As the US and Britain discuss allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep within Russia, some US officials are deeply skeptical that doing so would make a significant difference in Kyiv's battle against Russian invaders.

Nine European countries protested on Friday (13 September) against the International Monetary Fund's plans to resume missions to Russia, saying it would damage the reputation of the Fund to resume dialogue with a country that has invaded another.

The state-owned heat and gas provider for Vienna, Wien Energie, will avoid purchasing Russian gas and ensure none is sold to its customers from 2025, according to a statement on Friday (13 September).

The new programme of the Dutch cabinet under Dick Schoof reflects the tough migration stance from the coalition agreement, outlining a comprehensive plan to radically reform the asylum system of the country and to pursue an opt-out from EU migration policies.

The European Commission on Friday (13 September) presented member states with options for extending the timeframe of the bloc's sanction regime against Russia to unblock a Russian frozen assets deal for Ukraine. However, an agreement on the matter looks far off.

The timeline for establishing the next European Commission looks increasingly tight: the question is not whether it will be late - it will be - but how much pressure lawmakers will be under to greenlight new commissioners.

Initiatives related to agriculture, food and, in particular, animal protection and welfare account for an important share of European Citizens' Initiatives (ECIs). Seven of the 10 initiatives the Commission has had to respond to so far under the EU's participatory mechanism fall into these categories.  

Former European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi urged member states to boost investments by 5% of their GDP to address Europe's challenges but to do this, the Union must put aside political battles over public debt and financial market regulation and focus on keeping investment within the EU.

The EU Commission scored two big wins against Big Tech at the EU's top court, Draghi threw his weight behind tech-enabled productivity in his reporter on Europe's future.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's unveiling of how she intends to distribute jobs to the next team of EU commissioners could be delayed yet again, due to political gridlock in Slovenia.

Beverage cartons play a crucial role in our daily lives, offering unique functionalities that support a resilient food supply chain while being low-carbon and recyclable, writes Annick Carpentier.

Venezuela has recalled its Spanish ambassador to Caracas for consultations this Friday (13 September) following Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles's (PSOE/S&D) declarations of “persecution” and “limitation of fundamental rights” against political opponents in the Maduro regime. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today (13 September) called for a new financial tool to reward nature protection, which takes inspiration from the EU's carbon trading scheme.

Google's efforts to fully comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) remains insufficient, travel and hospitality organisations attending two European Commission workshops this week, told Euractiv.

The French draft budget, prepared over the summer by the resigning government, proposes an 18% cut to official development assistance (ODA) to tackle a soaring public deficit, raising concerns among NGOs and political leaders who warn of the impacts on international aid.

Russia's FSB security service said on Friday (13 September) it had revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow whose actions it said showed signs of spying and sabotage work.

Chinese and Russian defence officials on Friday (13 September) took swipes at the West at a military diplomacy forum in Beijing, with China pitching to the Global South and Russia saying the United States was shifting military conflicts to the Asia-Pacific.

Greece outlined measures to boost its lagging birthrate on Thursday (12 September), from vouchers and childcare benefits to tax breaks for new parents, although experts questioned the plan's effectiveness.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the German opposition leader suggesting a trial period for border rejections, the Socialist group in the European Parliament softening its stance on the Italian executive vice-president pick, and so much more. 

Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday (12 September) of using strategic bombers to strike a civilian grain vessel in a missile attack in Black Sea waters near NATO member Romania, escalating tensions between Moscow and the military alliance.