuesday on the nomination of a jurist removed by Orbán's government in 2011, a move the European Court of Human Rights later ruled unlawful.
Voters decide on August 29 whether to reopen negotiations suspended in 2013, with security fears, fishing rights and mortgage rates driving a dead-heat campaign.
Conservative politicians discuss replacing Friedrich Merz after one year as AfD leads national polls and threatens to win state power for the first time in September.
Magnus Brunner says regularising 500,000 undocumented migrants sends the wrong signal, as ministers meet to contain fallout from 72,000 arrivals in the Spanish enclave.
Centre-left MEP and likely 2027 presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann says the Secretariat-General for National Defence and Security attributed a coordinated operation to Russian military intelligence, weeks before he is expected to declare his candidacy.
Around 50,000 Moroccan migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave in late July, leaving 88 dead and handing far-right parties across Europe a potent campaign issue ahead of a cluster of national votes in 2027.
The European Commission says it followed procedure in selecting Tanja Fajon as EU Special Representative for the Sahel, but the nomination was withdrawn after Slovenia's new government objected and filed criminal charges against the former foreign minister.
With parliament in deadlock and the president under pressure, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians leads polls at 36 percent while Brussels watches a NATO ally on Ukraine's border.
More than 100,000 people evacuated across four regions as temperatures near 40°C. The PP governs 11 of 17 regions and faces scrutiny over firefighting cuts and climate rhetoric shaped by Vox alliances.
Warsaw has formally requested Washington arrest and hand over Zbigniew Ziobro, who faces 19 charges including leading a criminal group within the justice ministry and deploying Pegasus spyware against opponents.
A France 24 investigation examines pressure on courts, media and abortion access, while the government balances migration crackdowns with half a million new work visas for labour-hungry employers.
Karol Nawrocki has submitted a second proposal for a nationwide vote on 27 September, but the Senate controlled by Donald Tusk's coalition is unlikely to approve it.
Financier backed by President Sandu wins 53-21 vote, inherits mandate to advance membership talks and restructure economy after predecessor's abrupt resignation
German chancellor says foreign financing of political parties is illegal as State Department launches programme framed around 'civilizational heritage' and 'lawfare'
German chancellor rejects nearly $5 million State Department programme targeting 'Western civilisational heritage' weeks before key regional vote where AfD leads polls.
Coordinated measures target nine individuals and four entities linked to the FSB's 16th Center, while Britain hits 24 people and entities connected to GRU Unit 29155 and its front company Impuls.
President Maia Sandu has named Horizon Capital partner Vasile Tofan to lead the government after Alexandru Munteanu's resignation, giving him 15 days to win parliamentary approval for a programme focused on economic revival and EU accession by 2028.
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