The cost of living is once again at the heart of the European debate. Its impact is being felt across the board, from Spanish rents that are putting families under financial strain to Italian energy bills and US tariffs threatening the German car industry. From football stadiums to train carriages, inflation is now reshaping every aspect of daily life.
The period from 4 to 15 May 2026 depicts a European Union caught between two pressing issues. On the one hand, Brussels wants to assert its power in defence, trade, artificial intelligence and competitiveness. On the other, citizens are asking for something simpler: to live decently. To find a home without getting into debt, to work without burning out, to get around without breaking the bank, and to keep warm without fearing the bill.
In this European press review dated 11 May 2026, the European Union is examined through the lens of everyday life. To explore this analysis further, please also see our previous press review on the key issues surrounding the 2028–2034 European budget.
EU news of the week: Brussels promises to tackle poverty, but the battle cannot be won with press releases alone
The big European news story of the week is a social one: the European Commission has presented its first strategy to combat poverty. In its press release “Commission proposes new measures to fight poverty and improve lives of persons with disabilities”, published on 6 May 2026, the Commission states its intention to help eradicate poverty in the European Union by 2050, with a strategy centred on poverty, disability, the European Child Guarantee and the fight against housing exclusion. It also states that Member States will be required to discuss a Council recommendation on housing exclusion.
On the same day, Euronews published an article entitled “Commissioner vows to end poverty in 25 years as EU unveils first major strategy”, in which Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, stated: “We want to eradicate poverty in the EU within 25 years.” It is a powerful, almost historic statement. But Euronews also highlights a major limitation: the strategy does not have its own budget and is based primarily on recommendations, not on legally binding obligations.
This is where the issue becomes political. If Europe wants to tackle poverty, it cannot simply produce a roadmap. It must answer a simple question: who pays, who decides, who oversees? Poverty is not simply a matter of individual effort. It is also caused by exorbitant rents, poorly paid jobs, poorly distributed benefits, weakened public services, inadequate transport and unaffordable energy bills. For EU citizens, this strategy could prove useful if it leads to more affordable housing, better child protection, decent employment policies and accessible support. Otherwise, it will remain yet another empty promise in a Europe that is very good at writing, but must now prove that it knows how to protect.
The European Union in brief, and on a positive note: a whale saved, Eurovision on the horizon, and the European flag back in Budapest
It’s not all doom and gloom in the EU. There are also heart-warming stories, even if they remain fragile. In Germany, the story of the humpback whale nicknamed Timmy, or Hope, has touched many people across the country. In “Rescuers release humpback whale that was stranded off German coast”, published on 2 May 2026, The Guardian reports that after nearly six weeks stranded in Wismar Bay, the young whale was transported on a barge filled with water and then released into the North Sea, off the coast of Denmark.
The animal was seen swimming freely after being released back into the sea, giving the operation a sense of collective relief. But the same media outlet then published “Rescue of Timmy the whale ‘an all-round catastrophe’ after tracker failure” on 5 May 2026, noting that marine biologists had criticised the highly costly operation, estimated at around €1.5 million, and that the tracker fitted to the animal had quickly stopped transmitting. So there is good news, but it remains cautious: Timmy has returned to the sea, and sometimes Europe also needs these stories in which we try to save living creatures, even clumsily, even imperfectly.
Another welcome change of pace, though not without controversy: Eurovision 2026 is fast approaching, with the grand final scheduled to take place in Vienna on Saturday 16 May. As for the contest itself, Finland is the bookmakers’ favourite, ahead of Denmark, France and Greece. France is therefore near the top of the table, around third or fourth place, making it one of the serious contenders. Eurovision remains that curious European phenomenon: popular, kitsch, musical and unifying.
But the 2026 contest is also marked by a political boycott. The Journal, in “Amid a boycott and with past winners steering clear, what can we expect from Eurovision 2026?”, published on 10 May 2026, notes that Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland are not taking part in the contest. Their withdrawal is in response to Israel’s participation, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, as well as criticism of voting practices in 2025. The Sporting News, in “When is Eurovision 2026? Odds, Key Dates, Full Schedule, Betting Favourites”, published on 8 May 2026, confirms these five absences. Even on the music scene, Europe remains torn by its moral and political conflicts.
Finally, in Hungary, one image stood out this week: the visible return of European symbols to Budapest following Péter Magyar’s accession to power. In “In Hungary, jubilation marks Péter Magyar’s inauguration as prime minister”, published on 10 May 2026, Le Monde reports on the inauguration of the new Hungarian Prime Minister on 9 May, Europe Day, following the end of Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year rule.
The newspaper notes that the European flag has been reinstalled on the front of the Parliament building and that thousands of people celebrated this change in the streets of Budapest. The Guardian, in “Rhythm nation: politician’s viral dance moves mark new, optimistic era for Hungary”, published on 10 May 2026, also highlights this atmosphere of optimism, with the return of the European flag and the European anthem played at the inauguration. We must not turn this moment into a fairy tale: rebuilding the rule of law, press freedom and democratic trust will take time. But symbolically, seeing the European anthem ring out in Budapest after years of standoff with Brussels is a powerful image.
Figure of the week: €375 – the energy bill that can throw a budget off balance
The figure of the week is €375. According to an article by the Italian news agency ANSA, “IMF: ‘The crisis will cost Italian households between €450 and €2,270’”, published on 6 May 2026, the International Monetary Fund estimates that the energy crisis could cost an average of €375 per household in the European Union in 2026. For Italy, the bill would be even higher: €450 in the baseline scenario and up to €2,270 in the most severe scenario.
This figure says far more about Europe than some official statements. €375 is enough for a week’s shopping, part of the rent, a heating bill, a train ticket to visit family, or rising medical costs. In low-income households, this kind of financial blow cannot be easily smoothed over; it forces people to prioritise every single expense.
The high cost of living in Europe is therefore becoming a test of democracy. European policies on energy, the green transition, sanctions, joint procurement, the internal market and support for households are not abstract issues. If they are poorly designed, they become a new source of public anger and, above all, a factor driving people away from the EU at a time when anti-EU parties are gaining increasing support.
Person of the week: Bernd Lange, the German MEP who sees tariffs as an attack on European industry
The person of the week is Bernd Lange, a German MEP from the SPD, a member of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on International Trade. His name has returned to the European news agenda at a time when Donald Trump was threatening new tariffs on European cars. In the Euronews video “Donald Trump’s EU car tariffs ‘targeting Germany,’ says key German MEP”, published on 4 May 2026, Bernd Lange argues that the US threat of 25% tariffs on European cars is specifically targeting Germany, the industrial heart of the EU.
A few days later, the Associated Press reported in “Trump says EU has until 4 July to approve last year’s trade deal or it will face higher tariffs”, published on 8 May 2026, that Donald Trump had given the European Union until 4 July 2026 to approve the trade deal concluded the previous year, failing which it would face higher tariffs.
Bernd Lange embodies an industrial Europe that understands all too well that tariffs are not merely a battle between diplomats. Behind a tax on cars lie production lines, subcontractors, workers, engineers, ports, transport companies and entire families who make their living from the automotive industry in Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and France. In a Europe where the cost of living is rising, a trade war can very quickly turn into a social war.
The high cost of living in Europe: housing is becoming the EU’s biggest social issue
This week’s overarching theme is housing. And it is causing alarm across the EU. In Spain, El País published an article on 5 May 2026 entitled “The housing crisis pushes overcrowding in rented flats to record levels”. The newspaper explains that 20.5% of tenants on the open market are living in overcrowded conditions, according to Eurostat, and that rents rose by between 20% and 30% between 2020 and 2025.
In the Netherlands, the problem takes a different form. On 6 May 2026, DutchNews published an article entitled “Tax breaks for homeowners deepen Dutch wealth divide: CPB”, explaining that the tax benefits granted to homeowners amount to around €9 billion and are contributing to a widening gap between homeowners and tenants. The following day, DutchNews published “Spending power gap between homeowners and tenants widens”, showing that the gap in purchasing power continues to grow.
Here again, the issue is deeply political. In a Europe where home ownership offers increasing security and renting brings increasing vulnerability, social class is reflected in the tenancy agreement. Being a homeowner often means having access to capital, tax breaks and stability. Being a tenant sometimes means having to cope with rising prices, forced moves and the feeling that one is working mainly to pay for a roof over one’s head.
The Dutch case is interesting because it challenges a cliché. The Netherlands is often portrayed as an efficient, wealthy, well-run and modern country. All of that may well be true. But even in a wealthy country, housing can become a mechanism for sorting residents socially. Those who own property accumulate wealth. Those who rent bear the brunt of price rises. Those who inherit start the game several steps ahead. Those who work without capital watch prices slip further out of reach. It is also a question of wealth. Two people on the same salary do not live the same life if one owns their home and the other spends a large share of their income on rent.
Brussels / institutional agenda: defence, youth, AI and social Europe on this week’s agenda
The week of 11–15 May 2026 will be a busy one for the European institutions. In “Forward look: 11 – 24 May 2026”, published on 8 May 2026, the Council of the European Union announces a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 11 May, focusing in particular on the Western Balkans, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The text also mentions discussions with the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand.
Still on the subject of the Council, the institutional agenda includes a meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 11 and 12 May 2026. This type of meeting may seem secondary compared to defence or trade. In reality, it directly affects the lives of young Europeans: mobility, access to culture, amateur sport, education, training and citizenship. In a Union that wants to engage with younger generations, these are strategic issues. Europe is not built solely through summits; it is also built through school exchanges, clubs, libraries, festivals, sports grounds and youth programmes.
The European Parliament, for its part, announced in “The Week Ahead 11 – 17 May 2026”, published on 8 May 2026, a week of political group meetings in Brussels and the presentation of the 2026 Charlemagne Youth Prize in Aachen, designed to recognise projects led by young people that promote democracy, active citizenship and closer ties between communities.
On digital matters, the European Commission has also announced a political agreement on simplifying certain rules relating to artificial intelligence. In “EU agrees to simplify AI rules to boost innovation and ban ‘nudification’ apps to protect citizens”, published on 7 May 2026, it states that the compromise aims to facilitate innovation while banning “nudification” apps, which expose women and minors in particular to digital violence.
This issue perfectly illustrates the current tension in Europe: simplification, yes, but for whom? If simplification means helping SMEs, researchers, public services and creators, it is useful. If simplification means weakening the protection of citizens against platforms and the misuse of AI, it is dangerous.
In the eastern part of the European Union, security is becoming an industrial and social policy
In Eastern Europe, the week has been dominated by defence. In Poland, Notes from Poland published an article on 8 May 2026 entitled “Poland signs agreement with EU for €44 billion in SAFE defence loans”. The publication explains that Warsaw has signed an agreement with the European Commission to receive €43.7 billion, or 185 billion zlotys, in European loans over four years under the SAFE programme dedicated to defence spending. Poland is the first of the nineteen Member States eligible for the scheme to sign an agreement, and by far the country receiving the largest allocation. The agreement immediately releases 15% of the total, amounting to approximately €6.5 billion.
This figure is staggering. It confirms that Poland is no longer merely a neighbouring country concerned about the war in Ukraine: it is becoming a military pillar of the European Union. But the social implications are enormous. Where will these billions go? To which regions? What jobs will they create? For which industries? For what training programmes?
Still in Poland, the climate transition continues to fuel a heated political debate. In “The ETS bogeyman: is the EU’s climate tool as costly as the Polish right claims?”, published on 4 May 2026, Notes from Poland examines the Polish right’s attacks on the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. The article points out that, according to the Polish Supreme Audit Office, Poland collected 138.6 billion zlotys between 2013 and 2025 from the sale of allowances, but that only a small proportion of this was actually used to reduce emissions.
This point is crucial. Climate policy can become unpopular if households foot the bill without seeing the money come back to them in the form of public transport, insulation, energy-efficiency renovations, targeted support or jobs in the transition sector. The Polish right blames Brussels. But the article also shows that national choices matter. Europe sets the framework; governments then decide how to use the revenue.
In Romania, political instability reinforces the impression that Eastern Europe is under pressure. On 7 May 2026, Euractiv published an analysis entitled “A government down, a country in flux: Romania’s political reset begins”, which describes a country grappling with a government crisis, budgetary pressures, inflation and the need for reforms.
Uncertainty is therefore very real in Romania, with several questions arising: which areas of public spending will be protected? And what trade-offs will Brussels, which has a say in budgetary discipline, demand?
In Estonia, the intersection between memory, security and European citizenship is particularly evident. On 10 May 2026, ERR published “Watch again: Europe Day celebrations in Narva”, covering the Europe Day celebrations in Narva, a town on the border with Russia, which featured a public concert in Town Hall Square, performances, exhibitions and family-friendly activities. The media outlet also notes that the Narva Museum has once again displayed a banner describing Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal”.
In the south of the European Union, rents, employment and culture paint a picture of a society struggling to breathe
In southern Spain, on 7 May 2026, El País published an article entitled “Social housing organisations already manage the majority of public housing but remain far below European levels”, explaining that Spain has around 600,000 public rental properties, representing 3.3% of the housing stock, which is far below the higher European levels.
This figure gets to the heart of the matter: without a strong public housing sector, the market dictates the terms. And when the market dictates the terms in desirable areas, the poorest are forced out, the middle classes grit their teeth, and landlords reap the benefits.
In Italy, social issues are increasingly linked to employment and skills. On 6 May 2026, ANSA published an article entitled “Up to 900,000 jobs in the ‘Made in Italy’ sector by 2029: the hunt for skills”. The agency explains that Made in Italy companies could recruit more than 900,000 workers by 2029, accounting for around a third of the country’s recruitment needs, but that recruitment difficulties stand at 55% for many roles. Two days later, the same agency reported that Italian companies were planning to create 544,000 jobs in May and 1.7 million by July, particularly in line with the tourist season.
This contrast is very Italian, but also very European. There are jobs, but not always the right skills. There are companies looking to hire, but not always salaries that are attractive enough. There is tourism, craft industries, manufacturing, the luxury sector and the food industry, but there are also young people who are no longer willing to accept just any conditions. Europe often talks about “skills” as if the problem lay solely with workers. But the question must also be asked the other way round: do the jobs on offer provide a decent living?
In the western part of the European Union, the social divide is reflected in rents, wealth and European funds
The Belgian social model is one of the last in Europe to practise automatic wage indexation to inflation. Against a backdrop of persistently high living costs, this unique mechanism protects part of households’ purchasing power, but it is a source of tension between the social partners. While trade unions defend this bulwark against precariousness, employers’ organisations are concerned about a loss of competitiveness compared to neighbouring European countries. The debate is intensifying this week over the need to reform the system to include more criteria linked to the energy transition without penalising the lowest-paid workers.
Beyond food inflation, it is the housing market that is sounding the alarm. In Brussels and Louvain-la-Neuve, the shortage of affordable student accommodation is becoming a major obstacle to social mobility. Rents have soared by more than 15% in two years, forcing many young people to move away from university centres or to juggle several precarious jobs. This situation illustrates the “social melting pot”: when the cost of basic housing becomes a luxury, the entire European social ladder grinds to a halt.
In France, the political landscape is dominated by the far right and the use of European funds. On 8 May 2026, Le Monde published an article entitled “EU prosecutors investigate Jordan Bardella’s media training expenses”, reporting that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the alleged use of European Union funds in connection with media training expenses that primarily benefited Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally. The article mentions more than €130,000 in European funds that are alleged to have been spent on these services between 2019 and 2021. The RN denies the allegations.
This case is politically explosive because it highlights a classic contradiction. Nationalist parties often denounce Brussels as a costly bureaucratic machine. Yet they are also quick to make use of its funding. The problem is not that an elected representative is receiving training in European communications; that may well be legitimate. The problem is whether European public money is actually being used to inform people about Europe or to build national careers.
France is also in the midst of a wider debate on the presidential election and social issues. On 4 May 2026, Le Monde published “Jean-Luc Mélenchon announces fourth presidential run”, a report on Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s announcement of a new bid for the presidency. On 7 May 2026, the daily published “Le Pen condemns ‘welfare dependency,’ marking ideological about-face”, analysing the return of Marine Le Pen’s very harsh rhetoric on “welfare dependency”.
These two movements say a great deal about the political landscape in France. On the left, the question is how to rebuild a popular bloc centred on wages, public services, the environment and democracy. On the far right, the strategy often involves appealing to the working classes while pitting the poor against one another: workers against the unemployed, nationals against foreigners, welfare recipients against those with purchasing power.
In Central Europe, industry, customs tariffs and football paint a picture of a powerful Europe under strain
In Central Europe, the main economic issue is trade. On 8 May 2026, the Associated Press published an article entitled “Trump says EU has until 4 July to approve last year’s trade deal or it will face higher tariffs”. The agency explains that Donald Trump has given the European Union until 4 July 2026 to approve the trade agreement concluded the previous year, failing which it will face higher tariffs. The article also notes that a 10% tariff is currently in place, while the threat had previously been of 25% tariffs on European cars.
For Germany, this is a wake-up call. Behind this trade war lie factories, suppliers, workers, technicians and entire regions that depend on exports. When Washington threatens European cars, it is not just the major manufacturers who are worried. It is also automotive workers in Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and France. Tariffs can become an indirect tax on industrial employment.
Should the EU simply accept US decisions or develop its own independent industrial strategy? A European industrial policy worthy of the name must protect jobs, manage the green transition, set conditions for state aid, support local communities and prevent profits from being privatised while risks are socialised.
Hungary also features in the sports section. On 7 May 2026, UEFA published “2025/26 Champions League: All the fixtures and results”, confirming that the Champions League final will see Paris Saint-Germain take on Arsenal on 30 May 2026 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
In the north of the European Union, security clashes with social issues
In the North, security is not just a matter of borders or military defence. It is also becoming a social, educational and judicial issue. For a long time, Sweden was associated with a youth justice system focused on protection, education and rehabilitation. But in the face of shootings, explosions and the recruitment of teenagers by criminal networks, the government has opted for a dramatic tightening of the law. Euronews, in “Sweden plans electronic bracelets to monitor children at risk of gang recruitment”, published on 7 May 2026, notes that the age at which certain measures apply will be lowered to 13 from 1 July, for crimes punishable by at least four years in prison. The government is also considering electronic tagging to monitor children at risk of criminal recruitment. The debate is therefore highly contentious, as it strikes at the heart of the Swedish model.
In Denmark, the other Nordic news story is political. The Guardian, in “Danish right-wing leader asked to form government after Frederiksen fails to form coalition”, published on 9 May 2026, explains that the Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen failed to form a coalition following the general election in March. King Frederik has therefore asked centre-right leader Troels Lund Poulsen to attempt to form a government. The symbolism is powerful: even in one of the countries most emblematic of the Nordic social compromise, political fragmentation and the rise of the right are reshaping the balance of power.
The Danish People’s Party, having gained ground at the polls, is making its support conditional on, among other things, a very hard line on immigration. Here too, security has become a central theme in political discourse: cultural security, social security, border security. But the real question remains the same as in Sweden: when Nordic societies take a harder line, are they better protecting their citizens, or are they simply shifting fears onto the most vulnerable?
This European press review of 11 May 2026 paints a stark picture: the high cost of living in Europe is no longer just a statistic on a piece of paper; it is a divide that threatens the continent’s cohesion. With billions being channelled into defence while skyrocketing rents go unaddressed, the European Union has its back against the wall.
To stop being seen as a distant, technocratic machine, Brussels must turn its “2050 strategies” into immediate solutions for the weekly shop and the rent. What do you think? Is the Commission’s new anti-poverty strategy the social turning point we have been waiting for, or just another empty promise? Share your views in the comments and join the debate on our European media platform.
Sources and references
- European Commission — “Commission proposes new measures to combat poverty and improve the lives of people with disabilities”, 6 May 2026 – https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-proposes-new-measures-fight-poverty-and-improve-lives-persons-disabilities-2026-05-06_en
- European Commission — “Commission proposes new measures to combat poverty and improve the lives of people with disabilities”, press release IP/26/946, 6 May 2026 –https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_946
- Euronews — “Commissioner vows to end poverty in 25 years as EU unveils first major strategy”, 6 May 2026 — https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/06/commissioner-vows-to-end-poverty-in-25-years-as-eu-unveils-first-major-strategy
- ANSA — “IMF: ‘The crisis will cost Italian households between €450 and €2,270’”, 6 May 2026 –https://www.ansa.it/europa/notizie/rubriche/altrenews/2026/05/06/fmi-la-crisi-pesera-da-450-a-2.270-euro-sulle-famiglie-italiane_e327b97c-3b69-49ac-b0d3-7d6438f1e4c5.html
- El País — “Housing crisis pushes overcrowding in rented flats to record levels”, 5 May 2026 – https://elpais.com/economia/2026-05-05/la-crisis-de-la-vivienda-eleva-a-niveles-record-el-hacinamiento-en-pisos-de-alquiler.html
- DutchNews — “Tax breaks for homeowners widen the wealth gap in the Netherlands: CPB”, 6 May 2026 –https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/05/tax-breaks-for-homeowners-deepen-dutch-wealth-divide-cpb/
- Council of the European Union — “Forward look: 11–24 May 2026”, 8 May 2026 – https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/05/08/forward-look-2026/
- European Parliament — “The Week Ahead 11–17 May 2026”, 8 May 2026 –https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/agenda
- European Commission — “EU agrees to simplify AI rules to boost innovation and ban ‘nudification’ apps to protect citizens”, 7 May 2026 – https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1024
- Notes from Poland — “Poland signs agreement with the EU for €44 billion in SAFE defence loans”, 8 May 2026 – https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/05/08/poland-signs-agreement-with-eu-for-e44-billion-in-safe-defence-loans/
- Notes from Poland — “The ETS bogeyman: is the EU’s climate policy as costly as the Polish right claims?”, 4 May 2026 — https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/05/04/the-ets-bogeyman-is-the-eus-climate-tool-as-costly-as-the-polish-right-claims/
- Euractiv — “A government down, a country in flux: Romania’s political reset begins”, 7 May 2026 –https://www.euractiv.com/opinion/a-government-down-a-country-in-flux-romanias-political-reset-begins/
- ERR — “Watch again: Europe Day celebrations in Narva”, 10 May 2026 – https://news.err.ee/1610019460/watch-again-europe-day-celebrations-in-narva
- ERR — “Police: ‘Victory Day’ passes mostly peacefully in Tallinn”, 9 May 2026 – https://news.err.ee/1610019076/police-victory-day-passes-mostly-peacefully-in-tallinn
- ERR — “Estonian Olympic Committee criticises IOC’s decision on Belarus”, 8 May 2026 –https://news.err.ee/1610018152/estonian-olympic-committee-hits-out-at-ioc-belarus-decision
- ANSA — “Up to 900,000 jobs in the Made in Italy sector by 2029, the hunt for skills”, 6 May 2026 – https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/economia/pmi/2026/05/06/nel-made-in-italy-fino-a-900mila-posti-entro-il-2029-caccia-alle_0c7e668a-24b5-4e52-87b1-4c76dfb2350a.html
- ANSA — “Companies expect to create 544,000 jobs in May, 1.7 million by July”, 8 May 2026 – https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/economia/2026/05/08/544,000-jobs-expected-by-companies-in-May-1.7-million-by-July_d3577e37-0450-4db8-bf21-d6fede5fe90e.html
- Le Monde — “EU prosecutors investigate Jordan Bardella’s media training expenses”, 8 May 2026 – https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2026/05/08/eu-prosecutors-investigate-jordan-bardella-s-media-training-expenses_6753266_7.html
- Le Monde — “Jean-Luc Mélenchon announces fourth presidential bid”, 4 May 2026 – https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2026/05/04/jean-luc-melenchon-announces-fourth-presidential-run_6753097_5.html
- Le Monde — “Le Pen condemns ‘welfare dependency,’ marking an ideological U-turn”, 7 May 2026 – https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2026/05/07/le-pen-condemns-welfare-dependency-marking-ideological-about-face_6753231_5.html
- Associated Press — “Trump says EU has until 4 July to approve last year’s trade deal or it will face higher tariffs”, 8 May 2026 – https://apnews.com/article/bd6748c3e85533d3ce3644f257f8e326
- Euronews — “Donald Trump’s EU car tariffs ‘targeting Germany,’ says key German MEP”, 4 May 2026 – https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/05/04/donald-trumps-eu-car-tariffs-targeting-germany-says-key-german-mep
- The Guardian — “Danish right-wing leader asked to form government after Frederiksen fails to form coalition”, 9 May 2026 – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/09/danish-rightwing-leader-troeld-lund-poulsen-form-government-mette-frederiksen-fails-coalition
- Euronews — “Sweden plans to use electronic tags to monitor children at risk of gang recruitment”, 7 May 2026
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/07/sweden-plans-electronic-bracelets-to-monitor-children-at-risk-of-gang-recruitment - The Journal — “Amid a boycott and with past winners steering clear, what can we expect from Eurovision 2026?”, 10 May 2026 – https://www.thejournal.ie/eurovision-2026-irish-boycott-context-explained-7033308-May2026/
