Written by Professional journalists
Can the EU’s Global Clean Transition Strategy Make It an Industrial Powerhouse?
The European Union is unveiling a bold new vision for climate and energy diplomacy. The goal: to boost its influence on global markets, set standards for a fair transition, and protect strategic energy interests.
UN faces major crisis: 2026 budget slashed by $577 million, thousands of job cuts expected
The United Nations is facing a dramatic financial crisis as it prepares its 2026 budget, with deep spending cuts and layoffs due to growing arrears from member states. The organization warns it is racing toward “bankruptcy”.
A Patchwork of Rates: How VAT Derogations Divide Europe
A new European Commission report reveals the surprising scale of disparities in how EU member states use exceptions to VAT rules.
Virtual Riches, Real Losses: Is the DSA Failing to Stop Europe’s Wave of Financial Scams?
Promises of quick profits and “government-approved investment schemes” are flooding social media across Europe.
UN sounds alarm: Israel accused of “state-sanctioned torture” against Palestinians
The UN has accused Israel of institutionalizing torture against Palestinians in its prisons and called for independent investigations, legal reforms, and an end to arbitrary detentions.
An Olympic Flame in turbulent times
The flame lit in Olympia travels toward Milan–Cortina amid a Europe shaped by war, diplomatic tension and shifting alliances. Debates over Russian and Belarusian athletes underline how deeply politics now intersects with the Olympic stage. Italy prepares for record crowds and a sprawling, high-stakes Winter Games that mirror the continent’s uncertainty.
The secret life of Europe’s stolen art
The Louvre heist was framed as a “wound to the French soul,” even though the stolen regalia were prized mostly for their material value. The incident exposed gaps in security and the speed with which political narratives take shape. It also resurfaced questions about the origins of the stones themselves, which came from Asia, Africa, or South America.
Youth, EU & Media Word Search
Explore key concepts shaping today’s European youth and media landscape with our interactive Word Search.
The EU launches an investigation into Google, accusing it of using online content to train AI.
The European Union has just announced the launch of an investigation into Google's use of online content and YouTube videos to train its AI models.
What Europe wants to do to reduce emissions: the EU’s environmental commitments towards COP30
The Climate Committee confirms the EU's leadership in the COP30 negotiations. The new climate targets must take into account the ambitious climate commitments set for 2040. All sectors are urged to contribute to climate neutrality.
The EU has a new climate agreement, cutting emissions by 90% by 2040: what changes?
After 24 hours of negotiations, European states have reached a new agreement by a majority on the Green Deal for Climate: polluting emissions must be reduced by 90% by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels). "International credits," i.e., environmental projects completed in other countries, will be available. Italy, which had initially opposed the deal, is satisfied with the compromise.
Free train travel across Europe: who can get tickets starting October 30th and how to apply
With the DiscoverEu project, anyone aged 18 can obtain a pass similar to Interrail: free travel on trains throughout Europe for a period of one to thirty days, with discounts on accommodations as well. Applications open on Thursday, October 30th at 12:00 PM. Passes will also require a six-question quiz, and only those who pass will receive the pass.
The Great Departure: How a Generation is Abandoning the Balkans
Eurostat data reveals over 70% of Western Balkan youth dream of emigrating. This exodus threatens the region's economic future and projects a 15% population decline within 25 years.
CJEU issues firm ruling on Poland: same-sex marriages must be recognised
Poland must recognise same-sex marriages of EU citizens that were legally concluded in another EU Member State, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled today. The judgment concerns a Polish couple who married in Germany.
A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of loneliness
No longer a private feeling but a public condition, it seeps into politics, reshaping trust and belonging.If democracy once thrived on community, today it must learn again how to make people meet, not just connect.
Banksy and the shadows of censorship
Banksy’s mural outside the Royal Courts of Justice, showing a judge about to strike a protester, was erased within hours. Its removal became part of the artwork itself - a performance of censorship that spoke louder than the image. By silencing the wall, London’s justice system exposed its reflex to control dissent and frame activists as the “dangerous Other.”
Most Young Romanians Feel Uninformed About Politics, Study Finds
A majority of young people in Romania say they know little or nothing about politics, according to a new study by the Center for Independent Journalism (CJI).
How Much Time do Romanian Children Spend Online?
Almost half of Romanian children (48.3%) spend more than six hours a day online, most of it on social media, according to a new study by Save the Children Romania.
20 years of waiting: the UK unveils its most radical asylum reform in decades
The UK government is preparing to introduce, by the end of 2025, the most sweeping overhaul of its asylum system in a generation.
Too Young to be Mothers: Romania’s Teenage Pregnancy Epidemic
Over the past five years, Romania has recorded more than 88,000 births to underage mothers - the highest percentage in Europe.
Why Romanian Students Underperform in High School
Romania’s Education Minister, Daniel David, wants to reform the way the high school curriculum is designed. He notes that Romanian students enter high school ”with intelligence and creativity comparable to their peers in Western countries.”
Young Romanians: Committed Europeans, yet susceptible to disinformation
Young Romanians strongly identify as Europeans, yet many are also vulnerable to disinformation. Their concerns range from fears about losing national sovereignty and increased labor migration, to strict EU regulations and the influence of external cultures.
What Young Romanians Should Know about the New President’s Priorities
“Back to work starting tomorrow!” declared Nicușor Dan on the night of his decisive presidential victory — a win that sets Romania firmly on a pro-European path for at least the next five years.
Romanian Diplomas to be Updated for Easier Access to the EU Labor Market
Diplomas and certificates issued for studies completed in Romania will now include the qualification level from the moment they are awarded.
Young Romanians Embrace AI in Daily Life
Artificial Intelligence is becoming a trusted tool for many Romanians, with nearly half now using it in their everyday routines, a new study shows.
Why Has Interest in Beekeeping among Young Romanians Declined?
In recent years, interest in beekeeping among young people in Romania has dropped sharply, mainly because it is no longer a reliable source of income.
What it takes to dance with the past?
A youth council’s plan for a DJ party beneath the historic Gorgopotamos bridge has sparked heated debate in Greece. Critics denounce it as a desecration of a site tied to wartime executions and resistance, while organizers defend it as a way to showcase and promote the monument.
European Commission Launches Probe into Google’s Practices
The EU has opened a formal investigation into Google, suspecting that the tech giant may be reducing the visibility of news publishers across the EU. If the accusations are confirmed, Alphabet could face a fine of up to 10% of its global revenue.
Central European Writer Wins Nobel Prize in Literature
László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on october 9th. He is the second Hungarian writer in history to receive this prestigious honor.
Who will be the next to sit on the EU bench? The 2025 enlargement package
The EU’s 2025 enlargement plan revives momentum after years of pause. Four frontrunners advance, while others stall amid political divides. Enlargement now tests Europe’s unity and resolve.
What kind of democracy is there without streets?
Streets are the lungs of democracy-in Italy, a recent law turn peaceful blockades into crimes, while protests grow louder against the Gaza genocide. Governments invoke “urgency” to silence dissent instead of listening to it. Yet people keep stepping outside.
AI and the film industry: Hollywood in the shadow of the algorithm
Generative AI is making waves in Hollywood, promising cheaper and faster productions. But along with the excitement comes a minefield of legal, ethical, and reputational dilemmas. Can the film industry really trust a technology that is rewriting the very meaning of creativity?
The BBC Scandal: Episode 1. “Trump”
The BBC faces a major credibility crisis after a Panorama episode misrepresented Donald Trump’s January 6 speech, prompting top resignations and a lawsuit threat. The scandal reignites debates over bias, trust, and the future of public broadcasting.
How Italian MEPs voted on the European Union’s rearmament plan
Here's how Italian MEPs voted on the EU Parliament's resolution on rearmament: all the votes, party by party, on Ursula von der Leyen's initiative to mobilize up to €800 billion in defense investments.
After the Czech Elections: winners, losers and the future
The elections in Czech Republic were among a few important elections taking place in Europe this fall. Look at who is going to lead the Central European country and what will the new government potentially bring into the international field.
Looking at the Netherlands after the Dutch Elections
The results of the Dutch snap election are in, shocking for many, as the biggest right-wing, anti-immigration party of Geert Wilders lost to D66, a centrist party led by Rob Jetten. What are the predictions ahead of the Dutch lengthy government formation process and why did the Dutch even vote now in the first place?
Pacification or Liberation? Palestine with Kleo Alexopoulou
In this episode, Kleo Alexopoulou — historian and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla — reflects on the Gaza mission, the politics of recognition, and how solidarity transforms into a struggle for rights. From bombs heard offshore to quiet acts of resistance in detention, she traces what liberation means in a world built to deny it.
When will the referendum on justice reform be held and which parties are for Yes and No?
The justice reform was definitively approved by the Senate, but without a two-thirds majority. So now the countdown begins to the constitutional referendum, which will not require a quorum. The date set for March or April 2026 is expected, but it could be postponed. The entire center-right, along with Azione, is in favor; the others are against, but with some distinctions.
De-labeling the “Gen Z” protests
The label ‘Gen Z protests’ may be an attractive brand, but it reduces diverse, politically charged mobilizations into a pseudo-demographic narrative. By framing youth uprisings as generational outbursts, media and elites depoliticize them, sidelining the structural inequalities and institutional failures that actually fuel the anger.
Have the intellectuals left the building?
Across Europe, the cult of simplicity is winning over the discipline of thought. Experts are mocked as elitists, while ignorance is rebranded as authenticity. In this new political grammar, thinking itself has become an act of defiance.
The social elevator is stuck
Europe’s social elevator has stalled. The continent that once promised equal opportunity now recycles privilege, locking new generations on the same floors where their parents stood. What was once mobility has become inheritance—an inequality passed down like family silver.
The many faces of the bioeconomy
The bioeconomy is one of the fastest-growing and most promising sectors in the European Union, worth over €2.4 trillion.
Mama, should I become a Luddite?
In the new religion of technology, acceleration replaces purpose and faith replaces reason. Progress is treated as destiny, not decision — a force beyond scrutiny. Yet beneath the shimmer of inevitability lies a simple question: progress for whom?
Google under fire: what EU’s new fine means for the future of digital ads
The European Commission has once again set its sights on Google — this time for abusing its dominant position in the online advertising market.
ChatGPT lands in Greek classrooms
Greece’s new “AI in Schools” program introduces ChatGPT Edu as a classroom tool, promising innovation and productivity—but also testing the boundaries of educational autonomy.
You pay for emissions, but who really benefits? The truth about the EU ETS
A climate justice tool or an unnecessary burden? A straightforward look at the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).
The paroxysm of trends and their oblivion
Matcha lattes, Labubu plush toys, Dubai chocolates—tiny obsessions that flare up and vanish before we even grasp what they meant. Our culture now thrives on this rhythm of instant infatuation and rapid forgetting, where fascination burns faster than memory and meaning dissolves at the speed of a scroll.
Gen Z: to live, not to overproduce
Gen Z has learned that exhaustion is not a virtue but a symptom of a culture that confuses output with value. Choosing rest is not withdrawal — it’s a political act, a demand to live fully in a world that mistakes constant motion for meaning.
“Chat Control”: a European “Big Brother” for the little brothers
At the heart of Europe’s digital debate, the “Chat Control” proposal blurs the line between protection and intrusion. By scanning private messages in the name of safety, it risks normalizing surveillance as a civic duty.
Inside RSF’s Battle for Press Freedom with Pavol Szalai
Truth has become a battlefield — and journalism, its last line of defense. From Brussels to the Balkans, RSF fights to keep that line standing. Pavol Szalai takes us inside Europe’s struggle for press freedom.
Archaeopolitics: Parthenon, Greece’s national arena
In 2025, a sneaker-shaped Adidas drone and a banned Lanthimos shoot sparked debate over the Parthenon’s meaning. This essay explores how heritage becomes “archaeopolitics”: a struggle over identity, power, and belonging.
Reclaiming our Digital Rights with Homo Digitalis
Digital rights are not a tech issue — they’re a democracy issue. When surveillance becomes routine, citizenship turns into data. In Vox Civica, we join Homo Digitalis to ask: how do we reclaim our digital space — and our voice — in the algorithmic age?
Austria’s privacy watchdog vs. YouTube: a battle over your data
Access to your personal data is one of the core rights guaranteed by the EU’s GDPR. But the ongoing dispute between Austria’s data protection authority and YouTube shows just how wide the gap can be between theory and practice.
Migration in Europe — cutting through the myths
The debate around migration in the EU is often full of emotions, oversimplifications, and stereotypes. Yet data tells a more nuanced story. Understanding the real numbers behind migration helps us see how policies are shaped — and how they affect millions of people living across Europe.
Europe’s biggest challenge? The housing crisis
Europe’s housing crisis is deepening — and it’s shaking the foundations of social stability. This isn’t just about the price of bricks and cement. It’s about fundamental rights, equal opportunities, and the cohesion of our communities.
Does the mobile EU citizen know what benefits they can claim?
Can a digital social security guide solve systemic problems, or does it just organize information about often conflicting rules?
Does Europe need a constitution for digital values?
Could a Digital Sovereignty Charter one day hold the same weight as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?
Moral panic & democratic repression: A conversation with Donatella Della Porta
Europe stands at a crossroads where defending democracy increasingly means restricting it. In this episode, Professor Donatella della Porta unpacks how moral panics, memory politics, and the weaponization of antisemitism are reshaping the boundaries of dissent — and asks what remains of democratic debate when criticism itself becomes a crime.
Chemistry of equal opportunities: internships in the chemical industry
The European Alliance for Apprentices (EAfA) aims to make France’s chemical industry more sustainable, inclusive, and ready for the green transition. The key question is whether these ambitious promises translate into real change or remain mostly a tool of public relations.
Theodor Himmel from EPIS think-tank: On what think-tanks actually do, and how to get started in one
Today at the PulseZ podcast we talk to the founder and chairman of the EPIS think-tank, Theodor Himmel. Dive into what working for a think-tank entails, and learn how to get involved and start publishing.
Revolution in electric motors: the EU prepares new rules that could transform the industry
EU regulations are gearing up to shake up the design of electric motors – from public consultations to new standards that will shape the future of energy efficiency and the competitiveness of industry within a circular economy.
How technology is shaping order beyond democracy
With global tech giants gaining ever more influence, questions are emerging about the future world order. Are we entering an era where power is no longer public but owned by corporations?
Artificial intelligence in newsrooms: lifeline or threat to democracy?
Automation was meant to be the cure for information overload.
Sweden’s secret to tackling gangs: Malmö’s surprising results
Can the cycle of gang violence be broken by combining tough enforcement with offers of help? Sweden’s “Group Violence Intervention” (GVI), known in Malmö as “Sluta skjut,” seems to suggest it can.
Autonomous AI agents: will the European Union dare to regulate?
Can artificial intelligence sign contracts on behalf of humans, and if so — who is responsible? The European Commission is grappling with a question that, just a decade ago, seemed straight out of science fiction.
Polls: What young people think of EU institutions and how many no longer trust them
Most young Europeans say they are convinced of the EU's potential, although 39% believe it isn't democratic enough. This is the finding of a YouGov survey conducted with the Tui Foundation, which funds youth projects in Europe.
PulseZ Week 2025: Empowering Youth Voices
PulseZ Week is a celebration of youth-driven media and civic participation, connecting hundreds of young people across Europe through journalism, storytelling, and dialogue.
Europe vs cyber threats: Galileo launches service to protect billions
Faced with a rising wave of cyberattacks and global GNSS signal disruptions, Galileo has launched the Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA). It sounds like a tech breakthrough, but is it enough to truly keep users safe?
Google vs DMA: new play store fees as a tactic to avoid EU sanctions
Are Google’s recent changes to Play Store fees really about protecting users, or are they more about safeguarding the company’s financial interests?
Generation in motion: Érica Moreira on youth, Democracy & collective struggle
In this episode of Vox Civica, activist and Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize finalist Érica Moreira reflects on what it means to defend democracy in an era of polarization and far-right resurgence — from youth-led protests and digital campaigns to grassroots movements reshaping Europe’s civic landscape.
Toxic green algae in Brittany: a warning for the future of farming
The debate over the future of farming in Brittany has become a powerful symbol of the clash between economic interests, environmental concerns, and political choices.
Defending journalists with the OSCE: A conversation with Cecilia Vera Lagomarsino
In this episode of Vox Civica, Cecilia Vera Lagomarsino of the OSCE RFoM explores what protection for journalists means today — from protest observation and early warning systems to field missions and other initiatives defending media freedom.
What the European Union Youth Report Says: Nearly a Quarter Are at Risk of Poverty
The European Commission has published its EU Youth Report, which provides a snapshot of what it means to be young in the EU today, amidst the demographic challenge and the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
Denmark and the ontology of body copyright
Denmark’s proposal to grant citizens copyright over their own features reframes digital identity as a question of democratic security — a real-world echo of Black Mirror’s warning that our image and voice can be taken from us.
Quiz: match these European musicians to their countries
Think you know where your fave European artists come from? Ready to prove your music geography skills or discover some new artists for your playlist? Take the quiz and see if you’re a Certified Euro Music Expert or just vibing with whatever TikTok puts on your FYP.
Wetlands as Europe’s natural shield against the nitrogen crisis?
Restoring some of Europe’s historic wetlands could reduce nitrogen pollution in waterways without heavily impacting agriculture. The question remains: are EU policymakers and the farming sector ready to embrace nature-based solutions?
What Italians Think of Europe: The Latest Survey Reveals Opinions on the EU
The 2025 Eurobarometer captures Italians' opinions on the European Union, including expectations, fears, and concrete requests. Compared to the EU average, according to the winter survey, a more cautious attitude prevails in Italy: confidence in European cooperation, but less optimism about their own future.
Passenger protection in the EU: legal guarantees and everyday challenges
Traveling safely within the EU? Check your rights.
Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank following drone incursions & operation eastern sentry
Following multiple incursions into NATO airspace by Russian drones, NATO reacts. We cover the news in the EU and NATO defense strategy and why is the focus on the eastern flank.
Press freedom under attack in Europe, with Italy among the countries most at risk: what the report says
The 2025 Liberties report denounces a widespread deterioration in press freedom in the EU, exacerbated by corporate takeovers, political pressure, and attacks on journalists. Italy is among the countries at risk, with a vulnerable public service and serious cases of interference.
Streamer tragedy sparks debate over platform oversight and authority response
The death of French streamer Raphaël Graven has shaken the public. Could it have been prevented?
Does the EU have the tools to regulate AI testing?
The Joint Research Centre warns that private AI benchmark tests are easy to manipulate, and their results can mislead regulators. Are benchmarks really reliable?
Smart Tachograph 2.0 – revolution or just another costly burden?
Will the new smart tachograph really make road transport safer and fairer, or is it just another expensive obligation for the industry?
10 months of protests: On the student movement and the future of Serbia with Milica Kostin
Today at PulseZ we talk to Milica Kostin, one of the organizers of ongoing protests in Serbia. Nearing the one-year anniversary of the collapse of canopy in Novi Sad which started the anti-government and anti-corruption protests, we discuss challenges ahead and small victories of the movement.
Cruise of contention: Greece’s ports in solidarity with Gaza
What began as a summer cruise turned into a floating flashpoint — Greek ports became arenas of protest, solidarity with Gaza, and clashes over the nation’s image.
What Italians and Europeans really want from the EU: a new survey explains
A European Union that is more united and more protective of its citizens, but also attentive to respect for democratic principles. This is the Europe European citizens would like.
From buzzword to blueprint: Youth power at the OSCE with Assel Murat
In this Vox Civica episode, Assel Murat explains how the OSCE tries to move beyond tokenism, making youth real actors in policy, peacebuilding, and decision-making.
Plastics everywhere: the EU’s big problem
The European Union has been trying for years to reduce the harmful impact of plastics, but data from 2022 shows that the path toward a truly sustainable system is still far from complete.
Heterotopias of digital nomadism
The cultural problem with digital nomads is that they don’t foster multicultural coexistence but instead replace the local with a post-liberal, productivity-driven international culture. The local community is left unable - or unneeded - to engage with it, reduced from an active subject to a functional backdrop.
A bridge that might be too far
Italy’s €13.5bn Messina Bridge is sold as a national triumph, but faces seismic risk, EU scrutiny, mafia fears, and mass expropriations. Critics say it exposes a deeper rift: spectacle versus public value in Italy’s future.
A microstate for the Bektashi? Tirana’s gamble
Edi Rama’s plan for a ‘Vatican of Islam’ in Tirana casts the Bektashi order as Albania’s soft-power brand of tolerance — but critics see a political spectacle.
Internships as Europe’s hidden weapon for competitiveness
Bringing internships and work placements into education and business strategies isn’t just about helping young people find jobs. It could also boost the competitiveness of entire industries across Europe. The question is: can the efforts of individuals and organizations spark real, lasting system change?
Estonia’s fish industry finds a second life for waste
An Estonian project backed by the EU is proving that what used to be considered “just waste” can actually become a valuable resource for medicine, fashion, and even high-tech materials.
Taking your pet on holiday? Here’s what you’ll need
Travelling across Europe with a dog, cat, or even a ferret may sound simple — just hop in the car or catch a flight.
A cloud revolution in the UK? Microsoft and AWS under antitrust scrutiny
For years, American tech giants have dominated the cloud market. But now, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is asking a bold question with huge implications for Europe’s digital future: are Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) harming competition and innovation?
Fico’s talks with Putin in China and Zelensky in Slovakia within the same week
Slovak Prime Minister went to China as the only EU member country’s leader, talked to Russian president Vladimir Putin and in the same week came back to Slovakia and met with Zelensky.
Quiz: the great European food-off
Are you a foodie? Is trying our different cuisines while traveling around Europe your favourite pastime? Show off your knowledge by taking our quiz.
German data protection authority vs. Chinese AI – and Google in the middle
A clash between Berlin’s data protection authority and Google over the Chinese app DeepSeek shines a spotlight on the tension between Europe’s strict privacy standards and the global ambitions of tech giants.
The peculiarities of soil: interview with an expert on soil health and research
When we talk about the health of our planet, we usually think about forests or oceans, which are naturally massive ecosystems, crucial for the livelihood and survival of the planet. However, what often gets overlooked is soil and its health.