Europe News Merz's plan of 'associate membership' for Ukraine gets mixed reviews Diplomats in Brussels are casting doubt over German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's bold plan to grant Ukraine "associate membership". The European Commission says any innovative solution should respect the "merit-based" nature of the multi-chapter accession process. 21/05/2026
Space New Greek laser base promises faster, safer satellite communications A new laser ground station has opened in northern Greece. Where else in Europe is this novel technology being used, and why does continent-wide connectivity matter? 21/05/2026
Europe News Spain to launch biggest wildfire campaign after record losses in 2025 Spain is one of the southern European countries on the front line of climate change as higher average temperatures stoke heatwaves, droughts and forest fires. 21/05/2026
Art Intimate connections: Tilda Swinton on art and crucial collaborations Actress Tilda Swinton's displays her art, recollections, personal items and more in a revealing exhibition at the Onassis Ready in Athens which is closely linked to eight key figures in her life from the world's of film and fashion. 21/05/2026
Business EasyJet losses deepen as Iran war drives fuel costs higher EasyJet reported wider first-half losses as the Iran war pushed up fuel costs and weakened demand. The airline warned of continued pressure from higher prices and softer summer bookings despite strong growth in its holidays business. 21/05/2026
Health news AI maps whole-body damage caused by obesity An AI-powered “body atlas” helps scientists study obesity, allowing them to see its effects across the whole body in a single view rather than organ by organ. 21/05/2026
Europe News EU countries urge sanctions on Israeli minister for activists' video The video even drew a sharp rebuke from senior politicians within Israel’s government with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar slamming its publication. 21/05/2026
Travel News Skip the crowds: Uncommon day trips in Europe's most visited cities Intrepid Travel has launched ‘uncommon day trips’ in Barcelona, Venice and Paris which aim to take travellers away from the main sights. 21/05/2026
No Comment Ukrainian drone pilots compete in high-speed contests Ukraine is turning FPV drone training into competitive tournaments to boost pilots’ speed, precision and tactics in its war against Russia. 21/05/2026
No Comment Pashinyan grabs megaphone as exchange turns heated during election campaign Armenian's election campaign turns fiery as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan grabbed a megaphone and confronted critics accusing him of giving up Karabakh, during an election campaign event in Yerevan. 21/05/2026
Health news STIs hit record levels in Europe: what’s driving the rise? Bacterial sexually transmitted infections have been rising across Europe for a decade, reaching record levels, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 21/05/2026
Europe News Turning point: Germans lose faith in the US and turn to defence A German defence survey suggests that trust in the US as a NATO ally has fallen sharply, while support for higher defence spending and the military has continued to rise. 21/05/2026
No Comment Paris hosts Franco-Lebanese music event to aid Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis France hosted a large charity concert for Lebanon on Thursday evening at the Arab World Institute in Paris, where several hundred people gathered to support civilians affected by the conflict. 21/05/2026
Europe News EU cuts GDP forecast as Strait of Hormuz crisis pushes inflation up The EU has downgraded its 2026 economic growth forecast after the Strait of Hormuz crisis sent energy prices sharply higher earlier this year. With no end to the conflict in sight, rising energy costs are fuelling tensions among member states calling for additional fiscal support measures. 21/05/2026
Earth News UN backs historic climate ruling despite US efforts to derail it Sinking nations are one step closer to ‘receiving justice’ for fossil fuel harms as the UN backs a historic climate ruling. 21/05/2026
Economy Recession warning? European business activity slumps due to Iran war Business activity across the eurozone slowed sharply in May, hitting its lowest level in more than two and a half years. 21/05/2026
No Comment Jeanette revives cult film anthem "Por qué te vas" in Cannes event Jeanette, the voice behind the iconic song Porque te vas from 1976’s Cría Cuervos, led celebrations in Cannes as France marked the film’s 50th anniversary with a restored screening and live performance at the Cannes Film Festival. 21/05/2026
The Cube No, the US hasn't announced a total withdrawal of troops from Europe Amid real reports of the US scaling back its military presence in European countries, there are also false claims that Washington is removing the entirety of its personnel from the continent. 21/05/2026
Europe Today Technological sovereignty is not about isolation, EU digital chief say Henna Virkkunen says tech sovereignty means cutting risky dependencies and boosting European capacity in areas from semiconductor supply chains to cloud services. 21/05/2026
Europe Today ‘High possibility’ of more drones, Lithuanian defence minister says Exclusive: As the Baltics continue to be rattled by repeated drone incidents – with at least six actual or suspected incidents rocking the region this month – Lithuania’s Minister of Defence Robertas Kaunas told Euronews there is a “high possibility” more unmanned aerial incidents will materalise. 21/05/2026
Europe News Marking 20 years of independence, Montenegro eyes EU as next milestone Concerts and various celebrations are being held in the capital Podgorica this week and other towns in Montenegro, which is known for its stunning Adriatic Sea coastline and towering mountains. 21/05/2026
Culture news Volunteers create audio story collection for blind children The ‘Words that Embrace’ project is an initiative by writer Maria Saraiva de Menezes, born of a partnership between Alcântara Municipal Library in Lisbon and the Bengala Mágica association. 21/05/2026
Europe Today Newsletter: NATO alliance and Balts hold the defensive line As NATO foreign ministers meet in Sweden on Thursday to discuss the role of Washington in the military alliance, as well as dwindling ammunition stocks, the Baltics are coming to grips with repeated drone incursions threatening chaos in capitals – and Europe's eastern flank. 21/05/2026
EU.XL The EU simplified its toughest AI law: what changed and why it matters EU lawmakers have agreed to simplify the bloc’s landmark AI Act. Supporters call it a pragmatic fix to cut red tape, while critics see a concession to Big Tech. What is changing and what could it mean for businesses and citizens? 21/05/2026
Europe Today Drones, bunkers and political turmoil: what’s going on in Lithuania? A drone incursion into Lithuania on Wednesday brought the capital to a standstill and forced the country’s leaders to shelter in a bunker. Ursula von der Leyen has said Europe will respond with “unity and strength”. We speak to Lithuania’s defence minister, Robertas Kaunas. 21/05/2026
Economy Winners and losers: Real household income growth across Europe in 2025 Poland and Portugal saw the strongest real household income growth in Europe over the last two years. Among major economies, Spain led the way. 21/05/2026