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What’s getting people talking across Europe? Find articles, analysis, background information, graphics and photos on the most important issues facing the EU.

Tourism

Photo: Andrea Pattaro/AFP
Photo: Andrea Pattaro/AFP
Von der Leyen said her Commission had made missteps in procuring vaccines for EU countries. Photo: Johanna Geron / Pool / AFP
Von der Leyen said her Commission had ma […]
The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is also known as the 'Yellow Card' by the World Health Organization. Photo: Jens Schueter / AFP
The International Certificate of Vaccina […]
View of the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, in Cusco, Peru during its reopening ceremony on November 01, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu reopened on Sunday in the framework of a gradual decrease in COVID-19 contagions in Peru, after remaining empty almost eight months, affecting the tourism sector severely
View of the archaeological site of Machu […]
Holidays in the coronavirus-era

Coronavirus

Eine Bundespolizistin zieht sich am Grenzübergang zur Schweiz vor einer Kontrolle eine Atemmaske auf. In der Coronavirus-Krise führt Deutschland am Montag umfassende Kontrollen und Einreiseverbote an den Grenzen auch zur Schweiz ein.
Eine Bundespolizistin zieht sich am Gren […]
Von der Leyen said her Commission had made missteps in procuring vaccines for EU countries. Photo: Johanna Geron / Pool / AFP
Von der Leyen said her Commission had ma […]
A health worker receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 in Cali, Colombia. Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP
A health worker receives a dose of the P […]
ARCHIV - Deutsche Polizeibeamte blockieren den Grenzübergang Moldau/ Neurehefeld im Erzgebirge mit einem Einsatzfahrzeug, nachdem die Einreise-Kontrollen aufgrund der Coronavirus-Situation verschärft worden waren. Deutschland gerät wegen der verschärften Einreiseregeln für Tschechien, die Slowakei und Tirol immer stärker unter Druck. Foto: Ondøej Hájek/CTK/dpa
ARCHIV - Deutsche Polizeibeamte blockier […]
Europe put to the test by the pandemic

Transportation and mobility

Foto: Boris Roessler/dpa
Foto: Boris Roessler/dpa
ARCHIV - Deutsche Polizeibeamte blockieren den Grenzübergang Moldau/ Neurehefeld im Erzgebirge mit einem Einsatzfahrzeug, nachdem die Einreise-Kontrollen aufgrund der Coronavirus-Situation verschärft worden waren. Deutschland gerät wegen der verschärften Einreiseregeln für Tschechien, die Slowakei und Tirol immer stärker unter Druck. Foto: Ondøej Hájek/CTK/dpa
ARCHIV - Deutsche Polizeibeamte blockier […]
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at the firm's aerodrome in Azereix, southwestern France, on February 4, 2021. Photo: Lionel Bonavenure / AFP
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at th […]
15.02.2021, Bavaria, Kiefersfelden: Federal police officers check the documents of car drivers coming from Austria on the A93 freeway near Kiefersfelden in the direction of Germany. Germany's tightened entry rules at the border with the Austrian state of Tyrol to protect against dangerous variants of the coronavirus went into effect Sunday night. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa +++ dpa-photo-radio +++
15.02.2021, Bavaria, Kiefersfelden: Fede […]
The European Union in motion

European election

ARCHIV - ILLUSTRATION - Ein Mann steckt am 20.02.2014 in in Frankfurt (Oder,Brandenburg) eine Europafahne in den Schlitz einer Wahlurne.
ARCHIV - ILLUSTRATION - Ein Mann steckt […]
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (L) and newly-appointed Prime Minister Jean Castex react as they give a speech during the handover ceremony, in the courtyard of the Matignon Hotel in Paris on July 3, 2020. (Photo by Ludovic Marin / AFP)
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Phi […]
Newly elected mayor of Bordeaux, EELV green party's Pierre Hurmic (C), takes part in a meeting with members of his campaign team on June 29, 2020 in Bordeaux, southwestern France, a day after the second round of the French mayoral elections. (Photo by MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP)
Newly elected mayor of Bordeaux, EELV gr […]
Where is the EU headed?

Energy

Abendröte schmückt den Himmel am Freitag (11.10.2002) am Kohlekraftwerk Mehrum (Kr. Peine) bei einer Temperatur um drei Grad und scharfem Ostwind. In der Nähe dieser Anlage drehen sich viele Windräder auf den landwirtschaftlichen Flächen. dpa/lni
Abendröte schmückt den Himmel am Freit […]
Picture taken and released on August 24, 2016 by the Turkish Presidential Press Service shows then US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking during a press conference at the Turkish Presidential Complex in Ankara. Photo: Kayhan Ozer / Turkish Presidential Press Service / AFP
Picture taken and released on August 24, […]
A truck loaded with minerals pictured at the Terrafame nickel and cobalt extraction mine in Sotkamo, Finland, on September 23, 2020. Photo: Alessandro Rampazzo / AFP
A truck loaded with minerals pictured at […]
Turkey has once again extended the search for gas in contested waters of the eastern Mediterranean by the research ship Oruc Reis. Photo: Ozan Kose / AFP
Turkey has once again extended the searc […]
The journey from a coal union to the energy transition

Health

A health worker receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 in Cali, Colombia. Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP
A health worker receives a dose of the P […]
People get coronavirus tests at the Stadthalle city hall in Vienna on December 4, 2020, as mass coronavirus testing started across Austria
People get coronavirus tests at the Stad […]
A health worker holds a vial of Russian-made Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in Podgorica, Montenegro on February 23. Savo Prelevic / AFP
A health worker holds a vial of Russian- […]
Facing new risks

Environmental pollution

Foto: Sigrid Harms/dpa
Foto: Sigrid Harms/dpa
Electric vehicles (EV) charge at a charging station in east London on November 18, 2020. - Britain will ban petrol and diesel vehicle sales from 2030 as part of a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution" to be unveiled Wednesday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
Electric vehicles (EV) charge at a charg […]
The power plant "Weisweiler" run by brown coal from an open cast mine is pictured on October 2, 2015 in Weisweiler, western Germany. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo by PATRIK STOLLARZ / AFP)
The power plant "Weisweiler" run by brow […]
A man collects items from an illegal dump in Adana, southern Turkey, on November 29, 2020. Photo: Yasin Akgul / AFP
A man collects items from an illegal dum […]
Working towards a cleaner union

EU budget

Foto: dpa
Foto: dpa
Combination of pictures created on January 12, 2021 shows a file photo taken on October 2, 2020 of Italian PM Giuseppe Conte at The European Council Building in Brussels (L) and then former Italian PM, Matteo Renzi, on March 5, 2018 at the PD headquarters in Rome.
Combination of pictures created on Janua […]
EU flags fly outside the European Commission building in Brussels, on December 7, 2020. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP
EU flags fly outside the European Commis […]
Eine Euro-Münze.
Eine Euro-Münze.
A new framework for funding the future of Europe

Brexit

Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured during an interview with AFP at the Rockit office hub for fintech founders in Vilnius on February 12, 2021. Photo: Petras Malukas / AFP
Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured dur […]
Lorries from Scottish seafood companies drive past the Houses of Parliament in London a protest action by fishermen against post-Brexit red tape and coronavirus restrictions, which they say could threaten the future of the industry, on January 18, 2021. Photo: Tolga Akmen / AFP
Lorries from Scottish seafood companies […]
ARCHIV - Ein Fischkutter ist am 28.01.2017 auf der Ostsee vor Warnemünde (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) unterwegs, Möwen begleiten den Kutter bei sonnigem Wetter. Naturschutzbelange gegen Fischfanginteressen: Die jährlichen Verhandlungen zu erlaubten Fischfangmengen in der Nordsee und dem Atlantik sind stets ein knallhartes Ringen. (zu dpa «Von Aalen und Quoten - EU-Minister ringen um Fischfang für 2018» vom 12.12.2017) Foto: Bernd Wüstneck/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
ARCHIV - Ein Fischkutter ist am 28.01.20 […]
Britain’s divorce from the EU

Trade

Photo: dpa
Photo: dpa
Taivo Hanzens, deputy head of customs in Paternieki, Latvia, shows seized boxes of cigarettes on February 8, 2021. Photo: Gints Ivuskans / AFP
Taivo Hanzens, deputy head of customs in […]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talks on the inauguration of the new President of the United States and the current political situation during a plenary session at the EU Parliament in Brussels on January 20, 2021. Photo: John Thys / AFP
European Commission President Ursula von […]
Lorries from Scottish seafood companies drive past the Houses of Parliament in London a protest action by fishermen against post-Brexit red tape and coronavirus restrictions, which they say could threaten the future of the industry, on January 18, 2021. Photo: Tolga Akmen / AFP
Lorries from Scottish seafood companies […]
Internal market flourishes, but protectionism looms

Digitalization

Netzwerkkabel hängen am 14.02.2013 in Jülich (Nordrhein-Westfalen) im Forschungszentrum an der Rückseite des Supercomputers Juqueen. Europas schnellster Rechner, Juqueen, geht offiziell an den Start. Mit einer maximalen Rechenleistung von 5,9 Petaflops kann der Supercomputer sechs Billiarden Rechenoperationen pro Sekunde durchführen. Foto: Oliver Berg/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
Netzwerkkabel hängen am 14.02.2013 in J […]
Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured during an interview with AFP at the Rockit office hub for fintech founders in Vilnius on February 12, 2021. Photo: Petras Malukas / AFP
Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured dur […]
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks via video during the World Economic Forum (WEF) of the Davos Agenda.
President of the European Commission Urs […]
(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 10, 2020 a photo illustration, the Twitter account of US President Donald Trump is displayed on a mobile phone in Arlington, Virginia. - Twitter said January 8, 2021, it has permanently suspended President Donald Trump's account, citing the risk of further violence following the assault on the US Capitol by his supporters. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on Augu […]
A connected continent

Eurozone

ILLUSTRATION - Griechische Euro-Münzen stehen am 07.01.2015 in Köln (Nordrhein-Westfalen) auf einer EU-Fahne. Die Bundesregierung entwickelt einem Medienbericht zufolge konkrete Strategien für einen möglichen Austritt Griechenlands aus der Eurozone. Foto: Oliver Berg/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
ILLUSTRATION - Griechische Euro-Münzen […]
ILLUSTRATION - Eine 2-Euro Münze. Foto: Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
ILLUSTRATION - Eine 2-Euro Münze. Foto: […]
Former ECB head Mario Draghi leaves the Quirinale palace in Rome after a meeting with the Italian president on February 3, 2021. Photo: Andreas Solaro / AFP
Former ECB head Mario Draghi leaves the […]
A customer enters the checkout in a branch of the retail chain Netto ApS & Co. KG enters his secret code.
A customer enters the checkout in a bran […]
Many states, one currency

Elections

North Rhine-Westphalia's State Premier and candidate as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Armin Laschet delivers a speech on the second day of the party's 33rd congress held online because of the coronavirus pandemic, in Berlin on January 16, 2021. - Germany's conservative CDU party will elect a new leader on on January 16, 2021, in a key vote kicking off the race for Germany's top job as a deadly pandemic roils Europe's biggest economy. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / various sources / AFP)
North Rhine-Westphalia's State Premier a […]
(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 22, 2019 German Chancellor Angela Merkel walks on stage during the party's annual congress in Leipzig, eastern Germany. - Germany's conservative CDU party will pick on January 16, 2021, during an online congress a new leader from three candidates: moderate Armin Laschet, arch-conservative Friedrich Merz and outsider Norbert Roettgen. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on Nove […]
(FILES) - (COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on October 16, 2020 shows the candidates for the leadership of Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party (L to R) Norbert Roettgen (February 18, 2020 in Berlin), Friedrich Merz (February 25, 2020 in Berlin) and Armin Laschet (July 3, 2020 in Berlin). - Germany's conservative CDU party will pick during an online congress a new leader on Saturday, January 16, 2021, from three candidates: moderate Armin Laschet, arch-conservative Friedrich Merz and outsider Norbert Roettgen. (Photos by Odd ANDERSEN and John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
(FILES) - (COMBO) This combination of fi […]
The populist challenge

Migrants

Migrants leave the "Lipa" migrant camp near the northwestern Bosnian town of Bihac, on December 29, 2020 after it was destroyed by a fire. Photo: Elvis Barukcic / AFP
Migrants leave the "Lipa" migrant camp n […]
An anti-Brexit protester holds Union and EU flags outside a conference centre in central London on December 4, 2020, as post-Brexit trade deal talks continue. Photo: Niklas Halle'n / AFP
An anti-Brexit protester holds Union and […]
French police patrol the border with Belgium in Quievrechain during a Covid-19 lockdown imposed by French authorities on November 6, 2020. Photo: Francois Lo Presti / AFP
French police patrol the border with Bel […]
A new home in Europe?

Europe's youth

Schüler der Edith-Stein-Schule präsentieren am 06.09.2017 in Erfurt (Thüringen) die selbstgestalteten Wahlplakate für die U18-Bundestagswahl. Foto: Martin Schutt/dpa
Schüler der Edith-Stein-Schule präsent […]
In a reception classroom, children sit apart from each other on a carpet where crosses have been marked out for them to sit on, in a teaching environment safe from Coronavirus for pupils and teachers at Brambles Primary Academy in Huddersfield, northern England on June 4, 2020, as the Government's recommencing of education for Reception and Years 1 and 6 classes gets underway. - Primary schools reopened the week commencing June 1, welcoming back children in Reception, year 1 and year 6 age groups, alongside priority groups. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
In a reception classroom, children sit a […]
(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 10, 2020 people dance and attend a rave party, on an agricultural land in Causse Mejean, in the heart of the Cevennes National Park, southern France, despite the limitation of gatherings linked to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. - The summer has been marked by hundreds of 'free parties' in France, in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak, AFP reports on August 23, 2020. (Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP)
(FILES) In this file photo taken on Augu […]
Rentrée des classes en Serbie. Photo: Andrej Isakovic/AFP
Rentrée des classes en Serbie. Photo: A […]
Endless opportunities or no future?

Economy

Ina Fassbender/AFP
Ina Fassbender/AFP
Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured during an interview with AFP at the Rockit office hub for fintech founders in Vilnius on February 12, 2021. Photo: Petras Malukas / AFP
Rockit CEO Sarune Smalakyte pictured dur […]
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at the firm's aerodrome in Azereix, southwestern France, on February 4, 2021. Photo: Lionel Bonavenure / AFP
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at th […]
Taivo Hanzens, deputy head of customs in Paternieki, Latvia, shows seized boxes of cigarettes on February 8, 2021. Photo: Gints Ivuskans / AFP
Taivo Hanzens, deputy head of customs in […]
The economic recovery of Europe

Women's rights

Jussi Nukari/AFP
Jussi Nukari/AFP
A police car patrols on April 10, 2018 in Lille, northern France. (Photo by Philippe HUGUEN / AFP)
A police car patrols on April 10, 2018 i […]
Demonstrators take part in a pro-choice protest in Warsaw, on January 27. Photo: Wojtek Radwanski / AFP
Demonstrators take part in a pro-choice […]
Women take part in a protest demanding justice for victims of gender violence at Constitution Square in Guatemala City on October 10, 2020. Photo: Johan Ordonez / AFP
Women take part in a protest demanding j […]
The #MeToo effect

EU enlargement

ARCHIV - Zwei Männer feiern am 01.01.2007 vor einer EU-Fahne den EU-Beitritt Rumäniens in Bukarest. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT (zu dpa Berichterstattung vor dem EU-Gipfel) +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++
ARCHIV - Zwei Männer feiern am 01.01.2 […]
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to members of staff and contractors as she tours the NHS Louisa Jordan field hospital, set up at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on April 10, 2020, to potentially help with extra patients caused by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. - The disease has struck at the heart of the British government, infected more than 60,000 people nationwide and killed over 8,000, with a daily death toll in England of 866 reported on April 10. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / POOL / AFP)
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeo […]
A health employee wearing a protective jumpsuit disinfects a local tram in Zagreb as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 caused by novel coronavirus on March 13, 2020. - Since the novel coronavirus first emerged in late December 2019, more than 135,640 cases have been recorded in 122 countries and territories, killing 5,043 people, according to an AFP tally compiled on March 13, 2020 based on official sources. (Photo by Damir SENCAR / AFP)
A health employee wearing a protective j […]
European flags are waving in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. Two days before Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the European Parliament also ratified the EU withdrawal agreement at a meeting in Brussels and finally sealed the brexit.
European flags are waving in front of th […]
The Union is growing

Defence and security

25.04.2018, Brandenburg, Schönefeld: Das zweistrahliges Mehrzweckkampfflugzeug Dassault Rafale aus Frankreich ist bei der Raumfahrtausstellung (ILA) ausgestellt. Bis Sonntag präsentierten 1100 Aussteller aus 41 Ländern ihre Neuheiten von Flugzeugen über Drohnen und Flugtaxis bis hin zu Raketentechnik. (zu dpa "Ein Kampfjet für Europa - Berlin und Paris gehen in Rüstungsoffensive" am 26.04.2018)
25.04.2018, Brandenburg, Schönefeld: Da […]
Austrian police work on November 3, 2020 at Morzinplatz, one of the areas of the multiple shootings that occured on the eve in the center of Vienna, Austria. - A huge manhunt was under way November 3, 2020 after gunmen opened fire at multiple locations across central Vienna, killing at least three people and wounding several more in what the Austrian Chancellor described as a "repulsive terror attack". One of the suspected killers, identified as an Islamic State group sympathiser, was shot dead by police who said they were searching for at least one more assailant still at large. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)
Austrian police work on November 3, 2020 […]
US Air Force photo shows an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launching during a developmental test at 12:33 a.m. Pacific Time on February 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Photo: Clayton Wear / US Air Force / AFP
US Air Force photo shows an unarmed Minu […]
Picture taken and released on August 24, 2016 by the Turkish Presidential Press Service shows then US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking during a press conference at the Turkish Presidential Complex in Ankara. Photo: Kayhan Ozer / Turkish Presidential Press Service / AFP
Picture taken and released on August 24, […]
A continent's preparations for a world of challenges

Food and agriculture

A person holds a handful of dry mealworms, the larval form of the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor), produced for animal feed in the premises of French company Invers in Saint-Ignat, central France, on May 27, 2020. Photo: Thierry Zoccolan / AFP
A person holds a handful of dry mealworm […]
The warehouse of logistics platform 2XL in Zeebrugge that delivers groceries to UK retailers from the Belgian port, pictured on December 14, 2020. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP
The warehouse of logistics platform 2XL […]
Freight lorries queue outside the port of Dover on the south coast of England on December 10, 2020, before boarding ferries to Europe. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP
Freight lorries queue outside the port o […]
Feeding a continent

Europe's Workforce

Photo: dpa
Photo: dpa
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at the firm's aerodrome in Azereix, southwestern France, on February 4, 2021. Photo: Lionel Bonavenure / AFP
Aircraft stored by Tarmac Aerosave at th […]
Former ECB head Mario Draghi leaves the Quirinale palace in Rome after a meeting with the Italian president on February 3, 2021. Photo: Andreas Solaro / AFP
Former ECB head Mario Draghi leaves the […]
Bar owner Martin Mihaylov walks through his bar in Sofia, on January 21, 2021. Photo: Nikolay Doychinov / AFP
Bar owner Martin Mihaylov walks through […]
Tensions between the poor and the rich

Populism

Foto: dpa
Foto: dpa
Italian Lega party leader Matteo Salvini addresses the Senate in Rome on February 12, 2020. Photo: Filippo Monteforte / AFP
Italian Lega party leader Matteo Salvini […]
Italian PM Giuseppe Conte (C), flanked by Deputy PM and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini (L) and by Deputy PM and Minister of Economic Development Luigi Di Maio (R), delivers a speech at the Italian Senate, in Rome, on August 20, 2019
Italian PM Giuseppe Conte (C), flanked b […]
Simple answers to complex questions

Climate change

Climate change activists block traffic in the City of London financial district during environmental protests by the Extinction Rebellion group in London on April 25, 2019. - Environmental protesters caused disruption in London's financial district, including at the London Stock Exchange where activists glued themselves to the entrance, before winding up days of demonstrations that have blocked parts of the British captial. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
Climate change activists block traffic i […]
Smoke rises from the Ruhleben incineration power plant behind the "Unite d'Habitation of Berlin" (Corbusierhaus), a building designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier (L), which is located next to the Olympic Stadium, in Berlin, on October 16, 2020. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
Smoke rises from the Ruhleben incinerati […]
The Eiffel Tower in Paris pictured through a haze of air pollution from the tower of Notre Dame Cathedral on March 14, 2017. Photo: Philippe Lopez / AFP
The Eiffel Tower in Paris pictured throu […]
Tackling global warming

Terrorism and security

Austrian police work on November 3, 2020 at Morzinplatz, one of the areas of the multiple shootings that occured on the eve in the center of Vienna, Austria. - A huge manhunt was under way November 3, 2020 after gunmen opened fire at multiple locations across central Vienna, killing at least three people and wounding several more in what the Austrian Chancellor described as a "repulsive terror attack". One of the suspected killers, identified as an Islamic State group sympathiser, was shot dead by police who said they were searching for at least one more assailant still at large. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)
Austrian police work on November 3, 2020 […]
French police patrol the border with Belgium in Quievrechain during a Covid-19 lockdown imposed by French authorities on November 6, 2020. Photo: Francois Lo Presti / AFP
French police patrol the border with Bel […]
A policeman stands next to wreathes placed by government officials in homage to victims of a shooting in central Vienna, on November 3, 2020, a day after the attack. Photo: Joe Klamar / AFP
A policeman stands next to wreathes plac […]
The EU's fight against terror