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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.

Brexit Climate change Coronavirus Defence and security Digitalization EU budget EU enlargement Economy Elections Energy Environmental pollution Europe's Workforce Europe's youth Eurozone Food and agriculture Health Human rights Migrants Populism Terrorism and security Tourism Trade Transportation and mobility Women's rights

Climate change

A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd., which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing, China, on March 12, 2021. Photo: Str / AFP
A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangd... […]
There is no formal organisation tasked with making sure individual nations are on track to make sure their climate commitments meet the Paris agreement's cap on global warming. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP
There is no formal organisation tasked w... […]
"Adaptation costs are significantly higher than previously estimated, resulting in a growing 'adaptation finance gap'," said an executive summary of the draft IPCC report. Photo: Ashraf Shazly / AFP
"Adaptation costs are significantly high... […]

Economy

Ina Fassbender/AFP
Ina Fassbender/AFP...
A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd., which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing, China, on March 12, 2021. Photo: Str / AFP
A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangd... […]
Lebanese would-be-migrant Bilal Moussa, 34, smokes a cigarette as he looks out to sea in the Lebanese port city of Tripoli north of Beirut on December 9, 2021. Photo: Joseph Eid / AFP
Lebanese would-be-migrant Bilal Moussa, ... […]
The skyline of the City of London. Photo: Daniel Leal / AFP
The skyline of the City of London. Photo... […]

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... […]
A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd., which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing, China, on March 12, 2021. Photo: Str / AFP
A worker moves car batteries at Xinwangd... […]
Photo: dpa
Photo: dpa...
Europe is seeing wholesale energy prices jump sharply, mainly on the back of soaring spot gas prices. Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
Europe is seeing wholesale energy prices... […]

Migrants

Lebanese would-be-migrant Bilal Moussa, 34, smokes a cigarette as he looks out to sea in the Lebanese port city of Tripoli north of Beirut on December 9, 2021. Photo: Joseph Eid / AFP
Lebanese would-be-migrant Bilal Moussa, ... […]
Migrants illegally cross the English Channel from France to Britain. Photo: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP
Migrants illegally cross the English Cha... […]
Newly appointed EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ilkka Salmi speaks during an interview at the EU headquarters in Brussels on December 7, 2021. Photo: John Thys / AFP
Newly appointed EU Counter-Terrorism Coo... […]

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... […]
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on a Paris street to offer Covid-19 antigen tests on January 6, 2022. Photo: Ludovic Marin / AFP
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on... […]
A nurse goes to check on a Covid-19 patient in the intensive care unit of the Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France on January 5, 2022. Photo: Nicolas Tucat / AFP
A nurse goes to check on a Covid-19 pati... […]
A staff member scans the QR code of a fan's Covid-19 health pass before a Ligue 1 match in Rennes, northwest France on August 8, 2021. Photo: Jean-Francois Monier / AFP
A staff member scans the QR code of a fa... […]

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 ... […]
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on a Paris street to offer Covid-19 antigen tests on January 6, 2022. Photo: Ludovic Marin / AFP
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on... […]
European annual gas prices surged by 26% to record peaks in December. Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP
European annual gas prices surged by 26%... […]
The euro entered circulation in 2002 and has since become the currency of 19 EU countries. Photo by Philippe Huguen / AFP
The euro entered circulation in 2002 and... […]

Health

A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on a Paris street to offer Covid-19 antigen tests on January 6, 2022. Photo: Ludovic Marin / AFP
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on... […]
A nurse goes to check on a Covid-19 patient in the intensive care unit of the Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France on January 5, 2022. Photo: Nicolas Tucat / AFP
A nurse goes to check on a Covid-19 pati... […]
A staff member scans the QR code of a fan's Covid-19 health pass before a Ligue 1 match in Rennes, northwest France on August 8, 2021. Photo: Jean-Francois Monier / AFP
A staff member scans the QR code of a fa... […]

Tourism

Photo: Andrea Pattaro/AFP
Photo: Andrea Pattaro/AFP...
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on a Paris street to offer Covid-19 antigen tests on January 6, 2022. Photo: Ludovic Marin / AFP
A pedestrian walks past a tent set up on... […]
Greece was the 'new destination' this year as Europeans began to venture abroad as Covid restrictions eased for the summer. Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP
Greece was the 'new destination' this ye... […]
Ambulances waiting outside the Santa Maria hospital in Lisbon. Photo: Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP / File
Ambulances waiting outside the Santa Mar... […]

Elections

The first round of the French presidential election will be held on April 10. Photo: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP
The first round of the French presidenti... […]
French President Emmanuel Macron attends an EU summit in Brussels, on December 17. Photo: John Thys / AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron attends... […]
The Social Democratic (SPD) candidate for chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) is flanked by the Greens co-leader Annalena Baerbock and FDP leader Christian Lindner, following exploratory coalition talks in Berlin. Photo: Christof Stache / AFP
The Social Democratic (SPD) candidate fo... […]

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... […]
A state emblem of the former USSR, which was removed from Moscow's Leninsky Avenue after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Photo: Alexander Nemenov / AFP
A state emblem of the former USSR, which... […]
A Ukrainian soldier on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists not far from Gorlivka, Donetsk region. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
A Ukrainian soldier on the frontline wit... […]
A Ukrainian soldier fires at pro-Russian separatists during clashes in the Donetsk region. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
A Ukrainian soldier fires at pro-Russian... […]

Environmental pollution

Foto: Sigrid Harms/dpa
Foto: Sigrid Harms/dpa...
Photo: dpa
Photo: dpa...
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was named the 2020 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was named the ... […]
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that industry accounts for almost 40 percent of the world's energy consumption and still overwhelming uses fossil fuels. Photo: Olivier Morin / AFP
The International Energy Agency (IEA) sa... […]

Terrorism and security

Newly appointed EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ilkka Salmi speaks during an interview at the EU headquarters in Brussels on December 7, 2021. Photo: John Thys / AFP
Newly appointed EU Counter-Terrorism Coo... […]
Greek policemen distribute food to migrants held at the Covid-19 quarantine area in Leros. Photo: Theophile Bloudanis / AFP
Greek policemen distribute food to migra... […]
Afghans board a military transport plane as they flee Kabul on August 24. Photo: Donald R. Allen / AFP-US Air Force / File
Afghans board a military transport plane... […]

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... […]
The logos of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft displayed on a mobile phone. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP
The logos of Google, Apple, Facebook, Am... […]
US tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft -- collectively dubbed GAFAM -- have been accused of not paying enough taxes, stifling competition, stealing media content and threatening democracy by spreading fake news. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP
US tech giants Google, Apple, Facebook, ... […]
Ein Mann sitzt zuhause an einem Esstisch und arbeitet an einem Laptop. (Gestellte Szene) (zu dpa «Vorstellung des DKV-Reports 2021 »Wie gesund lebt Deutschland?«»)
Ein Mann sitzt zuhause an einem Esstisch... […]

Transportation and mobility

Foto: Boris Roessler/dpa
Foto: Boris Roessler/dpa ...
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was named the 2020 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was named the ... […]
Airlines transported 4.5 billion passengers in 2019, belching out 900 million tonnes of CO2. Photo: Jim Watson / AFP
Airlines transported 4.5 billion passeng... […]
An obsolete vehicle is moved at the Indra Automobile Recycling facility in Romorantin, central France. Photo: Eric Piermont / AFP
An obsolete vehicle is moved at the Indr... […]

Food and agriculture

Boats leave the harbour of Cherbourg-Octeville, northwestern France. Photo: Charly Triballeau / AFP
Boats leave the harbour of Cherbourg-Oct... […]
A wheat field in Locon, northern France. Photo: Denis Charlet / AFP / File
A wheat field in Locon, northern France.... […]
The EU has already launched legal proceedings against the UK after it delayed custom controls on some goods arriving in Northern Ireland from mainland Britain. Photo: Paul Faith / AFP
The EU has already launched legal procee... […]

Women's rights

Jussi Nukari/AFP
Jussi Nukari/AFP...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a meeting of the European People's Party in Berlin. Photo: Stefanie Loos / AFP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends ... […]
An activist of the "Declic" movement for women's rights holds a printed half face picture showing a victim of domestic violence during a protest in Bucharest. Photo: Daniel Mihailescu / AFP-File
An activist of the "Declic" movement for... […]
A pregnant woman in Vertou, western France. Photo: Loic Venance / AFP / File
A pregnant woman in Vertou, western Fran... […]

Trade

Photo: dpa
Photo: dpa...
A shopper walks empty shelves at a supermarket in south London. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP
A shopper walks empty shelves at a super... […]
Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans (L) and President Ursula von der Leyen unveil the 'European Green Deal' during a press conference at the EU Parliament in Brussels on July 14, 2021. Photo: John Thys / AFP
Commission Vice President Frans Timmerma... […]
Joe Biden (centre) is flanked by Ursula von der Leyen (left) and Charles Michel ahead of the EU-US summit in Brussels. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP
Joe Biden (centre) is flanked by Ursula ... […]

EU budget

Foto: dpa
Foto: dpa...
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (L) meets President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, during the G7 finance ministers meeting in London on June 5, 2021. Photo: Alberto Pezzali / Pool
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (L) m... […]
A family photo of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting at Lancaster House in London on June 5. Photo: Henry Nicholls / AFP-Pool
A family photo of the G7 Finance Ministe... […]
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... […]

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... […]

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... […]