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European Union

Politics

Georgia's European dream left in limbo

Two years ago in Georgia, tens of thousands of pro-European protesters rallied against the disputed results of the October 2024 parliamentary election, which was officially won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. A few weeks later, the authorities announced the suspension of the country's European Union accession process. Despite an ongoing crackdown, smaller-scale protests continue every day in the capital Tbilisi.

Politics

Canada and EU drop associate membership plan in bid to deepen ties

Canada and the European Union will pursue closer ties but have dropped a proposal for associate EU membership, according to a joint declaration ahead of Thursday’s summit in Montreal. Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking to reduce Canada’s reliance on the US, despite warnings from Donald Trump.

Politics

Europe faces threat of organised sabotage, terrorist attacks: Estonian FM Tsahkna

Estonia's counterintelligence service has recently warned that sabotage operations orchestrated by Russian special services have reached a new and dangerous phase in Europe, with targets no longer being purely symbolic. Talking Europe sits down with the country's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, to discuss the security situation in Estonia and the European Union in general.

World

EU member states wrangle over all-important budget: Is a deal this year feasible?

A marathon EU summit on October 15-16 failed to produce a breakthrough on the European Union's next long-term budget. Although EU leaders put on a brave face at the end of the talks by saying that "the way forward is clearer", EU capitals appear deadlocked on what that path is. At stake is the EU's ability to finance its strategic priorities from 2028 to 2034. The main dividing line is between the so-called "frugal countries", who want deep cuts to the proposed budget, and the "friends of cohesion", who say that cuts are not the answer.

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Politics

Targeted by Trump, International Criminal Court wins top EU rights prize

Facing US sanctions, the International Criminal Court was on Thursday awarded the European Union's top rights prize, in a show of support that risks upsetting President Donald Trump. "The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions, and this prize recognises the important work of the court in upholding international law and justice," said European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola in announcing the award. The ICC thanked the European Parliament for giving it the Sakharov Prize "at a time when the Court and its officials face unprecedented challenges". F

World

Italy prolongs Schengen suspension with Spain, talks loom

Italy has extended by another week ​its suspension of the European Union's border-free travel arrangements with Spain over a surge in migrant arrivals in Ceuta in late July, ​an ‌Italian government source said on Friday. A ⁠Spanish government spokesperson said the interior ministers of both countries would work over ‌the coming week on lifting the border controls.

Politics

EU and Canada seek closer ties: Will Canada become the EU's first associate member?

As the international context becomes more challenging for the European Union, the bloc is looking to boost its ties with like-minded allies. Canada is part of that architecture that the EU says it wants to build. The big news of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech in September was that Canada could become an associate member – an arrangement that does not exist for the EU's partners at the moment.

World

EU leaders face budget divisions, discuss Ukraine at Brussels summit

European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit to discuss the bloc’s next long-term budget, continued support for Ukraine and measures to strengthen Europe’s economic competitiveness amid rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty. They voiced strong opposition to a new proposal for the bloc’s long-term budget, raising serious doubt about whether the key spending package will be agreed by the end of year. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports from Brussels.

Politics

EU leaders head for showdown over bloc long-term budget

EU leaders on Thursday head for their biggest clash yet over the bloc's next long-term budget, as they race to lock in a deal before next year's French presidential election. The 27-nation European Union wants an agreement by Christmas, worried that any future dealmaking will be derailed by potential eurosceptic wins in polls taking place across the bloc -- most crucially in key power France. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports from Brussels, Belgium.

Politics

EU leaders to clash over long-term budget, Ukraine support

European Union leaders ⁠will clash on Thursday ​over the size of bloc's next long-term budget, its sources of revenue and spending priorities, with no immediate deal ​in sight. The budget also covers help for Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will be joining the meeting on Friday in a bid to rally support amid fresh tension with US President Donald Trump. FRANCE 24's Europe Editor Armen Georgian reports from Brussels, Belgium.

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World

Russia says Europe bought $320 billion in hydrocarbons since 2022

Russia said on Monday that European Union countries had bought $320.7 billion worth of its energy resources since 2022, despite sanctions over the war in Ukraine. The figure fuelled tensions as European officials criticised a US deal to import Russian diesel, while Stockholm called for the bloc to use frozen Russian assets to boost support for Kyiv.

World

Heatwaves, wildfires expose a third of world to extreme ozone pollution

Heatwaves and wildfires helped expose 34 percent of the world’s population to “extremely poor” ozone air quality in the first eight months of 2026, according to a European Union report published Wednesday. Asia recorded the highest exposure, while ozone pollution remained difficult to curb despite decades of progress in reducing other harmful emissions.