By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
Morning Europe briefing: key stories for August 26, 2026
Hungary is set to unlock €10bn in EU funds before the August deadline. An antisemitic video stokes tensions in the Alps. Greece opens 126 an
Slovak police foil arson plot on drone factory, three arrested
Slovak police say they prevented a planned arson attack on a drone manufacturer's plant in eastern Slovakia. Two suspects were detained in S
CIA chief Ratcliffe makes unannounced Moscow visit, US media report
CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for unannounced meetings, according to US media. Neither Washington nor
Greenland's forced contraception reports due as Denmark finalises compensation
Greenland will release two reports on Friday examining whether Denmark's historic contraception campaign constituted genocide or other human
Russians face forced recruitment as Kremlin prepares new mobilisation wave
Human rights groups report a surge in forced recruitment since mid-August, with men detained on streets and pressured to sign contracts. Fea
Sweden moves to seize Russian-owned land near Muskö naval base
Sweden's military has asked the government to expropriate a property near the Muskö naval base owned by a Russian with reported Kremlin ties
Armenia moves toward EU membership bid, defying Moscow
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to formally apply for EU membership, a historic pivot away from Moscow's influen
Costa's EU capital tour tests leaders' resolve on 2028-2034 budget
European Council President António Costa has launched a four-week tour of EU capitals to test leaders' willingness to compromise on the 2028
EU enlargement chief unveils plan to break accession deadlock
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has proposed a new approach to break the accession impasse, focusing on internal reforms, democratic s
Third drone and suspected explosives found near Leipzig/Halle Airport
German investigators have found a third drone and suspected explosives near Leipzig/Halle Airport, linked to an attempted attack earlier thi
Europe's underwater frontier: securing seabed cables and pipelines
The EU has spent nearly €118 billion on maritime defence in a decade, with a record €11.6 billion in 2022. New strategies focus on protectin
Colombia's new president orders deportation of undocumented migrants
Colombia's new far-right president has ordered immigration raids and vowed to deport undocumented migrants. The policy shift will mainly aff