Europe is a continent and is different to the European Union.
Switzerland’s non-membership of the EU means it is viewed as more neutral than countries like Austria, Ireland or Sweden.
The EU has been focused on NATO’s defence spending, with members agreeing to up spending to 5% of GDP (except Spain). European leaders are preparing to deal with Donald Trump again at the NATO summit, after several EU members called for retaliatory tariffs on the USA.
The war in the Middle East and Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine have also made up a lot of this week’s European headlines. Kyiv has suffered another heavy bombing, and there have been reports that the EU is considering suspending its partnership with Israel over its genocide in Gaza.
The EU and Canada have strengthened their ties with a new partnership and talks of digital trade and deeper cooperation on AI. The EU-Canada summit comes just before NATO.
The continent (including the UK) has experienced a lovely heatwave last week, and whilst it may have ended for the UK, much of the rest of Europe is still basking in the sun – get out and see our incredible continent and all it has to offer, as the summer break begins for some – and is creeping close for the rest of us!
France and Germany have joined forces in calling for a measured yet assertive EU response to proposed U.S. tariffs on aircraft and aircraft parts, part of Washington’s broader 20% levies on EU imports.
Jeff Bezos is set to marry Lauren Sanchez in a luxurious multi-day wedding in Venice, with reports suggesting celebrity attendees including Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry.
A large-scale assault overnight targeted Kyiv and surrounding areas, with Russia deploying over 350 drones and 16 missiles.
A fake wedding involving a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl at Disneyland Paris sparked a police investigation after staff suspected illegal child marriage.
Iran and European diplomats have begun urgent nuclear talks in Geneva, as Israel ramps up airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov publicly cautioned Washington and Tel Aviv against promoting or executing regime change in Iran, particularly highlighting threats against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as “unimaginable” and “unacceptable.”
A Russian missile and drone barrage, the largest since the war began, killed 28 civilians and injured 142 across Kyiv, including the collapse of a nine-story residential block in the Solomianskyi district.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has firmly rejected NATO’s push, driven by U.S. President Trump and Secretary-General Mark Rutte, for members to spend 5% of GDP on defence.
At the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, six member countries—Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—released a coordinated statement affirming support for Ukraine after U.S. President Trump controversially left early, blocking a joint communiqué on Russia and Ukraine.
Spain’s government released a report concluding that the massive blackout on 28 April that plunged parts of Spain and Portugal into darkness was due to a combination of technical miscalculations and planning failures, not a cyberattack. Voltage surges triggered a cascade of shutdowns across southern Spain.
A single ticket-holder from Ireland has won the record €250 million EuroMillions jackpot, with details of the winning location forthcoming.
EasyJet cabin crews in Spain plan a three-day strike from 25 to 27 June, involving over 650 flight attendants based in several major cities.
The 2025 Paris Air Show highlighted Europe’s urgent push to advance its drone technology amid lessons from the Ukraine conflict.
During his first visit to Cyprus in over two decades, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides signed a declaration to significantly deepen defence, maritime, and cybersecurity collaboration.
The G7 dominated the early European news this week with the EU wanting more pressure put on Russia – something Trump is reluctant to do. The EU also signed a defence deal with Australia and unveiled a plan to phase out Russian gas contracts by 2027.
Ukraine is calling for more help after the heaviest day of airstrikes since Russia’s war in Ukraine began, whilst there has been backlash to plans to raise the GDP defence target to 5%, with Spain calling it unreasonable.
Much of Europe’s focus has been on the latest from Iran-Israel, with many European nations worried they could be dragged into the war after the United States signalled it could soon be joining Israel.
As summer sweeps across Europe, the sun is out and the days are gloriously longer. Plenty is happening across Europe this week.
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Protests against mass tourism are occurring across Spain, Italy, and Portugal, highlighting issues like rising housing costs and local displacement in cities such as Barcelona, Venice, and Lisbon.
A tragic incident in Turkey resulted in one fatality and 19 injuries following the crash of two hot air balloons in Aksaray province.
Russia and Ukraine conduct a fourth POW swap in a week, with both sides remaining silent on the number of prisoners involved.
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European leaders expressed deep concern after Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran and have called for an immediate de-escalation.
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