Eroding trust in democratic institutions
Lack of trust between citizens and democratic institutions stands as one of the biggest challenges and threats to democracy. Building resilient media with high trust is key to fighting this democratic backslide.

‘I’m not giving up’: Belgian PM sticks to conditions on Russian assets ahead of EU summit
Belgian PM Bart De Wever is blocking an EU plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, citing major legal and financial risks to Euroclear.

Russian assets: Europe faces up to its responsibilities
The EU is reaching a turning point by moving to utilize frozen Russian assets to ensure long-term, autonomous financial support for Ukraine. This shift aims

Top EU court rules Polish Constitutional Tribunal not independent due to political appointments
The European Court of Justice ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal is not an independent or impartial body due to irregular political appointments. The court found

French police raid home of Culture Minister Rachida Dati in corruption probe
French police raided the home of Culture Minister Rachida Dati on December 18 as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving her past consultancy work

Somalia’s 2026 election risks a legitimacy crisis
Somalia faces a legitimacy crisis as the government pushes for universal suffrage in 2026 despite severe security and political divisions. Critics warn that pursuing this

Defending democracy starts by protecting Europe’s mayors and councillors
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions has launched an observatory to track rising violence and harassment against local politicians. A study revealed that nearly