European Union

After his phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump suggested the Vatican as a venue for peace talks on the Ukraine war. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that the new Pope Leo XIV is willing to mediate negotiations. The European press examines how realistic such a scenario is.

President Donald Trump has revealed plans to build a completely new missile defence system for the US by the end of his term of office, with 25 billion US dollars having been earmarked as start-up funding for the project. The shield, modelled on Israel's Iron Dome, is expected to cost around 175 billion dollars in total. However the US's territory is around 440 times larger than Israel's. Criticism rains down in the media.

The ruling party Fidesz has presented a draft law which would further restrict the activities of many NGOs and media outlets. The legislation empowers the government to blacklist NGOs and companies financed from abroad. Such organisations would be required to seek permission from the tax authorities to receive foreign funding, and NGOs would also face bureaucratic hurdles that make it almost impossible for them to collect private domestic donations.

The Romanian Constitutional Court upheld Nicușor Dan's win in Sunday's presidential election.

MEPs backed increased tariffs on fertilisers and certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods on Thursday, seeking to reduce EU dependency on those imports.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

MEPs backed increased tariffs on fertilisers and certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods on Thursday, seeking to reduce EU dependency on those imports.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament endorsed Ivana Maletić for a second term as Croatia’s Member of the European Court of Auditors.
Committee on Budgetary Control

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, Parliament endorsed Ivana Maletić for a second term as Croatia’s Member of the European Court of Auditors.
Committee on Budgetary Control

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP