By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win deepens Europe's populist divide
The AfD secured 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt, more than doubling its 2021 result. The victory drew praise from Europe's populist right and condemn
EU's Right to Repair: How Brussels is making fixing electronics easier
The EU's Right to Repair Directive, adopted in 2024, obliges manufacturers to repair products and offer spare parts. It extends legal warran
EU scraps Kallas defence advisory group after member state backlash
Kaja Kallas's new defence advisory group was scrapped days after its launch following opposition from member states. The initiative was mean
AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win and Mladić's funeral test Germany and Serbia
The far-right AfD won the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, a first for the party in a German state. Meanwhile, Serbia buried convicted wa
Europe's busiest ports: Rotterdam leads, Turkey climbs the ranks
Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges dominate EU port traffic, with Hamburg a distant third. Turkey's ports handle more goods than any EU country ex
Ulrich Siegmund: From CDU member to AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt
Ulrich Siegmund, 35, is the AfD's top candidate for the 2026 Saxony-Anhalt state election. A former CDU member and scent marketing entrepren
Europe's morning briefing: September 7, 2026
Spain extends border checks on Italian arrivals until 22 September. The EU's new Entry/Exit System tightens border procedures. Spain ties Se
AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt state election by wide margin
Exit polls give the AfD 44.5% in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of the CDU's 18.5%. A victory would mark the first far-right state government in G
Von der Leyen visits Greenland as EU counters US ambitions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Greenland for a two-day visit to reaffirm EU support for the Danish autonomous terr
Berlin plans digital shield against Russian hybrid sabotage
Germany is developing a 'protective shield' against sabotage, featuring a Cyberdome sensor network and mobile drone defenses. The plan follo
US envoys head to Kyiv after Moscow talks on Ukraine ceasefire
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials after meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow. A three-day
Midday Europe briefing: key stories for September 6, 2026
Spain extends border checks on Italian arrivals until 22 September. The country ties its September heat record at 45.7°C. EU border checks t