The EU is set to revisit its €68 billion Association Agreement with Israel after its External Action Service found indications that Israel breached core human rights obligations, particularly through Gaza-related measures, including humanitarian blockades, strikes on hospitals, and forced displacement.
In Brussels, the European Union and Canada sealed their first-ever security and defence partnership with a non‑American nation.
Greenpeace and anti-tourism activists protested Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding, highlighting billionaire tax inequalities and environmental concerns with banners in St Mark’s Square.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Vladimir Putin may attack a NATO country within five years to test the alliance, although he believes Putin is not currently ready for immediate action.
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.
A 22-year-old British man has been arrested at Disneyland Paris after allegedly organising a staged wedding ceremony involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl.
A large-scale assault overnight targeted Kyiv and surrounding areas, with Russia deploying over 350 drones and 16 missiles.
NATO ambassadors agreed to boost defence spending and related spending, rising from the longstanding 2 % target to a combined 5 % of GDP by 2035, ahead of next week’s Hague summit.
A fake wedding involving a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl at Disneyland Paris sparked a police investigation after staff suspected illegal child marriage.
Arrest in Cyprus as Israel claims Iran tried to attack its citizens. As Israel’s foreign minister made the unverified accusations hours after the arrest.
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.
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.
Russian missile and drone strikes in Kyiv killed 14 individuals, including a 62-year-old US citizen, and injured at least 44 others, resulting in significant destruction of residential buildings.
Chelsea have initiated contact with Lyon regarding winger Malick Fofana, valued at around €50 million, as a potential alternative to Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
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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