European Union

Written by Annastiina Papunen.

Enhancing the EU’s competitiveness is a key priority for the European Council in the current legislative cycle. In a complex geopolitical environment, in which the international rules-based order is increasingly undermined and core alliances are questioned, it is essential for Europe to be able to stand firmly on its own feet. Strengthening the single market and the EU economic base is ‘an urgent strategic imperative’ in the words of European Council President António Costa, to improve the EU’s competitiveness and develop its strategic autonomy.

On 12 February 2026, EU leaders will meet for an informal leaders’ retreat – ‘a strategic brainstorming session’, according to President Costa – in Alden Biesen, Belgium, to discuss EU competitiveness. This meeting, which 19 EU leaders requested in a letter in October 2025, builds on previous discussions on the topic, notably 1) the informal meeting of 22 January 2026 on transatlantic relations and trade, 2) the strategic discussion on geoeconomy and competitiveness at the December 2025 European Council meeting, and 3) the October 2025 regular meeting on simplification and twin transition. Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta have been invited to join the retreat to share their visions and highlight developments since their groundbreaking reports. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will also address the meeting; President Costa has met Parliament’s Conference of Presidents ahead of the retreat. No formal conclusions are expected from the strategic debate, but the reflections are likely to feed into the March 2026 European Council conclusions.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Outlook for the 12 February 2026 retreat: Work on competitiveness in the European Council‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Imagine it is 2099 and a historic treaty to return African artefacts is falling apart.

On Monday, the Housing Committee adopted its final recommendations on the housing crisis in the EU, proposing solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable housing.
Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On Monday, the Housing Committee adopted its final recommendations on the housing crisis in the EU, proposing solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable housing.
Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Information about accreditation requirements for the one-year badge (2026)

The European Council will take place on 19 and 20 March 2026 in the Europa building in Brussels.

President Metsola on opening the February plenary session: announcement of extraordinary plenary session, votes on Ukraine Facility and Support Loan.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

President Metsola on opening the February plenary session: announcement of extraordinary plenary session, votes on Ukraine Facility and Support Loan.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Written by Tim Peters and Jakub Przetacznik with Silke Maes.

On 18 December 2025, the European Council agreed to a €90 billion loan to Ukraine to cover the country’s financial needs in the years 2026 and 2027. The European Commission has subsequently presented three legislative proposals to implement the European Council’s decision: (i) a proposal for a €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan financed by the EU except for Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia; (ii) a proposal to amend the Ukraine Facility to use it for the disbursement of the new loan; and (iii) a proposal to amend the EU’s multiannual financial framework to use it as a guarantee for the loan, and to finance the grants used for the borrowing cost subsidy.

The loan will be financed through EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget’s headroom. The EU budget will pay for the interest rates and other associated costs for Ukraine.

While €30 billion of the loan are meant to support the Ukrainian budget, €60 billion will be used to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The Commission proposal stipulates that defence products financed from the loan should, in principle, originate from the EU, European Economic Area, European Free Trade Area and Ukraine. Only if products are not available there, or cannot be delivered fast enough, can products from other third countries be bought.

In the past, Article 41(2) of the Treaty on European Union had been seen as an obstacle to financing weapons and military equipment from the EU budget. However, as the proposed Ukraine Support Loan is based on Article 212 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the rules on the EU’s common foreign and security policy do not apply.

Legislative Proposals

• COM(2026) 20 – Proposal for a regulation implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027
• COM(2026) 22 – Proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/792 establishing the Ukraine Facility
• COM(2026) 21 – Amended proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027

Read the complete study on ‘EU support for Ukraine for 2026-2027‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Dans un communiqué publié samedi en effet, la Brigade de Recherches de la Gendarmerie de Keur Massar (banlieue de Dakar), a annoncé avoir interpellé douze individus tous de nationalité sénégalaise pour ''association de malfaiteurs, actes contre nature, transmission volontaire du VIH sida par rapports sexuels non protégés et mise en danger de la vie d'autrui''.

Laut Blick-Infos hat Cracovia aus Krakau ein Angebot für den griechischen Stürmer abgegeben. Was für einen Abgang spricht: Koutsias hat sich im Januar mit Teamkollege Behrens verstritten.

An den Olympischen Spielen geht es um jedes Detail. So rückt auch das Renndress in den Fokus. In geheimen Tests tüftelte Swiss-Ski am optimalen Design. Was die Farbe mit der Geschwindigkeit zu tun hat, verrät der Forschungsleiter Björn Bruhin im Podcast «Durchblick».

Am 7. Februar stürzt Pop-Ikone Shakira auf der Bühne in San Salvador. Während ihres Hits «Si Te Vas» verdreht sie sich den Knöchel und fällt vor tausenden Zuschauern zu Boden. Die Sängerin bleibt unerschütterlich und steht sofort wieder auf.

Wegen eines Gleisschadens zwischen Lenzburg und Othmarsingen ist der Bahnverkehr gestört. Die Behebung des Schadens soll noch bis 1 Uhr nachts dauern.

Das Spiel zwischen Luzern und GC ist ein regelrechter Abstiegskampf-Showdown. Eine Pleite für die Zentralschweizer und der Abstand zum Barrageplatz würde auf einen Punkt zusammenschmelzen. Trainer Mario Frick spürt Rückhalt, doch die Gerüchte um seine Zukunft bleiben.

Die Schweiz untersucht Fälle von mit Cereulid belasteter Babynahrung, die bei Säuglingen Krankheitssymptome verursacht haben. Behörden verfolgen die Spur eines chinesischen Rohstoffs durch internationale Lieferketten, um betroffene Produkte zu entfernen.

Bei den Verhandlungen über eine mögliche Beendigung des russischen Angriffskriegs gegen die Ukraine hat der russische Aussenminister Sergej Lawrow den USA indirekt Wortbruch vorgeworfen.

Vor fünf Jahren erschütterte der frühe Tod des ehemaligen «GNTM»-Models Kasia Lenhardt Deutschland. Zum Todestag am 9. Februar erinnert ihre Freundin Sara Kulka mit einem rührenden Instagram-Posting an sie.

Unternehmer Balz Halter unterstützt die Kampagne gegen die SRG mit 100'000 Franken. Kürzlich war er Protagonist in einem SRF-Beitrag, den er als «tendenziös» einstuft.

Ob direkt aus dem Glas löffeln oder in einer 2-Zentimeter-Schicht aufs Brot schmieren - wer von der bekanntesten Nuss-Nougat-Creme immer noch mehr haben möchte, dem werden diese Rezepte vor Freude Tränen in die Augen treiben.