Europe News
The Daily Signal covers European news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on foreign policy, international security, and economic issues.
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- Opinion
Why Europe Refuses to Take Back Captured ISIS Fighters
When the caliphate of the Islamic State collapsed, its fighters scattered. Many ISIS terrorists ended up in camps being run by Syrian Kurds in northern Syria. Among the number are about 2,000 Europeans, and what exactly to do about that is the biggest source of disagreement that exists between the U.S. and Europe on counterterrorism policy today….Robin Simcox -
- Opinion
The Rise of ‘Hate Speech’ Policing in Europe
Free speech is increasingly under attack on college campuses — but if you think it’s bad here, look across the pond to Europe. Authorities over there are increasingly cracking down on so-called “hate speech” — a label that’s been applied to speech critical of Islam, homosexuality, and more. Paul Coleman, a British attorney who’s had…Daniel Davis -
- Opinion
New Chief at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Is a Hopeful Sign for Much-Needed Leadership Change
The announcement of new leadership at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty could signal the beginning of a new era in U.S. international broadcasting. Last week, foreign policy specialist and German Marshall Fund senior fellow Jamie Fly was appointed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s new president, a choice that bodes well for the mission and for management of the…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
Europeans Work 2 Months Longer Than Americans Do to Pay Their Tax Bill
On June 22, German workers celebrated their Tax Freedom Day—the day when taxpayers have finally earned enough money to pay the country’s tax bill. Germany’s Tax Freedom Day falls more than two months after taxpayers in the United States celebrated our freedom on April 16. Germany is not alone in Europe when it comes to…Adam Michel -
- Opinion
European Parliamentary Elections Reflect Electorate’s Mandate for Change
There is no doubt the winds of change are continuing to blow across Europe. Established political parties of the center-right and center-left suffered large losses during European parliamentary elections, which took place in 28 nations from May 23 to May 26. Across the European Union there were significant gains for nationalist and populist movements, on…Daniel Kochis -
- Opinion
What We Can Learn From the European Union
The European Union Parliament elections this week provided a shock to the system for the center-right and center-left coalition in European politics: The big winners were nationalist movements. In France, Marine Le Pen’s immigration-restrictionist National Front defeated the party of the current president, Emmanuel Macron. In Italy, Matteo Salvini’s similarly anti-immigration League Party won big….Ben Shapiro -
- Opinion
The Implications of EU Elections in May for the Future of Europe
In about six weeks, from May 23 to 26, European Parliament elections will take place across Europe. Those elections could be a defining moment. The most recent prior EU Parliament elections took place in May 2014. Just a few months before, the borders of a European country were changed by force. Russia invaded Ukraine, annexed…Daniel Kochis -
- News
Even After World War II, Europe in Denial About Evil
“There are none so blind as those who will not see.” One might think that after denying the evidence of Adolf Hitler’s rise and objectives that resulted in World War II, Europeans might be more attuned to modern threats. Last week on a visit to Munich (oh, the irony), Vice President Mike Pence criticized Europe’s…Cal Thomas -
- Opinion
Pompeo’s Tough Diplomacy on Display in Europe
Europeans routinely complain about being neglected by U.S. administrations. As much as Europeans doted on then-President Barack Obama, he indeed treated them with benign indifference, taking their support for granted. But now, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo having made his way through their capitals last week, Europeans have gotten a taste of a new…Helle Dale -
- Opinion
Europe May Be at a Tipping Point. Here’s What the US Can Do.
This year is shaping up as an inflection point for Europe. Key national elections and European Union parliamentary elections could recast the Continent’s political discourse for years to come. Britain is set to leave the European Union at the end of March, and NATO will mark its 70th anniversary as it, fittingly, continues to return to its…Daniel Kochis -
- Opinion
Attack at French Christmas Market Reminder of Looming Threat Islamist Terrorists Pose in Europe
The deadly attack by a gunman Tuesday at a Christmas market in France was an unwelcome reminder of the threat Islamist terrorists pose in Europe and around the world. While police shot and killed the gunman Thursday night when he opened fire on them, the sad truth is that we can expect more attacks by terrorists like…Robin Simcox -
- Opinion
Trump Moves in the Right Direction on Trade With Europe
This week, the White House is singing a new tune on trade and it sounds promising. President Donald Trump, in a joint press conference with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said they were “[launching] a new phase … of strong trade relations in which both of us will win.” This is a major shift in…Tori K. Smith -
- News
Asylum Numbers Significantly Drop in European Union
Asylum numbers for people seeking entry into the European Union dropped significantly between 2016 to 2017, according to the European Union asylum office. The number of asylum-seekers seeking entry into the EU lowered by 43 percent from 2017 to 2016, The Guardian reported Monday. The EU’s asylum office received 728,470 applications in 2017 compared to 1.3 million applications in 2016….Gabrielle Okun -
- Opinion
Hungary’s Experiment Could Rebuild a Sense of Nation in Europe
Hungary’s maverick prime minister, Viktor Orban, is once again stirring the pot of goulash. Four years ago, Orban gave his critics ammunition when he said he was constructing an “illiberal democracy.” This month he doubled down, declaring liberal democracy dead and urging other European leaders to stop trying to revive the corpse. Instead, Orban exhorted…Mike Gonzalez -
- Opinion
Diesel Car Drivers Pay the Price for Europe’s Strict Pollution Standards
The Federal Administrative Court of Leipzig’s recent ruling on diesel engines could spell economic pain for millions of drivers. The court’s decision, which allows the German cities of Stuttgart and Dusseldorf to ban older diesel-engine cars from sections of the cities, could likely set a precedent for much of the European Union. Other European cities…Nicolas Loris -
- Opinion
Europe Comes Up With Perfectly Orwellian Responses to ‘Fake News’
In their zeal to stamp out “fake news,” European governments are turning toward Orwellian solutions that are worse than the disease. The European Commission recently created a 39-member panel to explore avenues to eliminate fake news. On Twitter, it announced that it seeks to find a “balanced approach” to protecting free speech and making sure…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
Tillerson Speech Hits Right Notes on Europe, but Weak on Support for Brexit
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s speech on Tuesday at the Wilson Center on strengthening Western alliances rightly placed U.S. alliances in Europe front and center for U.S. national interests. The secretary reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO, robustly defended the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and pushed back against Russia’s aggressive behavior in the region….Nile Gardiner -
- News
US Air Force Dusts Off Old Skills to Fight a New Kind of War in Eastern Europe
ÄMARI AIR BASE, Estonia—A memorial site for Soviet air force pilots is hidden in the woods just outside the gates of this NATO air base. Some of the monuments are of stone, overgrown and weathered, engraved with a Communist red star and a fallen pilot’s name. Other memorials are made from a fighter jet’s vertical…Nolan Peterson -
- Opinion
What Europe Should Be Doing to Prevent Another Terrorist Attack Like Barcelona
Not so long ago, scenes of death and carnage on the streets of major European cities were a rarity. Not so any more. In this year alone, there have been major Islamist attacks in London (twice), Manchester, and Stockholm. We can now add Barcelona to that list. Smaller-scale acts of violence in France (on multiple…Robin Simcox -
- News
Not Too Late to Prevent ‘Death of Europe,’ British Author Says
Europe’s migration crisis is a lesson in historical and philosophical degeneration, a best-selling British author argues. “Almost everything in this book is also a warning, in my view, to America,” said Douglas Murray, author of “The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam,” in remarks earlier this summer at The Heritage Foundation. “All the things…Katrina Willis