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EUobserver voice is a daily opinion piece by EUobserver staff writers, published every weekday evening as a newsletter.
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Ukraine’s financial crisis resurrects Europe’s bitter dilemma on Russian frozen assets
10 September 2026 by Elena Sánchez Nicolás
The dire financial situation of Ukraine, ahead of what is expected to be a difficult winter with a possible further Russian mobilisation, has reopened the discussion on whether to use Russian frozen assets — raising difficult questions over legality, financial stability and Europe’s leverage in any future peace deal.
Ceuta’s migration crisis is becoming a gift to Spain’s (and Europe’s) far-right
9 September 2026 by Gaia Neiman
Ceuta’s migration crisis is putting Spain and the EU under growing pressure. With little concrete support from Brussels and conditions still tough on the ground, frustrations are rising — and Spain’s far-right Vox is making the most of it ahead of the 2027 elections.
After Saxony-Anhalt, will Germany now consider banning the AfD?
8 September 2026 by Wester van Gaal1 Comment
It is a question that comes up a lot in German society. But so far, Friedrich Merz and his CDU have remained largely silent on the subject. That changed on Monday, when Hendrik Wüst, minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, whom many see as a favourite to replace Merz as chancellor, said the government should make serious work of examining whether to ban the AfD.
Burnham’s UK‑first politics meet a more protectionist EU and its ‘Made in Europe’ plan
7 September 2026 by Benjamin Fox
The new UK prime minister has focused on domestic policy so far, but wants a close relationship with EU. How can that be reconciled with the EU’s new protectionist ‘Made in Europe’ agenda?
It seems impossible not to mention Gaza if you meet Israelis on holiday in Europe
6 September 2026 by Andrew Rettman5 Comments
I made friends with two Israeli couples while on holiday in Greece this summer and when the conversation inevitably turned to Palestine, I was struck by how misinformed, scared, and ashamed they were.
Europe wants to spend more but its own policies are making it harder
3 September 2026 by Wester van Gaal1 Comment
Europe wants to invest more. But it does so precisely when the cost of doing so is rising too.
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If the AfD win Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, their first target will be journalists
2 September 2026 by Matt Tempest
When the radical-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) win their first state on Sunday (6 September), as now seems certain, their first enemy will be the journalists. And that’s official.
Denmark to host talks to push failed deportation centres abroad – again
1 September 2026 by Nikolaj Nielsen
The plan comes amid opposition from both Spain and France, noting similar previous efforts have failed to deliver results – at enormous financial and human expense.
Sánchez and the EU have decided that Morocco relations are too big to fail
31 August 2026 by Benjamin Fox
Morocco appears to have turned Europe’s summer migration crisis into a strategic victory. As European leaders, including Pedro Sánchez, downplay Rabat’s alleged role in the Ceuta crossing, Morocco is tightening its grip on Europe’s trade, migration and Western Sahara policies — while simultaneously drawing closer to Trump’s America.
Iceland’s No to EU was poetic, but decadent in a hard-power era
30 August 2026 by Andrew Rettman
I’m not surprised that Iceland voted No to resuming EU accession talks, but the romance of the old man of the sea is a luxury that may soon pass its sell-by date.
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MEPs voting to shield themselves from investigation? Sadly, that’s all too typical
16 July 2026 by Nikolaj Nielsen
MEPs in the European Parliament’s budgetary control committee voted to shield the Patriots for Europe group from any criminal investigation into misspending EU funds.
From Trojan Horse in Brussels to executive for China’s BYD – Hungary’s Szijjártó makes classic ‘revolving doors’ move
15 July 2026 by Elena Sánchez Nicolás1 Comment
With Chinese electric car giant BYD already under fire over allegations of forced labour and huge state subsidy that is destroying Europe’s domestic car industry, Hungarian former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó’s latest move exposes just how easily powerful insiders can cross the line between public office and private corporate interests.
EU governments can’t kick their fossil fuels addiction, even when they want to
14 July 2026 by Wester van Gaal1 Comment
Even if public authorities sometimes have the right idea of where the energy transition needs to go, they still can’t bring themselves to do what’s needed to phase out fossil fuels.
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Missing the wood for the trees – the EU’s unloved deforestation law reaches endgame
13 July 2026 by Benjamin Fox1 Comment
The EU’s deforestation law may not be as popular as when it was passed with massive majorities in 2023 – but has already spawned imitation from the UK.
Crystal ball: EU will do nothing about Israel on Monday
12 July 2026 by Andrew Rettman
Wadephul, Tajani, and other EU friends of Israel will say Lebanon peace talks and Israeli elections mean there should be no sanctions.
German politicians duped into thinking a new subsidy scheme only benefits Chinese electric vehicles
9 July 2026 by Nikolaj Nielsen
A previous German electric vehicle subsidy scheme massively benefited Volkswagen, which had invested heavily in expensive cars that only the rich could afford. Now it’s set to cut 100,000 jobs and close four factories in Germany.
Inside the EU alliance where chemical polluters grade their own pollution
8 July 2026 by Wester van Gaal
Researchers found that the initiative gives large chemical producers, who stand to benefit directly from how the critical minerals list is drawn up, a central role in deciding what goes on it.
Brussels just dodged a Brexit‑fuelled airport meltdown with its biometrics U‑turn
7 July 2026 by Benjamin Fox
The EU Commission says that the EES will reduce the average time spent at passport control from 90 seconds to 20 seconds per person. Airlines have warned of five-hour queues at airports.
Is Berlin about to go from conservative to hard-left?
6 July 2026 by Matt Tempest
A Red-Green-Red coalition is looking the most likely outcome of September’s election in Berlin, Europe’s so-called capital of cool.
An attack on Poland would be Putin’s last fail
5 July 2026 by Andrew Rettman3 Comments
The US has warned Poland that Russia was plotting to attack it in a “few months” time, which would be the fastest way to end the Ukraine war, in president Vladimir Putin’s ultimate fail. The Russian emperor would go home from Poland not just naked, but also with a broken nose.