Alice Tidey

The left-wing New Popular Front coalition was the surprise winner of Sunday's snap legislative elections in France with Macron's centrist coalition coming in second.

The New Popular Front won the most seats in France's snap legislative elections but fell far short of an absolute majority.

As leaders from 45 European nations get together to discuss everything from energy to Russia's war in Ukraine, experts say what seems like a noble idea might be limited in format and outcomes.

The Hungarian premier's visits to Moscow and Beijing over the past two weeks have drawn wide condemnation.

Britain's new Labour-led government has vowed to improve ties with the EU, and a possible summit between the two sides is being floated.

The schedule was revealed after the European Parliament's committee on legal affairs, in charge of combing through conflicts of interest, cleared all 26 nominees.

Three Iranian airlines and a top diplomat are among those targeted by the latest round of sanctions. The EU Commission chief stressed, however, that "more is needed".

The EU gave a largely positive initial assessment of Albania's progress towards joining the bloc, though Brussels notes room for improvement on corruption, media independence and the judicial system.

Ireland is among EU member states that have been calling for the EU and Israel to hold an Association Council over human right concerns in Gaza.

The two Commissioners-designate argue that unanimity is slowing down decision-making in the field they are to heml for the next five years.