All posts tagged: POLITICO

Europe’s race to secure its energy supplies — live updates – POLITICO

Europe’s race to secure its energy supplies — live updates – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The fallout from the U.S.-Israel war in Iran is already rippling through global markets. But the worst may still lie ahead for Europe. As oil and gas supplies tighten and prices spike, the shock is seeping into every corner of the economy, from manufacturing to borrowing costs to demand shifts. Against this gloomy backdrop, how can policymakers contain the damage to avoid a deeper economic impact? And beyond the short term, what will this energy shock mean for Europe’s households and its industrial competitiveness? The crisis is also accelerating another shift: Europe’s clean transition. It’s no longer seen predominately as a climate imperative, but a question of economic security. Which policy moves will help safeguard the bloc’s sovereignty while reducing its emissions? Follow all the discussions and news from POLITICO’s Energy & Climate Forum as we unpack these hot-button issues with the policymakers, industry leaders and policy experts shaping Europe’s response. See the full program here and follow along here from 9 a.m. Source link

Rule of law – POLITICO

Rule of law – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

And on that front, Europe has an advantage. Speaking at a global real-estate conference recently, I was struck by a recurring theme: the European continent as a safe haven. Real estate is, of course, a long-term kind of business. Real-estate investors have to have faith in the neighborhoods, cities, countries they’re buying properties in. And as the conference went on, executive after executive returned to Europe as a safe place to do business in because — well, because it’s true. Rule of law is regressing all over the world. According to the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, nearly seven in 10 countries saw a decline in rule of law in 2025. This, the World Justice Project notes, is connected to growing authoritarianism. Europe, though, is standing strong: Denmark leads the ranking, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia. Places 11 through 20 are also occupied by European countries, along with Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The U.S. comes in 27th. For businesses, rule of law …

Cyprus seeks to Farage-proof its UK military bases – POLITICO

Cyprus seeks to Farage-proof its UK military bases – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Following the strike, President Nikos Christodoulides called for talks on the future of the “colonial” bases, with Cypriot diplomats expressing “disappointment” at the lack of information-sharing around the incident. It also reopened the issue of how Britain should be allowed to use the bases, with Cyprus calling on the support of fellow EU countries. In March, the European Council gathering EU leaders said it “acknowledges the intention of Cyprus to initiate a discussion with the UK on the UK bases in Cyprus and stands ready to provide assistance as needed.” Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides speaks to the media ahead of a European Council summit in Ayia Napa on April 23, 2026. | Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images Marc Weller, director of the international law program at Chatham House, said: “Cyprus argues that the U.K. only retained more limited authority relating to defense. While the U.K. view [of full sovereignty] is legally correct, the Iran episode will offer an opportunity for Cyprus to reignite this debate.” The Farage factor Cypriot concerns worsened after Farage initially backed …

Malta’s prime minister declares historic victory in snap election – POLITICO

Malta’s prime minister declares historic victory in snap election – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Abela called a snap election in April, four years into his five-year term, amid fears the war in Iran and the ensuing economic shock could erode support for his government. Alex Borg, leader of the opposition Nationalists Party, appeared to concede defeat on Sunday, saying the outcome was “not the result we wanted, but it’s a very clear message.” Abela’s victory was widely expected, with polling ahead of Saturday’s vote showing his Labour Party on top. Still, the Labour Party’s majority appeared to be considerably smaller than its last victory in 2022, with around 18,000 votes separating the government from the opposition. The election was fiercely fought and drew some surprise interventions from Brussels, with Malta’s EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef, who was Abela’s chief of staff, controversially endorsing the prime minister in a campaign speech, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola appearing at campaign stops alongside Borg. Source link

Hundreds arrested in Paris after football revelry turns ugly – POLITICO

Hundreds arrested in Paris after football revelry turns ugly – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said seven officers were injured in clashes across the country. He called the disorder “absolutely unacceptable.” Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on X: “Only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots. Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence,” she said. Valérie Pécresse, leader of the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, called for sanctions against those causing violence. “The brainless thugs who think they can smash everything are tarnishing the image of Paris and France!” Pécresse wrote in a post on X. “We must be able to celebrate on victory nights peacefully in Paris and the Île-de-France region!” Similar riots took place in Paris last May after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory at the previous Champions League final, resulting in more than 500 arrests and two deaths and drawing widespread political condemnation. Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal in a dramatic final in Budapest after a 4-3 shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra …

Israel captures Crusader castle as war expands in southern Lebanon – POLITICO

Israel captures Crusader castle as war expands in southern Lebanon – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“This is a clear message to our enemies: Those who threaten the citizens of Israel will lose their strategic assets one by one,” Katz said. Israel said Sunday that its forces, including a “significant number of IDF ground soldiers,” would continue pushing into southern Lebanon to fight Hezbollah. A truce was struck in April to end the fighting in Lebanon but has never been observed. Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel on Saturday of pursuing a “scorched earth policy” and enacting “collective punishment” on the residents of southern Lebanon, where scores of villages and towns have been evacuated. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since the sharp escalation in hostilities in early March, according to the country’s health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has directed Israel’s military to take over 70 percent of Gaza’s territory. Source link

AfD, Vox mingle with ex-US Border Patrol chief, white nationalist leader at ‘remigration summit’  – POLITICO

AfD, Vox mingle with ex-US Border Patrol chief, white nationalist leader at ‘remigration summit’  – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Two years later, a confident Sellner made himself available to journalists for interviews at the remigration summit, dwelling on concepts that he says are now going mainstream. “We have a very neurotic relationship to our own ethnicity, our own ethno-cultural identity and I think we need to overcome that,” Sellner told reporters at the summit, calling on Europeans to overcome their “guilt complex” and “self-loathing” stemming from “post-war consensus.” At least three AfD politicians attended the event, including Kay Gottschalk, a member of the Bundestag and one of the party’s cofounders. Gottschalk said he was there “to listen” as “a visitor.” Lena Kotré, an AfD member and representative in the Brandenburg state legislature, spoke on stage with Sven Tritschler, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament, also in attendance. Vox MPs Rocío de Meer and Carlos Quero featured on the summit’s speakers list. Activist Sammy Woodhouse, a supporter of U.K. right-wing party Restore Britain, was also among the speakers. Tensions emerged when reporters who had been accredited to cover the event were not allowed in …

Right-wing mogul ignites culture war in French cinema – POLITICO

Right-wing mogul ignites culture war in French cinema – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“After literature, the censor Bolloré now wants to control filmmaking. It is unacceptable to allow a billionaire to threaten artists in this way,” said hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, threatening to dismantle Bolloré’s empire. Socialist leader Olivier Faure slammed the move by Canal+ as a sign that “the far right has never liked freedom, creativity, or public service.” More diplomatically, Culture Minister Catherine Pégard regretted Canal+’s “disproportionate, to say the least” reaction to “the very real concerns that were raised.” The conservative mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, slammed the artists as masochists for “biting the hand that feeds them.” Canal+ declined POLITICO’s request for comment, but Bolloré’s son, Cyrille, president of the Bolloré group, brushed off fears on Wednesday that Canal+ would choose projects based on political orientation. “No, there is no political project,” he said. France’s Citizen Kane The uproar has illustrated how deeply connected French cinema is to Canal+, which financed seven of the nine movies that won awards at Cannes this year, including the prestigious Palme d’Or. Source link

Attal highlights break with Macron in first rally in French presidential bid – POLITICO

Attal highlights break with Macron in first rally in French presidential bid – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

His campaign mirrors the very successful campaign of centrist liberal Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in October 2025, which focused on optimism about the future and prioritizing the young generations, while exalting a sense of national pride. “My first promise is that we will once again become Europe’s leading power within six years. That is our rank, our place, our destiny,” he said, also vowing to make France the leading European country in artificial intelligence. Attal is following incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron as the presidential candidate of the centrist liberal Renaissance party, which he heads. After almost 10 years of Macron governments and dwindling popularity, Attal is seeking to distance himself from Macron to frame his candidacy as one of change and reform. The 37-year-old politician served as prime minister under Macron from January-September 2024. He was the youngest prime minister in French history and the first openly gay. The latest polls put Attal in fourth place at 13 percent of popular vote, preceded by far-right French Rally candidate Jordan Bardella, center-right Édouard Philippe, …

Beijing threatens retaliation over EU moves to curb imports from China – POLITICO

Beijing threatens retaliation over EU moves to curb imports from China – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The statement came in reaction to a meeting of top EU officials on Friday to brainstorm on how to counter Chinese overcapacity. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday convened an orientation debate with her 26 commissioners to explore a range of policy tools aimed at addressing the EU’s growing trade imbalance with China, as a surge in Chinese goods ranging from vehicles to solar panels and clothes is undercutting Europe’s industries, leading to factory closures and job losses.   “The current state of the trade and investment relationship is not sustainable,” reads an European Commission statement following orientation debate. “As economic and security interests become ever more intertwined, both dimensions will require a more robust and coherent response.” The EU’s goods trade deficit with China widened to €360 billion last year from €312 billion in 2024. It expanded even more sharply in the first quarter of 2026, trade figures show. While France and other member states have pushed for stronger measures to shield European industry, Germany has long warned against steps that could …