Canada’s finance minister, François-Philippe Champagne, has called on the United Kingdom to “team up” with a nascent economic alliance between Canada and Europe. He made the remarks in an interview with the BBC. The proposal, he said, is not about formal membership, but about building an “alliance of the future”...
European Commission proposes ban on social media for children under 13
On 17 September 2026, the European Commission presented a draft of the EU Kids Act, a law designed to strengthen the protection of children online. The proposal would introduce uniform age rules for access to social networks and video platforms across the European Union. Children under 13 would be barred...
France’s Foreign Ministry refuses to name partners seeking to lift sanctions on Usmanov
The French Foreign Ministry has declined to name the international partners pressing for Alisher Usmanov’s removal from the EU sanctions list and has not explained the “national security considerations” it cited earlier. Paris has confirmed that it supports taking the Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov off the European Union’s sanctions list,...
EU countries approve first five major joint defence projects
Representatives of EU member states on Wednesday, 16 September, approved at the level of permanent representatives the first five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI). Each of them is set to receive €60 million in funding from the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). Formal adoption of the list is...
Trump threatens EU with tariffs over proposal of associate membership for Canada
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with “very serious” tariffs and a possible restriction of trade after a proposal to make Canada the bloc’s first associate member. The remarks were made on September 16 in North Carolina. Trump called the idea “laughable” and suggested Washington could treat...
Nine EU countries ask Brussels to delay full biometric border checks
Nine Schengen countries, including France, Italy, Greece and Portugal, have asked the European Commission to postpone the full rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES). The system requires fingerprints and facial images from travellers who are not EU citizens. Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland have also requested more time....
Canada intends to form a “unique alliance” with the European Union
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa plans to begin talks on a “unique alliance” with the European Union. The country is not seeking full membership in the bloc. Carney made the comments to reporters on Sunday evening on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. “We’re not...
Еuropean Parliament greenlights talks on the digital euro
The European Parliament has backed the start of negotiations with the EU Council on legislation for a digital euro. Lawmakers say the new form of money should give citizens a secure way to pay and reduce Europe’s reliance on payment providers from outside the EU. In a plenary vote, 416...
Italian automakers’ association calls on EU to impose 80% tariff on Chinese cars
The president of Italy’s automotive industry association ANFIA, Roberto Vavassori, has urged the European Union to impose an 80% tariff on Chinese-made vehicles and auto components imported above a set quota. Under Vavassori’s proposal, Chinese imports into the EU should remain duty-free up to a level equivalent to 8% of...
EU Court rejects Abramovich’s sanctions challenge for a third time
The Court of Justice of the European Union on Wednesday, September 9, dismissed for the third time a lawsuit by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich seeking to lift EU restrictive measures imposed after Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The court said so in a statement. The sanctions against the businessman therefore...