Legislators say move would be crucial step towards addressing patchwork of laws in place across bloc

• Europe live – latest updates

The European parliament has called on the EU to draw up a standardised consent-based definition of rape, in what legislators described as a crucial step towards addressing the patchwork of laws, some of them insufficient, that now exist across the bloc.

On Tuesday, 447 of the parliament’s 720 MEPs voted to approve a report calling for a common definition of rape, centred on “only yes means yes”, prompting a loud round of applause in the chamber in Strasbourg.

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© Photograph: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP/Getty Images

High fuel prices and passenger delays as result of EU’s EES entry-exit system leading to problems, says trade body

• Business live – latest updates

Europe’s smaller airports may not survive if jet fuel shortages triggered by the Middle East crisis lead to widespread route cancellations, the industry’s trade body has warned.

Although airlines insist there are currently no supply problems within the normal four- to six-week horizon, the US-Israel war on Iran and the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz have doubled the price of jet fuel, prompting some carriers to cancel flights.

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© Photograph: Alexandra Beier/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Alexandra Beier/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Alexandra Beier/AFP/Getty Images

Sakharov prize winner was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony in Belarus in 2021

Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, the 2025 Sakharov prize winner, has been freed from Belarusian prison.

His release has been confirmed by Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk, who posted a picture of him on social media saying: “Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome to your Polish home, my friend.”

“Both have paid a heavy price for speaking truth to power, becoming symbols of the struggle for freedom and democracy.”

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© Photograph: Leonid Shcheglov/AP

© Photograph: Leonid Shcheglov/AP

© Photograph: Leonid Shcheglov/AP

Journalists face rising threats while media ownership is concentrated in fewer hands, leading civil liberties group warns

Journalists in the EU face increasing levels of harassment, threats and violence, while news outlets are owned by a shrinking number of proprietors and public trust in the media has plummeted, a report has found.

The Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) said the findings of its fifth annual media freedom report, released on Tuesday, should place EU officials “on high alert”, with media freedom and pluralism “under sustained attack” across mainland Europe.

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© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

© Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

China sold goods worth about $148bn to EU in first quarter of year, but imported just $65bn

The EU is experiencing a prolonged “China shock” as a flood of Chinese EVs into Europe helped push Beijing to a record surplus with the bloc.

New data showed China’s trade surplus – where its exports to the EU exceeded imports from the bloc – was $83bn (£61bn) in the first three months of 2026.

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© Photograph: BYD/PA

© Photograph: BYD/PA

© Photograph: BYD/PA

Across country, at least 14 have been injured as Zelenskyy highlights importance of air defences

Top EU officials and Hungary’s incoming government will discuss on Wednesday the changes Budapest needs to push through to release €17bn in EU funds that have been blocked due to rule-of-law concerns under the outgoing government of Viktor Orbán.

Some of the frozen funds, such as €11bn euros ($13bn) from the post-pandemic Recovery Fund, must be drawn by mid-August, or be irrevocably lost, Reuters noted.

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© Photograph: Michael Shtekel/AP

© Photograph: Michael Shtekel/AP

© Photograph: Michael Shtekel/AP

Viktor Orban, who helped found the Fidesz party, said he would leave his Parliament seat but hoped to remain as head of his party.

French president cites joint military aid to Cyprus as proof of Europe’s ability to defend itself during trip to Athens

Emmanuel Macron has spoken up for Europe’s ability to defend itself, saying a mutual assistance clause, enshrined in the EU treaty, was unambiguous and “not just words”.

The French president said the pact had already been proved in action when several member states sent military aid to Cyprus after a drone attack against a British airbase on the island on 28 February.

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© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

With American dealmakers wrapped up with Iran, neither Russia nor Ukraine has a clear path to victory — or toward a negotiated peace.

The European Union and United States signed an agreement Friday to coordinate on the supply of critical minerals needed for key industries including defence, as China's dominance becomes a growing concern. Read More

Members to plan how to assist each other in event of attack as transatlantic alliance faces worst crisis in its history

Brussels officials will draw up a plan on how to use the EU’s little-known mutual assistance pact in the event of a foreign attack, as Donald Trump’s criticism of Nato intensifies.

EU leaders have agreed that the European Commission “will prepare a blueprint” on how the bloc will respond if the mutual assistance clause is triggered, according to Nikos Christodoulides, the president of Cyprus, who is hosting the talks.

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© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

Philip Rycroft says promises on issues from economics to immigration have not lived up to expectations

Britain should start talking about rejoining the EU, according to a former senior civil servant who ran the Brexit department.

Philip Rycroft, who was permanent secretary of the Department for Exiting the EU, said the “argument was there to be won” about going back into Europe, adding that a “clear-headed appraisal of what is in the country’s best interests” was needed. However, he said rejoining the bloc could be a “long and windy” road.

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© Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock