Top Stories
International Criminal Court and its officials receive 2026 Sakharov Prize
The European Parliament’s award recognises the court and its staff amid pressure on international judicial institutions.
The Europe Times
Politics & Society
The institutions, decisions and public debates behind the headlines.
In this edition
Top Stories
Euro-area consumer confidence falls to −17.9 in October
The Commission’s flash survey points to weaker sentiment, with revised September data affecting the comparison.
Top Stories
EU ministers adopt a framework to address housing exclusion
The Council recommendation combines prevention, support and measures to improve access to housing.
Top Stories
EFTA states and Vietnam sign trade agreement in Hanoi
The agreement connects Vietnam with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland; entry into force remains pending.
Top Stories
EU summit puts competitiveness and energy costs at the centre of its agenda
The 15–16 October meeting links market reforms with wider discussions on Ukraine, the budget and security.
Top Stories
UK and Turkey report progress in sixth round of trade talks
Negotiations covered services, goods, investment and digital trade; a further round is planned.
10 guides
Europe, the EU and Schengen: three different maps
Separate geography, political membership and travel arrangements before reading the headlines.
Who does what in the European Union?
A practical guide to identifying the institution behind an announcement.
From proposal to law: following an EU policy file
Why announcements, agreements and application dates are different milestones.
The EU budget: reading the numbers without losing the context
Time periods, commitments and payments explain why budget headlines differ.
European elections: national ballots, a shared Parliament
How to read election results without confusing parties, groups and governments.
Two EU councils—and why the names matter
National leaders and national ministers meet in different institutions.
EFTA, the EEA and Europe’s overlapping economic relationships
A guide to reading agreements without assuming a single model of integration.
Europe’s courts: identify the institution before judging the headline
Why the name of a court matters as much as the outcome of a case.
Why Europe’s regions and cities belong in the political story
Local delivery often explains what a continental policy means in practice.
How to read a European policy announcement critically
A repeatable method for separating evidence, ambition and political presentation.