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EU foreign ministers reject proposal to suspend association agreement with Israel

21 April 2026 at 18:46

A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member states

The EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force.

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© Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

© Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

© Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • UK agriculture deal with EU will not remove all red tape, peers told Lisa O’Carroll
    Lords told sales of Scottish shellfish among areas that may benefit – but agreement will not erase all paperworkEurope live – latest updatesA new agriculture agreement with the EU will not wipe out all Brexit paperwork but might pave the way for sales of Scottish langoustines and oysters, the House of Lords has heard.The UK and EU are close to finalising a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to reduce Brexit trade barriers, and while it will have “modest” impact on the UK economy the agre
     

UK agriculture deal with EU will not remove all red tape, peers told

21 April 2026 at 15:44

Lords told sales of Scottish shellfish among areas that may benefit – but agreement will not erase all paperwork

A new agriculture agreement with the EU will not wipe out all Brexit paperwork but might pave the way for sales of Scottish langoustines and oysters, the House of Lords has heard.

The UK and EU are close to finalising a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to reduce Brexit trade barriers, and while it will have “modest” impact on the UK economy the agreement will be significant, peers on the European affairs committee were told on Tuesday.

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© Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • EU’s top court finds Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law in breach of key values Jennifer Rankin in Brussels
    ECJ says law passed in 2021 is discriminatory and ‘contrary to the identity of the union’, in early test for new PMThe EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming government when it takes power next month.In a wide-ranging judgment, the European court of justice said the 2021 law that bans content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV was at odds with a so
     

EU’s top court finds Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law in breach of key values

21 April 2026 at 10:39

ECJ says law passed in 2021 is discriminatory and ‘contrary to the identity of the union’, in early test for new PM

The EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming government when it takes power next month.

In a wide-ranging judgment, the European court of justice said the 2021 law that bans content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV was at odds with a society based on pluralism and fundamental rights, such as prohibition of discrimination and freedom of expression.

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© Photograph: János Kummer/Getty Images

© Photograph: János Kummer/Getty Images

© Photograph: János Kummer/Getty Images

Decision on EU’s €90bn loan for Ukraine ‘due in next 24 hours’ after Zelenskyy says oil pipeline repaired – as it happened

21 April 2026 at 16:27

EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, says there is ‘new momentum’ after Hungarian election as Ukrainian leader says Druzhba pipeline can resume operations

German foreign minister Joseph Wadephul also makes it very clear that he is relieved with the change of government in Hungary, calling it “a breath of fresh air” and a promise of hope for Ukraine.

He urged Hungary to drop its “unusual blockade” for policies for Ukraine “as quickly as possible,” pointing to what he argued was a clear pro-European mandate from the electorate in Hungary (it’s a bit more complicated than that, though).

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© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

Almost half of EU’s busiest flight routes are ‘hard or impossible’ to book on trains – report

21 April 2026 at 04:00

‘Stone age’ system of booking cross-border rail tickets holding back climate action by consumers, says thinktank

Europe’s “stone age” system of booking train tickets makes it needlessly difficult for travellers to avoid polluting flights, a report has found.

Booking equivalent train tickets is “difficult or impossible” on almost half of the EU’s busiest international air routes, analysis from the Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank shows.

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© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

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