European countries

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

The European Union has committed €61 million in new humanitarian funding for Ethiopia, citing a rapidly deteriorating situation in the country. The aid, announced by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, is intended to support relief efforts as conditions worsen on the ground.

The Spanish coastguard picked up 60 migrants a few kilometres off the Moroccan coast near Tarfaya and transferred them to the Canary Islands. They are expected to be moved to mainland Spain, from where some may travel on to other European countries. The rescue is being discussed in the context of the ongoing surge in Atlantic crossings to the Canaries and Europe's wider migration debate.

EU member states are discussing a plan for collective, Nato-style responses to Russian hybrid attacks, such as sabotage, cyber operations and disinformation targeting European infrastructure. Under the idea, an attack on one country could trigger coordinated countermeasures from the whole bloc. The Financial Times reported the discussions, which reflect growing alarm across Europe about Moscow's grey-zone activities.

A senior NATO commander has urged member states to publicly condemn acts of sabotage attributed to Russia. The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions linked to the war in Ukraine, with alliance officials increasingly warning about hybrid threats, including attacks on infrastructure across member countries.

European governments are racing to rearm amid security concerns, but their lack of coordination in defence procurement is costing billions. An investigation argues that each country buying separately, rather than jointly, drives up prices, duplicates effort and delays delivery of weapons and equipment. The report adds to ongoing debate about whether the EU and NATO members should pool orders and standardise military capabilities to get better value from rising defence budgets.

Germany has called on Russia to stop what Berlin describes as dangerous escalation targeting NATO countries. The appeal comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said recent overnight Russian strikes show the urgent need for stronger international response and support. The diplomatic intervention underscores rising tensions between Russia and the Western alliance, with European capitals increasingly voicing concern over actions they see as provocative toward NATO members.

The European Union is preparing accession roadmaps for Ukraine and three other candidate countries, according to Politico Europe. The plans would set out the steps each country must take to join the bloc, covering reforms, rule-of-law requirements and alignment with EU law. Enlargement has gained urgency since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the roadmaps signal Brussels is moving from promises toward concrete timetables, though actual membership will still require unanimous approval from all member states.

A former bodyguard of the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack against Jewish communities in Europe, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post. Details about the suspect's location, the target countries, and whether accomplices were involved have not been disclosed, and authorities have not yet officially confirmed the arrest.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany have held their first direct talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting marks a rare high-level diplomatic contact between Moscow and a major European power, and observers are watching for any signals of a possible thaw or shift in negotiations over the war.

The European Union has announced an aid package worth more than €700 million to respond to crises around the world. The funding is intended to support humanitarian relief in affected regions, though the specific countries and crises covered have not been detailed in initial reports.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, in the first talks between the two countries at this level since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The meeting marks a notable diplomatic opening between Moscow and a key European power, and observers are watching closely for what it signals about the future of Russia-Europe relations and the war in Ukraine.

The European Union is asking member countries to reduce their gas consumption as concerns grow over supply. The call reflects worries about energy security, and countries across the bloc are expected to respond with measures to lower demand in the coming period.

The Financial Times examines whether the European Union can construct a 'hybrid defence' against Russia, addressing Moscow's use of non-military pressure such as disinformation, cyberattacks, sabotage and influence operations. The debate comes as EU member states weigh how to coordinate responses to threats that fall below the threshold of conventional armed conflict, and whether Brussels has the tools and authority to lead such an effort.

The European Union has called on member countries to reduce their gas consumption as concerns grow over supply. The request reflects fears that gas flows may become insufficient, and it asks national governments to take measures lowering demand. The move is drawing wide attention across Europe as countries weigh how to respond and what it means for households and industry.

Poland's deputy defence minister says the country is ready to host a Patriot missile factory for Ukraine, should Kyiv secure the necessary agreements. The statement, reported by Agenzia Nova, signals Poland's willingness to expand defence-industrial cooperation to support Ukraine's war effort against Russia and strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

An outbreak of a virus described as untreatable has been reported across 16 European countries, according to a report by Surrey Live. The story includes a full list of the affected countries. Details about the virus, case numbers and severity were not provided in the available evidence, and health authorities' responses remain unclear.

The European Union has announced €710 million in humanitarian aid for communities affected by crises, with the funding directed mainly to African countries. The package, reported by Le Monde, is intended to support populations facing conflict, displacement and food insecurity. Details on which countries will receive the largest shares have not yet been spelled out in the announcement.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in their first talks since 2022, according to Reuters. Representatives of both sides said they discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine. The meeting marks the first high-level diplomatic contact between Moscow and Berlin since Russia's full-scale invasion, drawing attention to whether it signals any thaw or shift in European diplomacy toward Russia.

With the Russo-Ukrainian war in its 1,676th day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Ukraine's drone-defense know-how to countries bordering NATO's eastern flank. Ukraine, facing the world's most intensive drone warfare, has developed extensive counter-drone tactics and systems, and its offer signals Kyiv's push to deepen security ties with European neighbours amid ongoing Russian attacks.

The Netherlands faced Germany in a UEFA Nations League match, with highlights now drawing major attention across Dutch sports media, led by broadcaster RTL Sport. Fans are reacting to the key moments, goals and talking points from the fixture between the two footballing rivals, whose meetings traditionally generate strong interest in both countries.

The European Union has allocated €710 million to address crises and disasters, with most of the funding directed to African countries. The aid package is intended to support humanitarian relief in regions facing emergencies. The announcement has been picked up by international news outlets covering EU development and humanitarian policy.

The case of a bodyguard linked to the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is pointing investigators toward what officials describe as wider Hamas networks operating across Europe. The development comes as British authorities examine an alleged plot involving a UK airbase. The reporting suggests the case may reveal how Hamas-linked individuals have used European countries for logistics and planning, raising security concerns among European governments.

Switzerland is voting on an initiative to tighten the country's constitutional neutrality rules and end peacetime military cooperation with NATO. The proposal would legally anchor stricter neutrality, barring joint exercises or security collaboration with the alliance outside wartime. The vote touches a long-running Swiss debate over whether traditional neutrality remains workable amid the war in Ukraine and growing European security concerns.

New data on the Real House Price Index for select European countries in Q1 2026 show a clear gap between nominal and real house price growth. Inflation-adjusted prices continued to rise across much of Europe, though the pace varied by country, prompting discussion about what the boom in headline figures actually means for buyers.