TOPIC

European Council

The European Council: A prominent Brussels-based supranational intergovernmental body, the European Council defines the European Union’s overall political direction and priorities. Comprising EU heads of state or government, its President, and the European Commission President, it represents the highest level of political cooperation. Its main activities include setting the EU’s political agenda, addressing complex issues, and shaping common foreign and security policy. Recognised as a strategic, crisis-solving institution, it provides crucial impetus for European integration and appoints key EU officials.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr gestures to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a visit to Manila in 2023. She is expected to return next year to sign a trade pact. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next?

A bloc-to-bloc free-trade agreement offers Asean real economic clout, but analysts warn there is still a ‘long way to go’.

27 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM

Ukraine war

EU to release US$7.5 billion linked to Ukraine military aid

25 Sep 2026 - 8:57PM

China-EU relations

China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source

25 Sep 2026 - 6:30PM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong rejects EU report’s claims on freedoms as ‘unfounded and biased’

Hong Kong government says the report misrepresents national security laws, ignores protections for rights and applies double standards.

23 Sep 2026 - 10:17PM

Hong Kong has rejected an EU report that raised concerns over the city’s fundamental freedoms and rule of law. Photo: Jelly Tse

China-EU relations

Von der Leyen vows tough stance with China, using EU’s tools to rebalance trade

Brussels is looking to reduce reliance on Chinese raw materials, and Beijing again urges the EU to avoid protectionist policies.

16 Sep 2026 - 6:56PMvideocam

European Union

EU to propose curbing social media, online games for under 15s

The European Commission has come under pressure from some EU member states to take bloc-wide measures to protect children.

15 Sep 2026 - 7:15PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

European Parliament official says conference attendance by Hsiao Bi-khim was kept confidential to safeguard her participation.

11 Sep 2026 - 7:27PMvideocam

Beijing has made “serious representations against Italy and the European Union” over a visit by Taiwan’s Hsiao Bi-khim to an international forum on Ventotene Island. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Germany relations

AfD party won big in Saxony-Anhalt. Will it affect Germany’s approach to China?

In the wake of a key state election, observers say Germany’s economic pressures will persist, no matter who is in power.

10 Sep 2026 - 5:59PMvideocam

China trade

German companies want tougher EU-China policy despite supply chain reliance

The DIHK finds German firms facing Chinese competition back stronger EU action, but its trade chief warns against ‘blanket measures’.

4 Sep 2026 - 7:00PM

China-EU relations

Pursue a China deal but brace for backlash, Dutch advisory group urges EU

To correct growing economic imbalances, policymakers advise taking stronger defensive measures, despite risk of rising domestic costs.

3 Sep 2026 - 5:47PMvideocam

Flags of China and the Netherlands appear next to each other. Photo: Shutterstock

China exports

As China-EU trade talk deadline nears, ex-Brussels official adopts bullish tone

The former president of the European Council says the two sides are approaching a common ground.

31 Aug 2026 - 8:30PM

Former European Council president Charles Michel. Photo: Handout

China-Latin America relations

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

ByteDance penalised for allegedly collecting data from 1 in 5 Brazilian children and failing to block minors from using TikTok.

26 Aug 2026 - 2:54AMvideocam

China-EU relations

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

As Brussels continues its push to rebalance ties, the latest data show China’s trade surplus expanded over all but three EU members in July.

22 Aug 2026 - 3:06AMvideocam

China-EU relations

China blocks firms from aiding EU’s JD.com probe as regulatory clash deepens

Chinese justice and commerce ministries order the ban in a joint statement condemning ‘undue extraterritorial jurisdiction measures’.

19 Aug 2026 - 9:56PMvideocam

Parcels move along conveyor belts at e-commerce giant JD.com's sorting centre in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

China trade

China’s green dominance a ‘dilemma’ for world’s governments: report

World needs cheap green technologies to decarbonise, and efforts to reduce reliance on China risk slowing the transition, researchers say.

17 Aug 2026 - 10:00PM

Employees work on a production line for lithium-ion battery copper foil at Lingbao Baoxin Electronic Science and Technology in Sanmenxia, in central China’s Henan province, on April 17. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

China trade

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

As trade tensions rise, Brussels has implemented new rules aimed at reducing packaging waste, with the threat of fines and bans for non-compliance.

12 Aug 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Can Europe stay united in China trade battle? Ceuta crisis offers a warning

The recent row over migration and Spain’s border policy suggests it may be hard for the bloc to stand together under pressure from Beijing.

9 Aug 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

What would a German audit for Chinese supply chain dependencies find?

Although many analysts deem the search long overdue, they warn that German leverage would be both hard to implement and short-lived.

5 Aug 2026 - 4:01PM

Officials in Berlin are concerned about Germany losing its industrial base to Chinese competition. Photo: Getty Images

China-Africa relations

How China’s US$900 million port deal in Angola shows its lead on US interests

As Washington eyes the nation’s critical minerals and invests in a strategic rail project, Beijing leads in strengthening its supply chain.

4 Aug 2026 - 5:53PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Exclusive | Top EU diplomat Kallas expected to visit Beijing amid deepest strains in years

It will be Kaja Kallas’ first solo trip to China since taking on her role in 2024.

1 Aug 2026 - 2:57PMvideocam

The Philippines

EU’s US$17 million maritime aid for Manila targets ‘fault lines’

Analysts say the European Union considers Manila ‘the most important’ partner for its Indo-Pacific strategy.

29 Jul 2026 - 3:58PMvideocam

Philippines Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro (left) and EU European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas pose for photos after signing the Enhanced Partnership between the Philippines and the European Union on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Pasay City, on Friday. Photo: EPA

China trade

China pushes back against Western overcapacity claims in new document

Beijing says it ‘never deliberately pursued a trade surplus’ and that its strong exports are driven by innovation, not subsidies or overcapacity.

28 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

Chinese-made Volvo cars are seen alongside containers before being loaded onto ships for export at the port in Nanjing, China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

EU push to remove Huawei, ZTE gear will cost 3 times official estimate: report

GSMA Intelligence says move will cost up to US$46 billion, roughly three times more than European Commission has suggested.

23 Jul 2026 - 8:43PMvideocam

European Union

EU fines Google US$1 billion, risking US fury

The fines are the biggest in total against one company under the competition law known as the Digital Markets Act.

23 Jul 2026 - 6:32PMvideocam

China-EU relations

China, EU pushing ahead on joint research despite trade tensions

Joint 2025-2027 research agreement covers climate and agriculture, state media says, signalling will to collaborate in spite of differences.

22 Jul 2026 - 11:21PM

Harvesters at work in a rice field in Hangzhou, eastern China. China and the EU are reported to have signed joint research funding agreements to support scientific cooperation in areas such as food, agriculture and biosolutions, as well as climate change and biodiversity. Photo: Xinhua

China-EU relations

Beijing vows to protect Chinese firms after EU hits Alibaba unit with fine

Commerce officials decry “discriminatory” barriers as source says firm had hired several outside consultants to vet goods and curb counterfeits.

22 Jul 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

An AliExpress shop is seen in Madrid, Spain, on Monday. Photo: Europa Press via Getty Images

France

France parliament approves social media ban for children under 15, in EU first

The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, expected to take effect from the beginning of the next school year.

22 Jul 2026 - 3:32AMvideocam

China-EU relations

Opinion | Europe wants to confront China – but without the consequences

Until its governments own the choices that follow from their actions, Europe will keep diagnosing power while others decide its fate.

22 Jul 2026 - 6:38AMvideocam

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European Council

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next?

A bloc-to-bloc free-trade agreement offers Asean real economic clout, but analysts warn there is still a ‘long way to go’.

EU to release US$7.5 billion linked to Ukraine military aid

China and EU deadlocked on medical devices, still talking on PHEV curbs: source

Hong Kong rejects EU report’s claims on freedoms as ‘unfounded and biased’

Hong Kong government says the report misrepresents national security laws, ignores protections for rights and applies double standards.

Von der Leyen vows tough stance with China, using EU’s tools to rebalance trade

Brussels is looking to reduce reliance on Chinese raw materials, and Beijing again urges the EU to avoid protectionist policies.

EU to propose curbing social media, online games for under 15s

The European Commission has come under pressure from some EU member states to take bloc-wide measures to protect children.

Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

European Parliament official says conference attendance by Hsiao Bi-khim was kept confidential to safeguard her participation.

AfD party won big in Saxony-Anhalt. Will it affect Germany’s approach to China?

In the wake of a key state election, observers say Germany’s economic pressures will persist, no matter who is in power.

German companies want tougher EU-China policy despite supply chain reliance

The DIHK finds German firms facing Chinese competition back stronger EU action, but its trade chief warns against ‘blanket measures’.

Pursue a China deal but brace for backlash, Dutch advisory group urges EU

To correct growing economic imbalances, policymakers advise taking stronger defensive measures, despite risk of rising domestic costs.

As China-EU trade talk deadline nears, ex-Brussels official adopts bullish tone

The former president of the European Council says the two sides are approaching a common ground.

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

ByteDance penalised for allegedly collecting data from 1 in 5 Brazilian children and failing to block minors from using TikTok.

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

As Brussels continues its push to rebalance ties, the latest data show China’s trade surplus expanded over all but three EU members in July.

China blocks firms from aiding EU’s JD.com probe as regulatory clash deepens

Chinese justice and commerce ministries order the ban in a joint statement condemning ‘undue extraterritorial jurisdiction measures’.

China’s green dominance a ‘dilemma’ for world’s governments: report

World needs cheap green technologies to decarbonise, and efforts to reduce reliance on China risk slowing the transition, researchers say.

EU’s new packaging rules leave China’s traders feeling boxed in

As trade tensions rise, Brussels has implemented new rules aimed at reducing packaging waste, with the threat of fines and bans for non-compliance.

Can Europe stay united in China trade battle? Ceuta crisis offers a warning

The recent row over migration and Spain’s border policy suggests it may be hard for the bloc to stand together under pressure from Beijing.

What would a German audit for Chinese supply chain dependencies find?

Although many analysts deem the search long overdue, they warn that German leverage would be both hard to implement and short-lived.

How China’s US$900 million port deal in Angola shows its lead on US interests

As Washington eyes the nation’s critical minerals and invests in a strategic rail project, Beijing leads in strengthening its supply chain.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Top EU diplomat Kallas expected to visit Beijing amid deepest strains in years

It will be Kaja Kallas’ first solo trip to China since taking on her role in 2024.

EU’s US$17 million maritime aid for Manila targets ‘fault lines’

Analysts say the European Union considers Manila ‘the most important’ partner for its Indo-Pacific strategy.

China pushes back against Western overcapacity claims in new document

Beijing says it ‘never deliberately pursued a trade surplus’ and that its strong exports are driven by innovation, not subsidies or overcapacity.

EU push to remove Huawei, ZTE gear will cost 3 times official estimate: report

GSMA Intelligence says move will cost up to US$46 billion, roughly three times more than European Commission has suggested.

EU fines Google US$1 billion, risking US fury

The fines are the biggest in total against one company under the competition law known as the Digital Markets Act.

China, EU pushing ahead on joint research despite trade tensions

Joint 2025-2027 research agreement covers climate and agriculture, state media says, signalling will to collaborate in spite of differences.

Beijing vows to protect Chinese firms after EU hits Alibaba unit with fine

Commerce officials decry “discriminatory” barriers as source says firm had hired several outside consultants to vet goods and curb counterfeits.

France parliament approves social media ban for children under 15, in EU first

The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, expected to take effect from the beginning of the next school year.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Europe wants to confront China – but without the consequences

Until its governments own the choices that follow from their actions, Europe will keep diagnosing power while others decide its fate.

Exclusive | Top EU diplomat Kallas expected to visit Beijing amid deepest strains in years

Opinion | Europe wants to confront China – but without the consequences