Europe

Trusted news agencies tracing tendencies of democratisation and autocratisation globally

Equal access to power29. April

EU lawmakers to no longer lose vote while on maternity leave

Clean elections29. April

Kosovo heads to another early election in prolonged political crisis

Equality before the law and individual liberties28. April

Belarus releases journalist after five years in prison

Judicial constraints on the executive27. April

Syrian man on trial in Germany for deaths of 70 prisoners in Damascus

The trial has begun of a Syrian man accused of torture, murder and other crimes committed while he served as a prison guard in Damascus in 2011 and 2012 at the start of the Syrian civil war.

DNA

Judicial constraints on the executive27. April

German border check on traveller from Luxembourg unlawful, court says

A German court has ruled against conducting identity checks along internal borders within the Schengen area. Germany's justification for the suspension of Schengen rules was not soundly based, the Koblenz court said in a ruling likely to have wider ramifications.

DNA

Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information27. April

Activists on trial in Germany for attack on Israeli arms company

Five pro-Palestinian activists alleged to have trashed an Israeli arms company's premises in Ulm in southern Germany have gone on trial in Stuttgart. The "Ulm 5", who have various European nationalities, were cheered as they entered the courtroom.

DNA

Clean elections27. April

Germany's far-right AfD surges to all-time high of 28% in INSA poll

The extremist Alternative for Germany is riding high in the opinion polls as Chancellor Merz's government battles economic headwinds largely beyond its control. A state-level election looms in a state where support for the party is approaching 40%.

DNA

Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information23. April

Norway follows Turkey in social media ban after Australia led the way

Norway has become the latest country to move towards banning social media for youngsters, after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the age limit would be set at 16. A day earlier Turkey joined the growing trend, setting its age limit at 15.

DNA

Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information23. April

Protest at cuts to German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle

German journalists and trade unionists held a march through central Berlin to protest at government plans to cut the budget of Deutche Welle, the country's highly regarded international broadcaster.

DNA

Judicial constraints on the executive23. April

UK PM: European rights law must reflect illegal migration concerns

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told the body monitoring Europe's rights convention, that it must reflect concerns on illegal migration. Starmer, himself a rights lawyer before switching to politics, joins other European leaders in calling for a change in implementation.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties23. April

Poland rejects Israeli demands after Polish lawmaker displays swastika

The Polish government has rejected an Israeli demand for action against a right-wing lawmaker for unfurling a swastika in parliament. Poles elected their representatives, not foreign embassies, the Foreign Ministry said. Action had in any case been taken against the member.

DNA

Equal access to power23. April

Germany backs majority voting in EU for foreign and security policy

Pointing to the blocking manoeuvres of outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for the EU to abandon unanimity in its decisions on foreign and security policy. Majority voting was the norm in democracies, he said.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties22. April

EU says Serbia could lose a billion euros over democratic backsliding

Is the door closing for a Serbian membership to the EU? The Balkan country has been a candidate since 2014 and gets funds from the EU to reform, but concerns over democratic backsliding are putting those funds at risk.

DNA

Direct popular vote21. April

Locals vote in favour of CologneRhineRuhr Olympic bid

Are the Olympics heading to Cologne sometime in 2036 or after? A majority of voters in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia backed the idea in a referendum. The state premier called it a day of "lived democracy" but the deal is far from closed.

dpa

Equality before the law and individual liberties21. April

Amnesty says Europe not doing enough to counter human rights crisis

European states are contributing to the growing human rights crisis by their inaction, Amnesty International's yearly report finds. It also strongly critized the US, saying President Trump undermines the rule of law.

dpa