European Union

As mega-constellations proliferate, the aggregate risk of collisions, space debris, and orbital congestion grows exponentially. Without proactive regulation, we risk creating a cascade of destruction

An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors has been called for Sunday afternoon

Yoweri Museveni has won a record seventh term in elections after promising that the fledgling oil sector will boost the economy.

EPP leader Manfred Weber said approval of the EU-US deal “is not possible at this stage” given the US president's threats

The Argentinian president praised Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s decisive role in sealing the deal

From 1 February, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would be subject to a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States, he said on social media

A majority of EU countries backed the agreement – despite opposition from France and Poland

Iranian authorities have blamed the United States for the mass demonstrations they have called "riots" and "terrorist" operations

Written by Monika Kiss.

EU passenger rights regulations, covering compensation for denied boarding, cancellations, long delays, and protections for passengers with reduced mobility, addressed some of these issues, although enforcement and awareness remained limited.

In 2013, the European Commission proposed clarifying ‘extraordinary circumstances’, introducing rerouting rights after long delays, banning no-show penalties, improving tarmac delay handling and complaint procedures, while capping accommodation duties and standardising compensation thresholds. The European Parliament’s first-reading report added stronger protections, including a closed list of exceptions, higher accommodation limits, airport contact points, safeguards for passengers in cases of airline bankruptcy, and expanded baggage and accessibility rights. The Council’s 2025 first-reading position maintained rerouting and assistance rights, updated compensation thresholds to four hours for short flights and six hours for longer ones, clarified ‘extraordinary circumstances’, and tightened complaint-handling procedures. Parliament’s second-reading draft rejects higher delay thresholds, keeps compensation at between €300 and €600 by distance, increases free hand luggage, bans unfair ancillary charges, and extends claim deadlines.

Stakeholders, including consumer groups, disability organisations, and airlines, have expressed mixed reactions, with consumer advocates supporting stronger protections, and airlines warning of higher costs. The report is now scheduled for a plenary vote.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Revising air passenger rights: Where do we stand?‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The protest comes after Trump threatened tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland plans and coincide with a US congressional delegation’s visit to Copenhagen

Protests erupted in Iran on 28 December, becoming one of the largest protest movements against the clerical leadership since 1979

Repeated failures highlight limits of Russian-made air defences

Following the deployment, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that “the intention is to create a more permanent military presence"

The US president on Friday named himself chair of a “Board of Peace” that includes Tony Blair and senior Americans Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff

Brussels is mulling more economic restrictions on Iran and Russia. Why not the US?

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Weekly schedule of President António Costa, 17-25 January 2026.

Council gives its final approval to the amended EuroHPC regulation.

The Council decided to prolong existing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad by another year.

Press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on 19 January at 10.30. The briefing will be "off the record".