European Union

Marine Le Pen announced her 2027 French presidential bid, ending hopes in Brussels that Jordan Bardella would succeed her as National Rally leader. EU officials fear a Le Pen or Bardella presidency could disrupt negotiations on the bloc's budget and defense cooperation, with Bardella seen as more pragmatic but both figures posing challenges to EU consensus.

Two bombs exploded near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying, injuring 18 people. The attack occurred as Macron met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with Macron's office stating he was unaware of the blasts.

Ukraine's president arrives at the NATO summit in Ankara with a stronger position, having intensified strikes on Russian logistics and oil infrastructure, secured EU funding, and regained battlefield confidence. Russia faces fuel shortages and declining public approval for Putin.

Microsoft is enabling Windows Backup for Organizations by default in Windows 11 26H2 for non-EU regions, requiring businesses with privacy or sovereignty concerns to opt out. The feature backs up device settings and Microsoft Store app lists for restoration on new devices, but excludes EU regions and devices with explicit backup policies disabled. Administrators are cautioned about the opt-out approach, as the feature aligns with Microsoft's goals to streamline PC transitions and cloud-first device management.

NATO announced billions in arms deals, including new surveillance aircraft and drones, as President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara for a summit. Trump praised Turkey's loyalty, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized converting economic resources into military capabilities.

The European Commission is preparing to counter China's subsidized exports like electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries, signaling a potential trade war. The article compares current EU-China trade tensions to past conflicts with Japan in the 1970s and 1980s.

Marine Le Pen, a French far-right figurehead, was barred from public office for 15 months and sentenced to a year under electronic monitoring after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds. She has stated she will not run for office with an electronic tag, making her protégé Jordan Bardella the likely far-right presidential candidate.

NATO announced billions in arms deals during a summit in Ankara as President Donald Trump arrived. The deals include new surveillance aircraft from Saab and military equipment from Airbus, aimed at addressing concerns about European defense spending and enhancing alliance capabilities.

NATO announced billions in arms deals, including new surveillance aircraft and drones, during a summit in Ankara as President Donald Trump arrived. The alliance highlighted projects like Saab's GlobalEye planes and Airbus refueling aircraft, funded partly by EU defense loans, to strengthen transatlantic military cooperation.

Marine Le Pen's eligibility to run for the 2027 French presidency is being decided by a Paris appeals court. A ruling could bar her from holding office due to a prior conviction for misusing European Parliament funds, potentially replacing her with Jordan Bardella as the National Rally's candidate.

Poland's state-run defense company PGZ will assemble and manufacture Anduril Industries' Barracuda-500M cruise missile at its Bydgoszcz facility. The partnership aims to bolster Poland's deterrence against Russia and enable sales to EU countries under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.

NATO showcased military projects worth billions to demonstrate increased defense capabilities to President Trump, including new surveillance aircraft and drones. A 10-nation consortium will acquire Saab's GlobalEye planes to replace aging AWACS, funded partly by EU defense loans. Multinational deals for Airbus refueling planes and Triton drones were also announced.

Zelensky arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit to hold bilateral meetings and attend the Defense Industries Forum. His priorities include securing air defense systems, interceptor missiles, production licenses, and drone agreements to strengthen security cooperation between Ukraine, the EU, and the US.

NATO announced billions in military projects, including new surveillance aircraft and drones, to demonstrate increased defense spending to President Trump. Trump has criticized NATO as a 'paper tiger,' while the alliance emphasized converting economic resources into military capabilities through multinational deals with companies like Saab and Airbus.

NATO unveiled billions in defense projects, including new surveillance aircraft and drones, to demonstrate military capabilities to President Trump, who has criticized the alliance as a 'paper tiger.' The deals involve multinational collaborations and EU-backed loans, with Sweden's Saab supplying surveillance planes and Airbus providing refueling and transport aircraft.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's eligibility for the 2027 presidential election is under review by a Paris appeals court following a 2025 conviction for misusing European Parliament funds. A potential five-year ban on holding elected office could end her political career and shift leadership to Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party.

NATO is set to announce new military projects worth billions to demonstrate increased defense spending to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized the alliance as a 'paper tiger.' The 'big reveal' includes contracts for surveillance aircraft upgrades and EU-backed defense loans, though Trump remains critical of NATO allies' lack of support for his Iran war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed F-35 jet sales to Turkey amid tensions.

Marine Le Pen's eligibility to run for the 2027 French presidency is being decided by a Paris appeals court. She is appealing a conviction for misusing European Parliament funds, which could bar her from elected office. A ruling upholding the ban might shift the National Rally's leadership to Jordan Bardella.

A Paris appeals court is ruling on Marine Le Pen's eligibility to run for the 2027 French presidency after she was convicted of misusing European Parliament funds. The verdict could bar her from elected office for up to five years, potentially replacing her with Jordan Bardella as National Rally leader.

NATO is set to announce new military projects worth billions to demonstrate increased defense spending to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized the alliance as a 'paper tiger.' The summit in Turkey will include contracts for modernizing surveillance planes and using EU defense loans, while Trump's potential approval of F-35 jet sales to Turkey faces opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

NATO plans to announce billions in new defense contracts at a summit in Turkey to demonstrate increased military spending to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized the alliance as a 'paper tiger.' Projects include replacing aging surveillance planes and using European Union loans for defense, while Trump remains critical of NATO allies' lack of 'loyalty.'

The European Union will delay implementing a pre-authorised travel system due to border chaos. US-style pre-checks are unlikely to be introduced this year.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Syria, marking the first trip by an EU head of state since Bashar al-Assad was toppled in 2024. The visit highlights Syria's geopolitical shift under Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who has built ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers to aid the country's recovery from 13 years of war.

Russian missile and drone strikes in Kyiv region killed at least 18 people on the eve of a NATO summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged NATO and European allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, citing insufficient interceptor missiles to counter ballistic attacks. Russia claimed the strikes targeted military and energy infrastructure.

The European Union is shifting from viewing economic interdependence with China as a source of mutual prosperity to using trade, investment, and technology as tools of strategic competition. The article cautions against weaponizing the EU's market in this geopolitical rivalry.

The European Union is shifting from viewing economic interdependence with China as a source of mutual prosperity to using trade, investment, and technology as tools of strategic competition. The article warns that this shift reflects a new logic in an era of geopolitical rivalry, moving away from past principles of open markets and multilateralism.

The article argues that the U.S. debate over extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is misplaced, as competitors like the EU and China are advancing deeper commercial ties with Africa. It highlights the need for the U.S. to shift from AGOA's one-way trade preferences to a broader strategy focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reciprocal agreements, and long-term investment in infrastructure and critical minerals.

Moldova is accelerating its EU membership process amid economic challenges and Russia's hybrid war. The EU has opened the first chapter of accession negotiations and announced a €1.9 billion investment plan conditional on domestic reforms to attract businesses and drive change.

Somalia's Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali met with European Union Ambassador Francesca Di Mauro for a farewell meeting in Mogadishu as she concludes her posting in Somalia. The meeting took place on July 5.

The UK's mobile internet coverage is worse than any EU or G7 country, according to analysis by consumer group Which? using data from Opensignal. The UK ranks 57th in network performance and 70th for download speeds, with European coverage outperforming domestic service.

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Syria soon, becoming the first Western leader to do so since former President Bashar Assad's 2024 ouster. The visit follows Macron's May 2025 meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Paris, during which he pledged to advocate for lifting sanctions on Syria, most of which have already been removed. Macron will attend a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and be accompanied by French investors.

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Syria, becoming the first Western leader to do so since former President Bashar Assad's ouster in 2024. Macron previously hosted Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Paris in May 2025 and pledged to advocate for lifting sanctions on Syria. The visit coincides with Macron's attendance at a NATO summit in Ankara.

The European Union is facing demands to cancel its new border system due to concerns over long airport queues during the summer. Airport authorities warn that the system could cause 'disastrous' delays for travelers.

France's attempt to exclude the UK from EU defense spending backfired, causing Paris to lose access to cheap loans due to its own strict eligibility criteria. The strict criteria championed by France led to unintended consequences for its defense funding.

Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are opposing an EU proposal to relabel flavored ciders as 'cider-based beverages.' The Nordic countries resist the plan, which seeks to distinguish flavored versions from traditional cider.

Mathieu Flamini, former Arsenal and French international soccer player and CEO of GF Biochemicals, argues that the EU should not weaken environmental policies like the Emissions Trading System to boost competitiveness. He advocates for transitioning from fossil fuels to bio-based chemicals to address pollution and strategic autonomy issues.

Pope Leo visited Lampedusa, Italy, a key migrant arrival point, to address rising anti-migrant policies in the US and EU. The visit occurs amid tensions with President Trump over migrant treatment and follows the EU's recent approval of new migrant policies.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated at a Berlin summit that Russia is in its weakest position in recent years due to allied strategies and urged European nations to increase military aid to Ukraine, expedite Kyiv’s EU accession, and impose a total embargo on Russian oil.

The EU will begin foreign policy accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, with formal approval expected on July 14. Diplomats consider this chapter an accessible step, while future discussions on internal market and agricultural policy are seen as more complex.

Brexit rule changes will end 'home fee' status for British teens in the EU by 2028, making them ineligible for student loans and requiring them to pay higher international fees for UK university degrees. The first affected group is starting their A-levels or equivalent education this autumn.