Politics
European politics: the EU, Brussels, elections, governments and policy.
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EU deal saves farmer seed swaps with strings attached
Seed-sharing remains legal, but only locally and without payment
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Spanish ex-PM Zapatero in unprecedented graft probe hearing
Zapatero, who governed Spain from 2004 to 2011, was placed under formal investigation last month for alleged influence peddling
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Europe lacks the ‘courage’ to tell its own story
André Wilkens, the director of the European Cultural foundation, says Europe has forgotten how to speak with pride about what it h…
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Jordan Bardella defies his own EU group over tobacco tax
The French politician said he wants to avoid EU taxation on vapes for France
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Fears that Chinese port investments make Spain and NATO ‘vulnerable’
A Chinese car manufacturer is building a plant by a key Spanish naval port used for NATO operations
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Will a ban keep the UK’s kids off social media? – podcast
Governments around the world want to keep under-16s off YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Australia has introduced a ban and now the …
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China debate reaches boiling point as EU weighs tougher stance
European leaders are converging on a tougher view of Beijing, but concrete action remains elusive
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EU’s off-patent medicines industry calls for industrial strategy at Athens summit [Advocacy Lab]
Medicines for Europe conference highlights Greece’s growing role as a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub ahead of the country’s 2027…
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Belgium’s medicines paradox: pharma giant, but a desert for new drugs [Advocacy Lab]
There are drugs produced in Belgium on one side of the street that are not available to patients on the other side of the street, …
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EU fertiliser plan draws scepticism from farmers and industry [Advocacy Lab]
Commission action plan falls short of crisis demands as nitrogen prices surge 71% on Middle East disruption
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Troubles bill risks helping IRA goals, says ex-minister Carns
Al Carns has said the bill was one of the reasons he stepped down as armed forces minister.
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The tide is turning on Thames Water: special administration looks best
It is still not totally clear what the government wants but the political mood seems to be shifting towards a decision Thames Wate…
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As EU leaders dine, 70,000 voters in the north of England pick a new UK PM
On Thursday (18 June), as the 27 EU leaders meet in Brussels, Britain will elect its next prime minister. Not strictly true, but d…
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Trio of senior defence figures accuse Starmer of underfunding military
PM hit by three-pronged attack from ex-defence secretary, former defence minister and chief of defence staff UK politics live – la…
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Labour MP bringing back assisted dying bill urges House of Lords to finish its job
Lauren Edwards dismisses party internal concerns and criticises ‘anti-democratic’ way bill was halted The Labour MP Lauren Edwards…
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Ahead of a sticky summit on next trillion euro EU budget, these are the major stumbling blocks
EU leaders will hold their first formal discussion on Friday, after the Cypriot presidency tabled the first so-called “negobox”, a…
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Paris and Berlin try their hand at defining digital sovereignty
A draft paper, to be presented on Wednesday, sets out a joint view of what sovereignty means
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EU health chief says Brussels studying impact of Trump’s drug pricing threats
Capitals are seeking clarity on which medicines could be affected
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Fear of climate finance fatigue looms at pre-COP summit
Developing nations and small islands fear “shrinking support” from industrialised world
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Russian warship fired ‘warning shots’ at yacht in Channel: UK defence source
The incident comes days after the UK intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel
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Row over potential cull of Dartmoor hill ponies
Campaigners say requirements to cut livestock grazing could lead to a 90% cull of its hill ponies.
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MEPs pass EU‑US trade deal with Trump, while warning it is ‘unbalanced and unfair’
MEPs on Tuesday passed legislation for a three-year trade deal with the United States. But they have successfully tacked on a seri…
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The Brief – Parliament agrees on EU-US trade deal
Seeing two of the Union's main legislative bodies strive for an agreement that would render the bloc subservient to the US has pro…
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Streeting warns against 'expensive' Labour leadership pledges
The ex-health secretary says he would not make campaign promises that he would have to later reverse.