As Belgium is still locked in negotiations to form its federal government, the question of the appointment of the future European Commissioner - and the fate of current Belgian Commissioner Didier Reynders - is being raised with increasing urgency as the fateful date approaches.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares (PSOE/S&D) on Monday demanded that Venezuela "immediately" publish the results of last July's elections, under the threat that Spain could impose sanctions on the South American country.

Europe boasts some of the world’s most renowned spirits, from French cognac to Scottish whisky, but consumer tastes are shifting—mixing spirits and the rise of low and non-alcohol options are reshaping the industry due to pressure from economic challenges.

A hotly anticipated speech by a top European Central Bank official at the Jackson Hole annual US central bankers’ summit in Wyoming on Saturday (24 August) failed to provide significant guidance on the European bank’s future rate path, analysts say.

Germany’s biggest solar panel producer, Meyer Burger, will not close down its plant and move to the US, the company announced on Monday (26 August).

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Slovak shops reporting a rise in shoplifting, the government of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promising shorter working weeks, and so much more.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations were ongoing with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Switzerland regarding the second summit on peace in a conversation with Indian journalists shared on his social media.

Money management is an essential part of modern life and yet half of EU adults lack basic financial knowledge. With the capital markets union back on the political agenda and the digitalisation of finance, now is the time for an urgent rethink of the financial literacy agenda – one that is holistic and earnestly pursues tangible measures and outcomes.

Political control of the police during the upcoming early parliamentary elections is proving to be a major issue ahead of the expected rotation of caretaker governments in Sofia.

A growing number of Slovak shopkeepers report an increase in petty theft following the reform of the criminal code introduced by Fico's government, which reclassified theft of up to €700 as an administrative offence punishable by a maximum fine of €331, even if repeated.

As pressure grows in Berlin to reintroduce checks on all German borders, its neighbouring EU countries are warning the move could lead to a domino effect that could unravel the border-free Schengen area.

The Polish government has confirmed that it will amend the Labour Code to reduce working hours - either by introducing a four-day week or a seven-hour day - before its mandate ends in 2027, Polish media reported on Friday.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain's Partido Popular (PP), should speak about irregular migrants with "a bit of humanity and decency" and move away from the far-right's radical position on this hot political issue, Spanish Science, Innovation and Universities Minister Diana Morant warned.

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti criticised the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), comparing it to Soviet-style planning, while outgoing Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni urged Italy to focus on the medium to long term and keep an eye on its debt.

As wildfires rage in Europe, authorities face a difficult choice, in their struggle to source critical fire fighting aircraft. 

French President Emmanuel Macron's quest to form a coalition capable of governing the country looks to have reached an impasse, as a backlash against ministers from the controversial LFI party and Macron's inability to appoint a majority of his own members to his coalition government are making things difficult.

Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday (25 August), as Israel's military said it struck Lebanon with around 100 jets to thwart a larger attack, in one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months of border warfare.

In the wake of a deadly knife attack in Germany, the main opposition party is urging Chancellor Olaf Scholz to abandon the government's immigration policy and work together to implement a series of tough measures to curb the influx of migrants.

With the deadline to submit candidates for the next EU Commission approaching on Friday (August 30th), the selection process is fraught with challenges. In this episode, host Giada Santana and Magnus Lund Nielsen delve into the hurdles obstructing the formation of the new EU Commission.

Commission President von der Leyen seems to have dropped her vision of a gender balanced EU Commission. Analysts told Euractiv that domestic politics and tactical manoeuvring seem to take precedence over the common European good.