Month: February 2026

The EU is concerned that if these easternmost regions depopulate, Europe’s ability to defend the border is compromised, said a Commission official granted anonymity to speak freely. Brussels is also worried that the economic woes suffered by those living in the regions could see them turn to fringe parties in elections and make them vulnerable […]

However, government disclosures state that Wormald’s payout was “greater than what [he] would be contractually entitled to.” This indicates that the total payout is higher than the previous estimate, said the two people, who were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The disclosure was made by Cat Little, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, […]

Opposition leaders echo that critique. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the populist 5Star Movement, said the reform did little to address chronic delays in the justice system and instead formed part of a broader institutional power grab. “The real goal is to divide and rule,” Conte told POLITICO, accusing the government of seeking a justice system […]

Not to be outdone, a few weeks later Merz insisted to the Munich Security Conference’s organizers that he wanted to break with convention and give the opening address. With everyone fearing a repeat of U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s menace the year before, the chancellor took it upon himself to try and galvanize. His message: […]

In reality, they say, the process suffers from political pressure, a lack of robust due diligence, a reliance on trust, and stretched resources. Some were granted anonymity to speak candidly about this sensitive issue.  A security official who has undergone the same process as Mandelson — known as Developed Vetting (DV) — said: “If the […]