The Parliament Magazine

Long overlooked in debates about Europe’s eastern flank, Belarus is suddenly back in focus. An unlikely détente between Trump and Lukashenko has led to the release of political prisoners and the first diplomatic opening in years, forcing Brussels to question whether isolation…

Europe wants a single defence market to turn spending into real military power. But national interests, divergent threats, and politics keep getting in the way. Here’s what Brussels is trying to build, and why it’s so hard: buff.ly/2p6b8t0

Europe’s diplomatic service was meant to give the EU a single global voice. Fifteen years on, that voice is still faint — weakened by member state divisions, sidelined in Ukraine and Gaza talks, and now rocked by a corruption scandal, @fed_disario reports. buff.ly/xD6Xyfv

Once a champion of free trade, the EU is drifting towards protectionism. US tariffs, cheap Chinese imports and swelling trade imbalances are pushing Brussels to harden its defences — exposing deep divisions over how far Europe should go to defend its industry. Read the full…

Conscription is returning to the EU’s political debate as governments rebuild its armies in response to Russian military aggression in Ukraine and waning US security guarantees. But analysts warn most EU countries lack the infrastructure, training capacity and public support to…

Which threats, and opportunities, will shape Europe in 2026? @parlimag asked leading Europe watchers what lies ahead. Expect a year of external shocks that could fracture the EU — or force it closer together. Read the full article: buff.ly/1viHXKG

Over at @Parlimag we spoke with over a dozen of our favorite experts on Europe to get their take on what the EU will face in 2026... Some choice takes: - US Congress will be Europe's unexpected ally - EU could join a global coalition to ban social media for teens - Hungary's 2026…

In 2025, Europe spent much of the year reacting to events rather than shaping them. What comes next in 2026? The @parlimag team spoke with more than a dozen leading Europe watchers about the risks, surprises and power shifts that could define the year ahead. Some of their…

Europe’s diplomatic service was already struggling to assert its relevance when it was rocked by an alleged corruption scandal. Deep fragmentation among member states, an increasingly centralised European Commission, and a diplomatic corps often seen as answering to national…

Europe is preparing to shoulder more of its own security as US support becomes less certain — but spending more won’t be enough. Can Europe’s defence industry scale at wartime speed? @Parlimag asked @camille_grand, secretary general of @ASDEurope: buff.ly/8bQ1yTe

Fifteen years after its creation, the effort to forge a common European foreign policy is showing its limits. Fragmentation among member states, growing centralisation by the European Commission, and a diplomatic corps pulled back toward national capitals have hollowed out the…

As Donald Trump cuts deals with Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko over prisoner releases, Brussels is left asking whether years of isolation achieved leverage or simply ceded influence over Belarus’s future. @pedersschaefer reports: buff.ly/eehzzc8

Faced with US tariffs and a flood of cheap Chinese imports, the EU is tilting back toward protectionism. But the push to shield European industry is meeting resistance from countries that advocate for free trade. @fed_disario reports: buff.ly/RGG6aza

Europe is talking conscription again. But it isn’t ready. The problem isn’t finding recruits — it’s keeping them, training them and supporting them. @pausoler98 reports: buff.ly/rY7xYZ6

Ten-euro dresses. Thirteen-euro jeans. Ultra-low prices, endless choice and gamified shopping helped Shein conquer the EU market — without a single permanent store. Its controversial first-ever shop in central Paris now highlights a bigger risk: Europe becoming a dumping…

Trump is warming to Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko. The result: prisoner releases, eased US sanctions — and tough questions for Europe over how to handle Europe’s last dictator. Read the full article by @pedersschaefer: buff.ly/eehzzc8

EU leaders agreed to jointly borrow €90bn for Ukraine — but only by sidestepping unanimity. Using the bloc’s rarely used “enhanced cooperation” mechanism, 24 member states moved ahead while others opted out, potentially setting a new precedent for decision-making at the…

Europe is not ready for a return to compulsory military service. Real strength comes from investing in people: fair pay, good conditions, training, and respect for rights. Recruitment and retention need long-term solutions — not shortcuts. — @EmmanuelJacob13, President EUROMIL

The EU Council's decision last night to throw out the reparations proposal and turn back to joint borrowing shows a new precedent for two-speed Europe... Esp. see the innovative use of Art. 20 for enhanced cooperation Read my newsletter for @Parlimag theparliamentmagazineeu.cmail19.com/t/t-e-wlkuiyk-…

It’s still unclear whether Thursday’s 16-hour European Council summit — culminating in leaders reaching a last-ditch plan to jointly borrow €90 billion to fund a loan to Ukraine over two years — will be seen as one of the bloc’s big historical moments. But what is clear is…