Governments, elections, EU geopolitics
Former Chicago Mayor and senior Democrat Rahm Emanuel has added his voice to calls for Europe to increase defence spending, describing the continent’s reliance on American security guarantees as self-inflicted — a rare alignment with Trump administration demands that signals shifting bipartisan consensus in Washington.
A High Court judge has found that the British government acted unlawfully in its decision-making under a reciprocal UK-France migrant returns arrangement, raising fresh legal questions about the scheme’s foundations.
The Bundestag approved a contentious statutory health insurance savings package on the last sitting day before the summer recess, after Germany’s Constitutional Court rejected emergency legal challenges over the bill’s rushed passage.
Dutch deputy prime minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius has condemned violent incidents involving Moroccan football fans, saying the disorder occurs whether Morocco wins or loses and reigniting a fraught debate about public order and integration.
Hungary’s expected accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office could open the door to independent investigations into the alleged misuse of EU funds under the Orbán government, with the EPPO’s remit extending back to June 2021.
Polish President Nawrocki revoked Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle over a UPA military unit naming, injecting bilateral tension into Ukraine’s EU accession process.
Ireland assumes the EU Council Presidency on 1 July 2026, inheriting a stalled budget negotiation and five demanding priorities from outgoing Cyprus.
The EU adopted its 21st sanctions package on 15 June 2026, expanding the shadow fleet blacklist to over 800 vessels with sweeping new enforcement tools.
European leaders agreed a €90bn Ukraine loan and opened accession talks, but the next EU budget remains unresolved.
EU leaders assess the Migration Pact’s first year, with 32% of measures behind schedule and member state divisions deepening over solidarity.