Luca Bertuzzi

Europe News

Carney hails EU-Canada alliance but draws lines on membership

Canada's PM Carney welcomed the invitation to become the first "associate member" of the European Union, but emphasised that the intent is not to become a full member nor to cede sovereignty.

17 September 2026

Europe News

Inside von der Leyen's pitch for a new EU security architecture

The State of the Union speech saw the Commission president outline what sound like grand plans for European security, but big questions remain unanswered.

17 September 2026

Europe News

Canada in talks to join EU's Erasmus+ exchanges programme

Canada is in early talks to join Erasmus+ and possibly Horizon Europe, as Ottawa and Brussels weigh an unprecedented "associate membership" of the EU short of full accession.

16 September 2026

Europe News

Canada invited to become first 'associate member' of the EU

The status announced by von der Leyen during the State of the Union is an entirely new one, with details yet to be made clear. The European Commission’s President also proposed a new alliance with Ottawa covering tech, critical raw materials, energy and defence.

16 September 2026

Europe News

Von der Leyen calls for pacing frontier AI models

In her State of the Union address, von der Leyen called for pacing the development of frontier AI models due to their disruptive potential, pledging closer safety cooperation with Canada, the UK and other like-minded countries.

16 September 2026

Europe Today

Strasbourg stage set for von der Leyen’s big moment

Good morning. This is Luca Bertuzzi holding the pen in sun-drenched Strasbourg, where the European Parliament is abuzz ahead of Ursula von der Leyen's long-awaited State of the European Union speech.

16 September 2026

Europe News

Canada, heatwaves and Ceuta: Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union

Ursula von der Leyen has delivered her landmark State of the Union speech and unveiled a host of initiatives, including a European heatwave plan and "associate membership" status for Canada.

16 September 2026

Europe News

EU institutions face budget cuts as member states scramble for money

The money allocated for the EU institutions is emerging as a target for cuts in ongoing budgetary discussions, according to a confidential document seen by Euronews.

15 September 2026

Europe News

EU moves toward restricting social media access for under-15s

The European Commission will propose barring under-15s from social media without parental consent, President von der Leyen said on Wednesday. A leaked draft also covers safety-by-design rules for risky online services, like AI chatbots and video games.

15 September 2026

Europe News

The State of the Union lottery: What will Ursula von der Leyen say?

The war in Ukraine, enlargement, migration, climate and trade are all expected to feature in Brussels’ most eagerly awaited speech of the year — with the possibility of a surprise announcement always lurking around the corner.

15 September 2026

Europe News

France, Germany struggle to get their act together on European defence

As the EU faces immense pressure to invest in defence and manage its own security, deep-rooted strategic divisions between France and Germany are surfacing, preventing an effective European approach.

14 September 2026

Europe News

France joins Slovakia in asking to delist Russian oligarch Usmanov

France joins Slovakia in demanding delisting of Russian oligarch Usmanov ahead of sanctions deadline in sensitive talks held among EU ambassadors.

11 September 2026

Europe News

The Netherlands, Spain push for EU-wide minimum age on social media

The European Commission is expected to announce a social media ban for minors next week. The Netherlands and Spain want it harmonised, EU-enforced, and extended to video games and AI chatbots.

11 September 2026

Europe News

EU's largest political group doesn't want confrontation with China

The EU's most influential political family is drafting a paper urging tougher use of trade leverage with China, while maintaining dialogue and avoiding a trade escalation.

11 September 2026

Europe News

EU Commission eyes import overhaul to crack down on illegal products

Brussels is preparing a new law to crack down on non-compliant imports as part of a broader effort to curtail illegal Chinese products entering the EU market. The draft proposal also includes liability for online marketplaces, a new market surveillance fee and centralised enforcement.

10 September 2026

Europe News

EU Commission scrambles to keep pace with Moldova's accession push

The European Commission is redirecting resources to keep pace with Moldova's fast reform drive, even as its accession stays politically coupled with Ukraine's Hungary-stalled bid.

10 September 2026

Europe News

The EU got access to Anthropic's most powerful model, months later

The EU's cybersecurity agency ENISA has gained access to Anthropic's Mythos 5, one of the most powerful AI technologies with disruptive cyber capabilities, three months after it was released to selected partners.

10 September 2026

Europe News

Hungary takes one more step to normalise relations with Brussels

Hungary has formally notified Brussels it has met its rule-of-law conditions, a step that could unlock €4.2bn in EU funds and restore access for researchers and students who were left out of European programs.

9 September 2026

Europe News

Kaja Kallas under fire from EU capitals when she needs them most

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas is on a collision course with European capitals at a time when her institutional role is being increasingly challenged.

9 September 2026

Europe News

EU countries discuss ‘realistic volume’ for Europe-wide taxes

The Irish presidency wants EU member states to set a realistic revenue target for new Europe-wide taxes as it prepares a new compromise proposal on how to fund the next budget.

8 September 2026