Two scenarios - the rise of the hard right and the return to core EU values - depict contrasting futures for the EU in a year when half the world’s electorate goes to the polls, writes Michael Leigh.  

Ukrainian military intelligence was directly involved in a deadly attack on a concert hall near Moscow in which over 140 people were killed, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov said, TASS reported on Friday (24 May).

An Italian anti-fascist activist accused of attacking alleged neo-Nazis in Hungary is to go on trial in a Budapest court on Friday (24 May), in a case that has sparked tensions between Rome and Budapest.

Judges at the UN's top court will rule on Friday (24 May) on South Africa's request to order Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and withdraw from Gaza, part of a wider case accusing Israel of genocide.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Spanish right's top EU candidate avoiding to comment on possible bloc alliance with far-right, journalists urging Brussels to safeguard Italy's media freedom, and so much more.

China's military carried out a second day of war games around Taiwan on Friday (24 May), with drills to test its ability to "seize power" and control key areas in exercises Beijing has said were launched to punish Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te.

With the expulsion of the AfD, the far-right Identity and Democracy party got rid of one of its most controversial members in order not to lose its appeal to voters ahead of the European elections but is still far from being considered a potential partner by the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) that is set to dominate the next legislature.

Russia will identify US property, including securities, that could be used as compensation for losses sustained as a result of any seizure of frozen Russian assets in the US, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (23 May) after a day of talks in New Caledonia that he would delay a voting reform that had triggered deadly riots on the French-ruled Pacific island, and try to seek a new political agreement.

Romanian civil servants falling under certain categories will receive a 10% pay rise this year compared to December 2023, government spokesman Mihai Constantin said on Thursday, despite the country being under the excessive deficit procedure since 2021.

Poland's conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) has nothing against Hungary's Fidesz joining the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), MEP Zdzisław Krasnodębski told Euractiv Poland, adding that he could imagine the ECR working with both the European People's Party (EPP) and some parties in the Identity and Democracy (ID) group.

Listed real estate has a pivotal role to play in the context of the long-awaited completion of the Capital Markets Union (CMU). This asset class not only aligns with CMU objectives but can serve as a catalyst for further unlocking the potential of Europe’s capital markets.

Israel's celebrations to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of Israel were the target of abuse on Wednesday, with guests "harassed and abused" by activists, the Israeli embassy in Portugal has complained.

Portugal is no longer at risk of being suspended from the Schengen area, the country's intelligence platform, the Internal Security System (SSI), said on Thursday, stressing that it had overcome delays in installing the new digital and biometric border control system.

Dolors Montserrat, the leading candidate in the European elections for the right-wing Partido Popular (EPP), refused to clarify during a live TV debate on Wednesday with her rival from the ruling Socialist Party, Teresa Ribera, whether the right-wing formation would make a pact with the far-right VOX party and other "ultra" forces in the European Parliament.

Russia joined Moldova's leftist opposition on Thursday (23 May) in denouncing Romania's prime minister for remarks saying ex-Soviet Moldova's population was made up strictly of Romanians who spoke Romanian.

The Italian government is trying to silence dissent and take control of public media, the European Movement International and several European organisations said in a letter to European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová as the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) raised the alarm over political influence in the country's media.

The US was imposing new visa restrictions and reviewing relations with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday (23 May), after it pushed forward a Russian-style "foreign influence" law that triggered mass protests.

France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and far-right Rassemblement National (RN) lead candidate Jordan Bardella engaged in an unprecedented TV debate on Thursday, hoping to sway voters just days before the European elections.

The new roadmap of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been leaked, and it includes a position on nuclear energy, with nothing new or concrete on new financing, fuelling the fantasy of support for the development of the construction of new reactors.