The European Union, France and Germany have slammed US sanctions on European citizens combating online hate and disinformation, with Brussels saying it could "respond swiftly and decisively" against the "unjustified measures".

The European Union, France and Germany condemned US sanctions on five Europeans combating online hate and disinformation on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump's administration took its latest swipe at long-standing allies across the Atlantic.

US Sanctions Former EU Official, Others in Swipe at Europe The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed visa sanctions on former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other people for trying to make American tech companies police political speech on their platforms.

European leaders show solidarity with Denmark following Trump’s latest Greenland threat Trump has revived his ambitions to incorporate Greenland into US territory citing national security, prompting European leaders to voice support for Denmark.

Denmark’s Top Diplomat Tells Trump to Keep His Hands Off Greenland Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his country won’t bow to Donald Trump’s demand to hand over Greenland and summoned the US ambassador to explain his president’s comments. (https://archive.ph/g13p2)

Poll: Major allies see US as unreliable and destabilizing Pluralities in Germany and France — and a majority of Canadians — say the US is a negative force globally, new POLITICO-Public First polling finds.

Germany’s far-right AfD accused of gathering information for the Kremlin The party has been accused of attempting to disclose sensitive information on arms supply routes and drone defenses.

Greenland alarmed after Trump appoints envoy to make country ‘part of the US’ Trump stated Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry understands ‘how essential Greenland to our National Security’

How Europe’s far right used unlabelled AI to win votes In the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections last June, several far-right political parties in France, Italy and Belgium used unlabelled generative-AI content to influence voters.

France to build new aircraft carrier — Macron Macron said that France needed to be "strong to be feared" as Paris aims to enhance its projection as a naval power.

Markets welcomed the EU’s plan to raise €90 billion for Ukraine through joint borrowing, seen as legally safer and supportive of the euro’s credibility. Analysts say it strengthens the EU’s role as a permanent joint borrower and reassures investors about future crisis responses.

MAGA calls for US visa restrictions for EU digital enforcers US attacks against the Digital Services Act (DSA) have sharply escalated since the Commission's recent €120 million DSA fine on Elon Musk's social media platform X

EU strikes deal to provide €90 billion to Ukraine German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday the EU had sent a 'clear signal' to Russian leader Vladimir Putin by agreeing to send Kyiv the massive amount of funding.

Germany eyes up to 900 armoured vehicles from Finland’s Patria Berlin moves to replace ageing military vehicle fleet

EU flagship defense R&D in 2026 covers hypersonic defense, future tank The European Defence Fund plans to allocate €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in funding for defense research and development in 2026, with the biggest chunk of money budgeted for work on air and missile defense.

“They forced me to cook, clean, and fulfill their sexual whims”: Testimony of a Ukrainian woman enslaved by Russian soldiers

Germany Boosts Debt Sales to Record in Spending Push Germany will increase federal debt sales by a fifth next year to a record €512 billion ($601 billion) to fund a spending splurge aimed at fixing its crumbling infrastructure and modernizing its armed forces. (https://archive.ph/KgGEG)

A viral video claiming that a military coup has taken place in France has racked up more than 13 million views on social media. Although clearly AI-generated, it sparked tensions between the Élysée and Facebook’s parent company: Meta refused to take it down.

Merz says he will 'intensively' push for a EU-Mercosur trade deal Sealing the agreement would be a test of the "European Union's ability to act", Merz said ahead of a key EU summit, after France and Italy demanded more time to sign off on the deal

Europe votes to expand abortion access in historic vote The vote could pave the way for funding thousands of European women who travel every year to another EU country to access abortion care.

EU leaders reaffirm bloc's digital 'regulatory autonomy' amid US threats Ahead of this week's EUCO meeting, capitals have moved to defend the bloc's right to enforce its tech rules, per draft European Council conclusions seen by Euractiv

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that German troops could participate in a coalition to secure a demilitarized zone in Ukraine after a possible peace agreement under rules that would permit them to “retaliate against corresponding Russian incursions and attacks.” (https://archive.ph/mSQZX)

EU Blasts Trump’s Attacks as ‘Outdated’ and Urges Independence European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued her clearest rebuke yet to Donald Trump’s attacks on Europe, imploring the continent to chart its own course in a changed world. (https://archive.ph/eISyw)

Putin reassured Orbán that if he votes correctly, no harm will come to him The Hungarian Prime Minister shared this with his entourage while he was en route to Brussels.

Space is now essential to European security Europe has arrived at an orbital crossroads that will determine our future in space. But European leaders cannot hesitate to go big on defence in and from space

UK set to rejoin EU’s flagship student exchange programme Britain expected to return to Erasmus+ scheme in 2027 as part of reset of relations with the bloc (www.removepaywall.com/search?url=h...)

Montenegro advances towards EU. Five new negotiation chapters ready to be closed There are now 12 out of 33 negotiating chapters closed by Podgorica. French green light for chapters on Agriculture and Fisheries

Trump’s Business Model Is to Break Europe Washington wants a free hand for Silicon Valley and Russia investment. The EU is an obstacle—and the far right is an ally. (https://archive.ph/Qyqt4)

European financial services chief Maria Luís Albuquerque says it is ‘possible’ to reach an agreement on the pending legislation needed to achieve the Capital Markets Union. She says political will among co-legislators will be key to get it done as she pushes for ambitious timeline.

The Connecting Europe Facility is part of the European Union's multi-annual budget for 2028-2034, which foresees nearly four times as much money as the previous budget. It is intended to increase cross-border investment in electric grids, pipelines and renewable energy projects.

Germany Plans to Work With Ukraine on Weapons Germany plans to deepen its defense cooperation with Ukraine, including for the first time the possibility of acquiring weapons and battlefield data from Kyiv, alongside a potential peace agreement under discussion in Berlin.

Germany warns rejecting Ukraine loan would harm EU countries' finances Krichbaum's claim is the opposite of Belgian PM Bart De Wever's, who argues the 'reparations loan' would actually increase EU government borrowing costs

EU Pushes Back Against US Effort to Change Bloc’s Tech Rules The European Union’s chief trade negotiator said he would defend the bloc’s technology rules in a rebuke to US efforts to water down EU digital regulations. (https://archive.ph/uXcQd)

Brussels to free up cash, target tourist flats in EU’s first-ever Affordable Housing Plan Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warns member countries to take home affordability seriously — or prepare to cede power to far-right populists.

Forget the far right. The kids want a 'United States of Europe.' On social media, the upcoming generation is expressing more European solidarity than the continent has seen in decades.

Merz compares Putin to Hitler: ‘He won’t stop’ “Just as the Sudetenland was not enough in 1938, Putin will not stop,” Merz told a party conference in Germany.

EU’s vote on Mercosur trade deal to take place next week, Denmark confirms Copenhagen pushes forward key decision over contentious deal with Latin American countries, despite deep divisions among EU capitals.

Germany sending troops to reinforce Poland’s eastern border Several dozen German soldiers will join Poland’s East Shield in the spring.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared the "Pax Americana" over, warning of a permanent US withdrawal from Europe.

Ten of thousands to protest Orbán-linked physical and sexual abuse cases in Budapest Viktor Orbán faced a wave of public outrage on Saturday as tens of thousands marched to his central Budapest office after leaked videos from state-run children’s centres showing severe physical abuse.

Russia attacks two Ukrainian ports, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels Russia attacked two Ukrainian ports on Friday, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels including a ship carrying food supplies, days after Moscow threatened to cut "Ukraine off from the sea".

By locking in Russian assets for good, the EU is finally playing hardball In an audacious move, the EU has decided to indefinitely immobilise the Russian sovereign assets, pushing back against external pressure to release the funds before Moscow agrees to pay war reparations to Ukraine.

A Continent of Power: Does Europe Know Its True Strength? Latest episode of To The Point examines whether Europe is really being sidelined by the US and China or just undervaluing its own power, with experts highlighting that it still holds major economic & political strength despite the challenges

'We'll concentrate on European military equipment and improve our defence': Romanian president

A Moscow court has issued in absentia verdicts against the chief prosecutor and eight judges of the International Criminal Court over their indictment of Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, authorities said Friday.

Eurobarometer: Trust in the EU has improved more in Hungary than in any other member state 57 percent of Hungarians trust the EU, while only 41 percent trust their government. The proportion of Hungarians with a favourable view of the EU has grown significantly since this spring.

The EU’s Largest Investment Programme Holds Lessons We Cannot Afford to Ignore The Next Generation EU programme, despite sluggish implementation and limited coverage, reveals how industrial policy can drive green transition—if governments act.

A new Cambridge University index exposes the thriving underground market where fake social media account verifications can be purchased for as little as 8 cents, fueling online manipulation and election interference worldwide.

Czech Billionaire Wants to Create Europe’s Defense Giant Michal Strnad said he’s looking at more acquisitions after sales at his company CSG surged because of the war in Ukraine. (https://archive.ph/YiLDZ)

EU banks should reduce their reliance on US Big Tech, top supervisor says Dutch central bank exec warns ‘concentration risk’ could lead to ‘major operational problems.’