Three days after the European elections and Emmanuel Macron's dissolution of the National Assembly, the French political landscape is a field of ruins.
Young voters in Western Europe turned out surprisingly in favour of a 'United States of Europe' in the European elections, paving the way for passing the torch in the EU's dusty federalist circles.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shed light on the importance of strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and technologies. It has also underscored the principle of collective defense and the value of strong partnerships with like-minded allies.
The announcement by President Emmanuel Macron that he is dissolving the National Assembly and calling snap elections caught me (and the rest of the world, probably) by surprise just two minutes before I went live on TV on Sunday night.
Too often we speak about the surge of 'the far-right' in Europe but we forget this is neither new nor too surprising. The reality is, the far-right is joining the mainstream as we speak.
The rise of populist parties, increasingly trying to push back the LGBTIQ community's rights, makes the adopted EU strategy for equality and further work even more important, writes Helge Ytterøy L’orange of the Centre-Right LGBT+ Alliance.
Half of the world votes this year and growing polarisation, alienation, nationalist self-interest, and growing popularity of undemocratic leaders cast a worrying shadow. Democracy and the world find themselves in gridlock, writes Pedro Conceição.
Today’s 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings is an opportunity to remember a great military victory against the Nazis but also - on the day European elections start - an important reminder to voters of the values that were fought for, which become the basis of the EU.
Enlargement to the East, and to the Western Balkans, is a geostrategic imperative and will require reforms on both sides, writes Paulo Rangel.
Thirty years after the creation of the Single Market, Europe’s strongest antidote to discontent and rising nationalism remains Cohesion Policy. To secure the Union, this principle - essential in the progressive agenda - must be central in the next mandate.
The only way to make a difference for our common European future is by voting in these upcoming EU elections. Only by making our voices heard can we truly aspire for a better Union.
More widespread bicycle use requires more investment in safety and more efficient infrastructure, including separate cycle lanes, strict speed limits and better enforcement of traffic rules.
The EU needs a new strategic agenda after June's election while the world is burning, the bloc’s future is at stake, and Hungary's Viktor Orbán is playing hardball – Weimar Triangle to the rescue?
With horrifying images coming out of Gaza, Europeans have started looking for the right tools to exert pressure on Israel, but they might not be able to bridge their fundamental internal differences.
Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has for months been politically courted by the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and recently by far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
The Franco-German engine needs an overhaul to adapt to the realities of today’s Europe. These two very different sources of power can still move Europe forward – but they need to be better coordinated, write Mathieu Droin and Gesine Weber.
After the second EU election debate, everyone talked about von der Leyen leaving the door wide open to Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Fratelli d’Italia. But does the Commission president also tolerate the party’s questionable stance on LGBTIQ+? Her answer was decidedly ... evasive.
Two scenarios - the rise of the hard right and the return to core EU values - depict contrasting futures for the EU in a year when half the world’s electorate goes to the polls, writes Michael Leigh.
Five years after the last election, Europe faces crises and extremism. Liberals are still the antidote against divisive populism damaging our EU, but only if you use your voice on 6-9 June: reject the negativity to embrace hope and unity.
It's a face-off that could shake up the French political landscape. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will take on the up-and-coming president of the Rassemblement National (RN), Jordan Bardella, in a televised debate on the national TV channel France 2 on Thursday (23 May).
With the European elections around the corner, Europe is confronted with challenges that demand a united front and bold action. But Ursula von der Leyen's promises for swift and decisive action have fallen flat: After five long years, all we have got are sluggish responses that left us wanting more, writes Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
As the competition to secure the economic and strategic benefits of space intensifies, Europe cannot afford to be sidelined. With the reshuffle of the European Union’s top jobs later this year, appointing a Space Commissioner would be a powerful signal, writes Arthur de Liedekerke.
Less migration, more manure: For EU purposes, that could have been the motto chosen by the four Dutch right-wing parties that agreed this week on a programme for a new government in the Netherlands. Instead, they went for ‘hope, courage and pride’, preferring to address the Dutch voters.
Political murders often happen in authoritarian countries, and even more often in dictatorships, but when an elected politician gets shot in a democratic country, it opens wounds in the nation’s society that are very hard to heal.
