https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed New legislation proposed by the European Commission this week seeks to make the recognition of professional qualifications easier for non-EU citizens, a common complaint of many who've moved to the bloc from abroad. https://www.thelocal.com/20260919/eu-proposes-new-rules-for-recognition-of-qualifications-from-non-eu-citizens Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:05:32 +0200 eu-proposes-new-rules-for-recognition-of-qualifications-from-non-eu-citizens International headlines have been made this week by the EU and Canada announcing their mutual intention to form a deeper relationship. Mandy Pipher, The Local's resident Canadian, examines whether her compatriots would actually accept tighter ties with Europe. https://www.thelocal.com/20260919/opinion-do-canadians-really-want-closer-ties-with-europe Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:54:19 +0200 opinion-do-canadians-really-want-closer-ties-with-europe The EU laid out plans Thursday for strict age limits for children to access social media, games and AI assistants -- and on forcing companies to make platforms safe before minors use them. https://www.thelocal.com/20260917/explained-what-would-change-for-kids-and-social-media-under-new-eu-law Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:15:32 +0200 explained-what-would-change-for-kids-and-social-media-under-new-eu-law Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney shrugged off a threat of US retaliation on Thursday as he pitched a "new alliance" with Europe as a bulwark against outside pressures, in a closely watched speech to the European Parliament. https://www.thelocal.com/20260917/canadas-pm-carney-pushes-new-alliance-with-eu-despite-trump-threats Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:35:20 +0200 canadas-pm-carney-pushes-new-alliance-with-eu-despite-trump-threats EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect on Wednesday of Canada becoming the 27-nation bloc's first "associate member', as she pitched closer cooperation on tech, defence and energy to Canadian leader Mark Carney. https://www.thelocal.com/20260916/could-canada-become-the-first-associate-member-of-the-eu Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:42:50 +0200 could-canada-become-the-first-associate-member-of-the-eu EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday the bloc would propose an emergency tool for countries to better deal with mass migration movements following the deadly rush to the Spanish territory of Ceuta. https://www.thelocal.com/20260916/eu-chief-calls-for-emergency-migration-tool-amid-crisis-in-spains-ceuta Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:45:55 +0200 eu-chief-calls-for-emergency-migration-tool-amid-crisis-in-spains-ceuta The European Union will ban social media for children under 13 and allow only limited, supervised access until the age of 15 under plans unveiled Wednesday by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. https://www.thelocal.com/20260916/europe-has-power-to-act-eu-to-ban-social-media-for-under-13s Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:27:10 +0200 europe-has-power-to-act-eu-to-ban-social-media-for-under-13s The European Commission is planning a revision of Schengen rules on short-stay visas to make the EU’s visa policy "more coherent, secure and effective, while facilitating legitimate travel". https://www.thelocal.com/20260914/eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:07:23 +0200 eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees European Union countries issued a total of 3.9 million new residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to 2024, and the “highest level” since records began, according to new data. But which countries issue the most? https://www.thelocal.com/20260914/revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:32:14 +0200 revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high If there is an industry for it, there will be a lobby group representing its interests in Brussels, home to the European Union's institutions. But which companies or lobby groups splash out the most on seeking to influence EU policy? https://www.thelocal.com/20260911/big-tech-to-banking-which-companies-spend-the-most-on-eu-lobbying Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:02:18 +0200 big-tech-to-banking-which-companies-spend-the-most-on-eu-lobbying Cities across Europe will gain more leeway to curb short-term rentals such as Airbnb under plans to bring down housing costs in tourism hotspots that the European Union is to unveil Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260905/eu-to-help-cities-clamp-down-on-tourist-rentals Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:38:52 +0200 eu-to-help-cities-clamp-down-on-tourist-rentals Is climate change set for a comeback as a top EU priority, after a deadly summer of record-breaking heatwaves across Europe? https://www.thelocal.com/20260904/will-the-european-union-take-up-the-climate-fight-after-brutal-heatwaves Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:10:40 +0200 will-the-european-union-take-up-the-climate-fight-after-brutal-heatwaves The European Union put on a brave face on Sunday in response to the Icelandic vote against resuming EU accession negotiations, but the result is no doubt a big blow to Brussels and a boon for eurosceptics. https://www.thelocal.com/20260831/warning-to-europe-how-icelands-no-vote-is-a-blow-to-the-eu Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:12:13 +0200 warning-to-europe-how-icelands-no-vote-is-a-blow-to-the-eu Iceland voted 'No' to resuming membership negotiations with the European Union, final referendum results showed Sunday, dealing a heavy blow to Brussels which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member. https://www.thelocal.com/20260830/iceland-votes-no-to-resuming-eu-talks Sun, 30 Aug 2026 12:01:37 +0200 iceland-votes-no-to-resuming-eu-talks With countries across Europe reintroducing police checks at internal borders with neighbouring states there has been renewed attention on how the borderless Schengen area works and how it's linked to the EU"s free movement principle. https://www.thelocal.com/20260828/whats-the-difference-between-schengen-and-eu-free-movement-rules Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:36:32 +0200 whats-the-difference-between-schengen-and-eu-free-movement-rules Spain has been under attack from murky forces, from human trafficking gangs to Russian propagandists. So why did Sweden's government also turn its guns on Spain over the Ceuta crisis? https://www.thelocal.com/20260803/why-did-sweden-abandon-spain-over-ceuta Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:51:35 +0200 why-did-sweden-abandon-spain-over-ceuta AI watermarking and deepfake labelling will soon be required by law in the EU as the transparency part of the bloc’s sweeping AI Act comes into force on August 2nd. https://www.thelocal.com/20260727/explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:38:09 +0200 explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots The EU/Schengen area's '90-day' rule is a complicated one that causes much confusion for travellers - here we answer some of the most common questions from readers of The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20230518/your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Thu, 18 May 2023 11:19:22 +0200 your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Several EU countries have caused a stir when they called to shut Spain out of the EU's visa-free Schengen travel zone after the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Morocco was overwhelmed this week by thousands of migrant arrivals. Is that possible? https://www.thelocal.com/20260731/can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:18:33 +0200 can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone The European Commission this week launched legal action against 17 member states over the application of the new directive on the single permit, a combined procedure that grants third country nationals both a work and residence permit instead of applying separately for them. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/eu-launches-legal-action-against-17-member-states-over-new-single-permit-rules Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:11:35 +0200 eu-launches-legal-action-against-17-member-states-over-new-single-permit-rules