WATCH: Will EU Commission buckle to France on green targets?
After Thursday's European Council summit in Brussels French President Emmanuel Macron called for the European Commission to slam the brakes on publishing ambitious climate targets for 2040.
Today live in the studio on Euronews' morning show Europe Today we'll be quizzing Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's powerful Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
She's been tasked with presenting those 2040 targets on Wednesday next week - so is she now prepared to listen to the French president and take them off the agenda?
Watch Euronews' Meabh McMahon quiz Ribera live at 8am.
We'll bring you up to speed with all the other developments at the summit on Thursday, where - with the clock ticking down on a deadline for the EU to reach a deal with US on tariffs - differences emerged over how to negotiate the deal.
Follow live on Euronews at 8am.
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Euronews
37 minutes ago
- Euronews
Commissioner and MEPs in Budapest to challenge Orban's Pride ban
Around 70 MEPs from the liberal, green and left wing of the European Parliament joined the Belgian equality commissioner in Budapest on Saturday afternoon, as thousands of protestors marched through the Hungarian capital, waving rainbow and EU flags. The MEPs were primarily from the liberal Renew Europe, Socialists & Democrats, the Left and Greens groups, joined by one Irish European People's Party (EPP) MEP, Maria Walsh. Tens of thousands joined the march, with organisers claiming as many as 200,000 were on the streets. 'Long before I got into politics, and long before I leave, I'll be showing up for Pride. For me and for my values, Pride is incredibly important. I only wish more were here, but I joined together with over 70 other MEPs from across political parties,' Walsh told Euronews. 'It's not about one party versus the other party. It's about one human being showing up for another,' she added, when quizzed on the fact that there was no EPP delegation with her. 'I would have preferred that more EPP people would have joined the event. I think it's disappointing because this is an important mobilisation,' the President of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer, told Euronews. 'We have noted, since the start of this term, that the EPP is wavering between the democratic forces and the extreme right. It's a pity that the EPP doesn't understand who their adversaries are," said French socialist MEP Emma Rafowicz. A notable EPP absence was Hungarian opposition leader and MEP Peter Magyar. His centre-right party Tisza party is currently leading the governing Fidesz party in opinion polls for the 2026 parliamentary election. Magyar was not in Budapest, avoiding taking a stance of the issue of the thorny issue of the Pride march, which a recent survey indicated divides opinion in the country, with 47% of Hungarians opposed to it taking place. However, earlier in the day he called for a peaceful protest. 'I ask everyone not to fall for any provocation. If anyone gets hurt today in Budapest, if anyone comes to harm, Viktor Orbán alone will be responsible,' Magyar posted to his social platforms. European Commissioner for equality Hadja Lahbib held meetings with local civil society organisations on Friday. However, she did not show up at the march, telling Euronews that she instead would be attending meetings in the city. Risking fines and jail time In March, the Hungarian parliament approved a bill that in effect banned the gay pride march. As the legislation states, this event could violate Hungary's so-called child protection law, adopted earlier in the country, prohibiting any portrayal of same sex relationships for minors. The European Commission views this as a violation of its community law and has referred the case to the European Court of Justice. Conservative and far-right MEPs in the European Parliament defended Orbán's move to ban Pride events, saying the EU should not interfere in Hungary's internal affairs. However, the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony from the Green party, allowed the parade to go ahead by re-labeling it as a 'Day of Freedom' celebration, officially organized by the city council. This legal loophole allowed the thousands of people to march through the streets of Budapest in sweltering heat, protesting not just the ban Pride ban, but Viktor Orban's government generally. Alongside pride flags and the loud music, there were banners displaying the prime minister. 'I am not a big fan of Pride events, but this extends beyond Pride. This is about freedom too, because Hungary, a European Union country, banning Pride, is simply not on," one attendee told Euronews of his motivations for attending. Security was tight, with security cameras installed on lamp posts in the city centre and hundreds of police officers deployed at key spots of the parade, keeping watch over protesters and ensuring there were no clashes. Attendees were warned by the Hungarian Ministry of Justice that parade organisers risked up to a year in prison, and that those marching could be fined €500. The police have been encouraged by the government to use facial recognition technology to identify the attendees, although Karácsony insists that nobody will face punishment for their participation in the march. Anti-LGBT protesters also assembled in Budapest The nationalist 64 Counties Youth Movement held a legally sanctioned event on the same square in Budapest where Pride participants later gathered. Meanwhile, the Our Homeland Movement, a small far-right parliamentary party, organised a police-approved counter-march along the same route as the municipal Pride event. However, during the day the far-right protest was blocked by a strong police presence to avoid conflict. No major incidents were reported by the evening, although Euronews witnessed a confrontation between a small group of the 64 Counties Youth Movement – holding a banner comparing LGBT people to paedophiles and the Pride March. 'We are here because we want to warn the people of Hungary about the LGBT paedophilia, it is a really danger for our children,' one anti-LGBT protester told Euronews. Another anti-Pride protester tried to stop the march by standing in front of the truck leading the parade. He was jeered by the crowd and removed by the police.
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
Poles on cooperation between Nawrocki and Tusk: 'Two different worlds'
The victory of conservative Karol Nawrocki's victory in Poland's weekend presidential runoff is likely to cause further division and political instability between the centrist government and the new president, according to analysts and citizens alike. Nawrocki, who was backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party at home and endorsed by US President Donald Trump, won 50.89% of votes in Sunday's race against Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who received 49.11%, according to election commission data published on Monday. The 42-year-old nationalist has pledged to hinder Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist, pro-EU government until its term ends in late 2027, just as the outgoing President, Andrzej Duda, has done during his presidency. Nawrocki is set to take office on 6 August. Tusk announced on Monday that he will call for a parliamentary vote of confidence in his coalition government. While his government exists separately from the presidency, the president holds power to veto laws, and Nawrocki's victory will make it extremely difficult for Tusk to press his pro-European agenda and push through key promises including a civil union law for same-sex couples and a less restrictive abortion law. Nawrocki opposes such measures. Euronews spoke to several residents of Warsaw about whether relations between Tusk's government and the new president-elect would improve compared to the current reality. "There is no agreement between the government and the president. There are two different worlds," one resident of Warsaw told Euronews. Another person said: "They are on opposite sides and don't agree. But Nawrocki is a big unknown." However, another individual said: "I hope, however, that wisdom will win out and somehow these relations will settle down. And this nation will not be as divided as it is at the moment." 'Deeply divided' Election data results show that he difference between Nawrocki and Trzaskowski was fewer than 370,000 votes, or 1.78 percentage points — the smallest gap in a presidential run-off since 1989. "Poland remains a deeply divided country," said Jacek Kucharczyk, the president of the Polish Institute of Public Affairs. "Although the electoral turnout was highest ever in history of presidential elections, Nawrocki's margin of victory is very small, which means that half of Poland will be cheering his presidency, whereas half of Poland, the other half, remains deeply worried or even disturbed," he added. Nawrocki, a conservative historian and amateur boxer with no prior political experience, had presented the election as a referendum on Tusk's 18-month-old government. In his first public comments since his victory was announced, Nawrocki thanked those who voted for him and said he would work for the causes that are important to them "We want to live in a safe country with a strong economy, one that cares for the most vulnerable. A country that matters in international, European, and transatlantic relations. A country that cherishes its centuries-old traditions and respects its history," he wrote on social media. Trzaskowski conceded defeat and congratulated Nawrocki. "I fought for us to build a strong, safe, honest, and empathetic Poland together," he wrote on social media. Speaking on Monday, President Duda said he hoped the election result would be "an unambiguous signal" to Tusk and the government that the majority of Poles expect to see the "kind of policy ... that Nawrocki proposes and preached during his campaign". Following the election result, Nawrocki has received congraulations from leaders including Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Euronews
Hundreds of thousands gather to mark Budapest Pride despite Orban ban
Following the ban, Budapest Pride has taken on new meaning, becoming a powerful symbol of resistance against the government's ongoing restrictions on freedom of assembly and human rights. Euronews journalists on the ground spoke with several attendees who said they had previously been indifferent - or even opposed - to Pride events, but chose to participate this year to stand up for civil liberties and show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Greta Thunberg on Pride Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is in Budapest for Pride. In a video posted to her Instagram, she accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of making a desperate attempt to ban the event. Thunberg described Pride as both a protest and a celebration of love, calling the ban "another fascist attack on human rights." Pride banned, far-right march allowed While Pride was officially banned, police allowed a far-right march to go ahead. The far-right 64 Counties Youth Movement held an event on the same square in Budapest where Pride participants later gathered. Meanwhile, the Our Homeland Movement—a small far-right parliamentary party—announced a counter-march along the same route as the municipal Pride event. Both far-right events received police approval. Pride without the main opposition leader - did Fidesz force Peter Magyar to go on holiday? Peter Magyar is currently on holiday with his three sons. However he posted a strong message on Facebook about Pride saying: "We build a country together, with all Hungarians, where it does not matter where you come from, what you believe in, who you love. I call all police officers to protect all Hungarian citizens from the arbitrariness of a fallen power." Speculation circulated as to the "real" reason why he missed Pride. However Magyar explained it is because his sons play football so they had to organize their family holiday around summer sport camps. Political analysts had warned that by banning Pride, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was likely attempting to provoke Péter Magyar, the leader of Hungary's new main opposition party, TISZA. The party's support base is diverse, bringing together people from across the political spectrum. Magyar has repeatedly emphasized that he aims to represent all Hungarians, not just one ideological side. For Fidesz, forcing Magyar to take a clearer stance on liberal issues—such as LGBTQ+ rights—could be politically advantageous. 'Pride is already a success for Fidesz,' political analyst Zoltán Novák told Euronews, 'because they've managed to make the public debate revolve around an issue they own, framed in their language, and on a political topic where they enjoy majority support.' As Fidesz continues to lose ground to its centre-right rival, the TISZA Party, it has struggled to counter the strategy of its challenger, Péter Magyar. His campaign has focused squarely on the everyday concerns of Hungarians—rising economic hardship, and the deteriorating state of healthcare and education—while contrasting them with the corruption scandals and growing wealth of the Fidesz elite, including members of Prime Minister Orbán's family. This approach has triggered a sharp shift in public opinion. According to the latest poll by the reputable Median institute, TISZA now leads Fidesz by 15 percentage points. Meanwhile, government-aligned pollsters - normally active and vocal - have fallen into an unusual silence. TISZA Party leader Péter Magyar—formerly married to Fidesz's ex-Justice Minister—has deliberately avoided polarizing political issues such as LGBTQ+ rights or topics that fail to resonate broadly with voters, like press freedom. Instead, he has focused on pressing, everyday concerns: inflation, corruption, the state of healthcare, and failing infrastructure, including Hungary's rail system. According to political analyst Zoltán Novák, Fidesz introduced the so-called "Pride laws" in an attempt to corner Magyar into taking a stance that could alienate either conservative or liberal voters. While Magyar successfully sidestepped the trap, remnants of the liberal-green opposition stepped in to defend the issue—allowing Fidesz to partially regain control of the political narrative.
