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Leticia Batista Cabanas

EU.XL

€31bn trade, 7,600 deaths: How the EU plans to tackle the drug crisis

29 million Europeans use drugs every year, and the market has an estimated €31 billion value. The European Council has released a new framework to completely change how the EU handles this enormous problem, from enforcement to public health.

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Does the EU have a drug problem? Take our poll

The European Council has approved its first ever drug framework to reduce drug use and drug related crimes in the EU.

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EU migration pact to take effect: ready to deliver?

Co-legislators agreed on “return hubs” on 1 June, preparing to rollout the Migration and Asylum Pact of 12 June. Stricter border controls, uniform asylum rules, and a new digital monitoring system will crack down on illegal migration. But are member states ready for the new rules?

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EU migration pact: are countries ready to revamp the asylum system?

The EU’s pact on Migration and Asylum is set for full application on June 12th. It’s meant to create a unified, legally binding European system to fast-track border screenings and split the responsibility of hosting asylum seekers amongst all member states.

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Safer grids, higher bills? Chinese inverter ban reshapes EU energy

Brussels moves to ban EU funding for clean energy projects that use solar and battery inverters from “high-risk countries”, namely China. Now, manufacturers must rely on European alternatives, which risks increasing European energy bills and production costs.

World News

Half of Belgium sees the US as a bigger adversary than China

According to a recent poll, over 50 percent of Belgians view the US as an adversary. Meanwhile, only 40% to 44% perceive China as a rival.

Kenya

Two people shot dead in Kenya protests against Ebola plan

Kenyan police shot and killed two people who were protesting a US-backed plan to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in central Kenya.

USA

Seven killed in Iowa shooting, including gunman

A shooting across several locations in Muscatine, Iowa, has left seven people dead, including the gunman.

USA

Pentagon bans journalists from press office, cites classified material

The Pentagon has barred journalists from entering its press office after redesignating the space as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), a secure area used for handling classified information.

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Should EU manufacturers use less Chinese parts? Take our poll

Brussels is considering limiting manufacturing supply chains. Instead of buying cheap, 100% Chinese components, European companies would be forced to source them from at least 3 different countries.

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What's the EU’s single ticket that simplifies train travel?

The European Commission has just unveiled its "One journey, one ticket" initiative. It will simplify cross-border train travel as passengers face increasing delays and cancellations.

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‘One ticket, one journey’: can the EU fix train travel? Take our poll

The European Commission has just announced a proposal to simplify train travel for Europeans. Under the ‘One ticket, one journey, full rights’ initiative, travellers will be able to book multi-leg trips with one single ticket and enjoy new rights.

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How the EU plans to ban non-consensual ‘nudifier apps’

The European Parliament and Council outlaw “nudifier apps”. Starting 2 December, the ban targets companies developing AI systems for sexual deepfakes and users creating false intimate content of real people without consent.

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Can the EU stop 'nudification' apps?

The EU is banning “nudification” apps, AI-powered tools that can digitally remove clothing from images of people, to create non-consensual sexual content.

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EU’s €2 trillion budget talks risk becoming ugly and delayed

A fierce budget battle is brewing in Brussels as the European Parliament pushes for nearly €200 billion more in the EU’s next long-term budget, setting up a clash with Ursula von der Leyen and fiscally conservative member states over how to fund Europe’s ambitions.

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MFF mayhem: Should the EU increase its budget, or focus on austerity?

The next MFF has sparked a high-stakes tug-of-war between the European Commission, which proposed an initial €1.8 trillion plan, the European Parliament, insisting on an additional €200 billion, and "frugal" member states determined to slash spending.

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Two years of DMA: is it really 'fit for purpose'?

On 28 April, the European Commission's first formal review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) found it “fit for purpose”, noting its positive impact on consumers and competition. The Parliament calls for fast-tracking stronger enforcement amid external pushback.

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DMA review: is the EU’s digital economy stronger?

What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA)? In 2022, the EU set out to impose strict "do’s and don’ts" on tech giants. Two years after implementation, the Commission is reviewing how successful it’s been.

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EU energy mix: Crisis pushes balance on nuclear, renewables, security

The EU is pivoting back to nuclear after decades of hesitation, driven by the dual shock of the energy crisis and the realisation that renewables alone can't power a heavy industrial economy.

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Should nuclear take centre stage in Europe’s energy future?

Europe's energy security has been severely hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran war halted tanker traffic in early March 2026, so flows of Qatari and Emirati LNG and Persian Gulf oil have been reduced or brought to a standstill.

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