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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.

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

23 Jul 2026 - 6:32PMvideocam

China-EU relations

China, EU pushing ahead on joint research despite trade tensions

22 Jul 2026 - 11:21PM

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

China-EU relations

EU lawmakers arrive in China for high-stakes talks to manage mounting tensions

Wang Yi calls on delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society for ‘a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective’.

21 Jul 2026 - 8:46PMvideocam

An eight-member delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by committee chairman David McAllister (pictured) arrived in China on Tuesday. Photo: European Union

China manufacturing

China’s car industry is on a tear overseas. So why are sales at home plunging?

Chinese car brands have suffered a steep drop in domestic sales this year, with Beijing scaling back subsidies and buyers reluctant to spend.

21 Jul 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Alibaba

Alibaba vows to appeal US$629m EU fine for breaches of Digital Services Act

The e-commerce firm described the fine as ‘disproportionate’ and said it did not reflect ‘significant, proactive enhancements’ it undertook.

21 Jul 2026 - 12:04AM

European Union

EU fines AliExpress US$630 million over illegal products

It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU’s powerful Digital Services Act, part of the bloc’s legal armoury to police big tech.

20 Jul 2026 - 7:25PMvideocam

AliExpress is the biggest Chinese e-commerce platform in the EU with 193 million users. Photo: Shutterstock

China-EU relations

EU accuses China of seeking to reshape global order in stark new strategy paper

China trying to ‘reshape the global order in line with their interests’, EU says in some of bloc’s strongest official criticism of Beijing.

16 Jul 2026 - 11:29AMvideocam

A new EU strategy paper casts China and Russia as the two principal revisionist powers challenging European security and the international rules-based order. Photo: Shutterstock

European Union

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

14 Jul 2026 - 7:14PM

Middle East

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

14 Jul 2026 - 2:12PM

European Union

EU eyes social media curbs for children

Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are ‌considering ‌one.

13 Jul 2026 - 7:34PM

A teenager looks at her smartphone in Brussels. The EU is considering a tiered approach, with under-13s only allowed to use social media for limited periods under the supervision of parents, carers and teachers. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

How the rush for Chinese air conditioners exposes gap in EU trade policy

As a record heatwave drives Europeans to snap up imported cooling units, Brussels’ rhetoric clashes with consumer reality.

10 Jul 2026 - 9:12AMvideocam

Demand is surging in Europe for Chinese air conditioners, even as Brussels tightens its trade policy towards Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

US-ally trade wars

Spain plays down Trump’s trade embargo threat, saying there is ‘no tension’

US president threatened to cut off trade with Spain over its defence policy, but Madrid says relations are ‘calm’ and ‘positive’.

9 Jul 2026 - 1:39AM

China exports

EU imposes anti-dumping measures on Chinese tyre firms

The bloc says that pricing by the companies had created ‘economically non-viable’ conditions for its local firms.

8 Jul 2026 - 4:00PM

China-EU relations

Opinion | Europe could prosper as China’s trade ally rather than adversary

Europe missed its chance to make trade with China a win-win for both sides. It’s now opting for a trade war it’s unlikely to win altogether.

7 Jul 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

US-EU relations

US at 250: has Europe learned to survive Trump’s America?

The transatlantic alliance has become unpredictable and even hostile, and many are wondering how much road it has left to run.

7 Jul 2026 - 12:35AMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU should learn from China’s energy tech, say heads of 2 French power giants

The EU can learn from China’s tech knowledge and speed capability in both renewable and nuclear power sectors.

7 Jul 2026 - 9:39AM

Israel-Gaza war

‘No one lifts a finger’: Gaza’s fate eclipsed by Middle East war

Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis and efforts to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas have stalled.

4 Jul 2026 - 4:19PM

A Palestinian girl sits inside a house damaged during the Israel-Hamas war in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Electric & new energy vehicles

China to scrap tax breaks for NEVs and energy-saving vehicles from 2027

Announcement by central government ministries extends the withdrawal of incentives for new-energy vehicles and energy-saving cars.

3 Jul 2026 - 10:16PM

A driver charges an electric vehicle (EV) in Taizhou, east China’s Jiangsu province on January 22, 2026. China has built an extensive charging network in the world's biggest EV market. Photo: Xinhua

China-EU relations

Exclusive | China signals openness to cut gaping EU trade gap as Brussels toughens stance

Beijing floats buying more European goods as the EU weighs new trade tools and presses for tangible progress by October.

3 Jul 2026 - 5:11AM

France

Macron urges more opposition to the death penalty as global executions rise

At a global summit in Paris, the French president defends human dignity amid a surge in state killings.

1 Jul 2026 - 10:16AM

China-EU relations

EU seeks ‘tangible results’ on China trade deficit by October

Hopes of progress in paring the EU’s trade deficit with China by autumn will mean overcoming some seemingly insurmountable barriers.

30 Jun 2026 - 5:00PM

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic. Photo: EPA

China-EU relations

EU sets China October deadline for ‘tangible results’ after key trade talks

Marathon session in Brussels sees Beijing agreeing to establish a ‘joint monitoring mechanism of trade flows’ to help ease economic tensions.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:12AMvideocam

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic speaks to the press following a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels on Monday. Photo: EPA

China-EU relations

EU confronts ‘China shock’ ahead of pivotal Brussels trade talks

There is a growing sense Europe will have to learn to ‘live with’ Beijing’s economic model, which it accuses of undercutting its industries.

29 Jun 2026 - 3:07PMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | China isn’t Europe’s real problem

Europe’s future depends less on finding new ways to constrain China than on fixing the limitations Chinese competition has exposed.

28 Jun 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

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European Council

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

China, EU pushing ahead on joint research despite trade tensions

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.

EU lawmakers arrive in China for high-stakes talks to manage mounting tensions

Wang Yi calls on delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society for ‘a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective’.

China’s car industry is on a tear overseas. So why are sales at home plunging?

Chinese car brands have suffered a steep drop in domestic sales this year, with Beijing scaling back subsidies and buyers reluctant to spend.

Alibaba vows to appeal US$629m EU fine for breaches of Digital Services Act

The e-commerce firm described the fine as ‘disproportionate’ and said it did not reflect ‘significant, proactive enhancements’ it undertook.

EU fines AliExpress US$630 million over illegal products

It is the largest fine ever imposed under the EU’s powerful Digital Services Act, part of the bloc’s legal armoury to police big tech.

EU accuses China of seeking to reshape global order in stark new strategy paper

China trying to ‘reshape the global order in line with their interests’, EU says in some of bloc’s strongest official criticism of Beijing.

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

EU countries push for trade ban with Israeli settlements

EU foreign policy chief insists measures target West Bank settlements rather than Israel itself.

EU eyes social media curbs for children

Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are ‌considering ‌one.

How the rush for Chinese air conditioners exposes gap in EU trade policy

As a record heatwave drives Europeans to snap up imported cooling units, Brussels’ rhetoric clashes with consumer reality.

Spain plays down Trump’s trade embargo threat, saying there is ‘no tension’

US president threatened to cut off trade with Spain over its defence policy, but Madrid says relations are ‘calm’ and ‘positive’.

EU imposes anti-dumping measures on Chinese tyre firms

The bloc says that pricing by the companies had created ‘economically non-viable’ conditions for its local firms.

Opinion | Europe could prosper as China’s trade ally rather than adversary

Europe missed its chance to make trade with China a win-win for both sides. It’s now opting for a trade war it’s unlikely to win altogether.

US at 250: has Europe learned to survive Trump’s America?

The transatlantic alliance has become unpredictable and even hostile, and many are wondering how much road it has left to run.

EU should learn from China’s energy tech, say heads of 2 French power giants

The EU can learn from China’s tech knowledge and speed capability in both renewable and nuclear power sectors.

‘No one lifts a finger’: Gaza’s fate eclipsed by Middle East war

Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis and efforts to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas have stalled.

China to scrap tax breaks for NEVs and energy-saving vehicles from 2027

Announcement by central government ministries extends the withdrawal of incentives for new-energy vehicles and energy-saving cars.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | China signals openness to cut gaping EU trade gap as Brussels toughens stance

Beijing floats buying more European goods as the EU weighs new trade tools and presses for tangible progress by October.

Macron urges more opposition to the death penalty as global executions rise

At a global summit in Paris, the French president defends human dignity amid a surge in state killings.

EU seeks ‘tangible results’ on China trade deficit by October

Hopes of progress in paring the EU’s trade deficit with China by autumn will mean overcoming some seemingly insurmountable barriers.

EU sets China October deadline for ‘tangible results’ after key trade talks

Marathon session in Brussels sees Beijing agreeing to establish a ‘joint monitoring mechanism of trade flows’ to help ease economic tensions.

EU confronts ‘China shock’ ahead of pivotal Brussels trade talks

There is a growing sense Europe will have to learn to ‘live with’ Beijing’s economic model, which it accuses of undercutting its industries.

Opinion | China isn’t Europe’s real problem

Europe’s future depends less on finding new ways to constrain China than on fixing the limitations Chinese competition has exposed.

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

Exclusive | China signals openness to cut gaping EU trade gap as Brussels toughens stance