By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin to step down from Federal Council
Swiss President Guy Parmelin will step down from the Federal Council on 31 December 2026. The 66-year-old from the SVP has served as economy
France proposes dual oil release as G7 leaders prepare to discuss energy
France has floated a plan to release 50 million barrels of diesel and 50 million barrels of crude from emergency stocks. The proposal comes
Budapest and Kyiv near minority rights deal that could unblock EU accession talks
Ukraine is set to table legislation on minority education rights in October, a step Budapest has demanded before lifting its veto on EU acce
Portugal Grinds to a Halt as Public Sector and easyJet Strikes Bite
Over 350,000 public administration workers are striking across Portugal, closing schools and disrupting services. easyJet cabin crew have ca
Meloni urges Brussels to ease fiscal rules as energy crisis strains Italy
Giorgia Meloni has written to Ursula von der Leyen, arguing that EU fiscal rules leave too little room to cushion Italians from soaring ener
European bond markets steady after French yields hit 24-year high
French 10-year borrowing costs hit their highest since 2002, while UK 30-year gilt yields topped 6% for the first time since 1998. Markets s
Brussels Signals Openness to Releasing Oil Reserves as Washington Turns Up the Heat
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen says releasing strategic oil reserves is 'a possibility' as Washington presses allies to act. The decis
Rubio releases $320 million in Egypt military aid despite rights concerns
The US has released $320 million in military financing for Egypt, waiving a human rights condition. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Egy
Danish military revises account of 2025 drone incident at Skrydstrup
The Danish military has revised its report on drone sightings over Skrydstrup air base in September 2025. It now concedes that soldiers may
Downing Street Insists Manchester City Is Not Above the Rules
Downing Street has stated that Manchester City is not above the rules, following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's comments about the club's own
Europe's soft power bet left it exposed, says Belgian defence minister
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken says Europe invested too heavily in soft power and neglected hard power for decades. Belgium reached
Musk rejoins Trump team to co-lead Pentagon future-war study
Elon Musk is back in an official advisory role for the Trump administration, co-leading a Pentagon study on the future of war. The project,