Europe, Day by Day

Since May, pro-independence protests have rocked France’s overseas territory of New Caledonia. With a storied history of resistance and activism, the indigenous Kanak people are fighting to have their voices heard by politicians thousands of kilometres away in mainland France.

Last weekend, in the leadup to the French snap elections, the government imposed a ban on gatherings and extended the curfew that the islands have been under since the beginning of the unrest.

But what’s been happening in New Caledonia in the past months? 

And what does this situation reveal about the French government's ability and willingness to address its colonial history?

Who watches the watchmen? This question about the abuse of power, dating back to Roman times, is relevant today after fresh allegations of rights violations by FRONTEX, the EU border agency. With anti-migrant sentiment rising across Europe, is the EU becoming further detached from its commitment to human rights values?

With presidential, referendum, and European and parliamentary elections, 2024 is a busy political year for Lithuanians. Yet, the debate mainly focuses on Russia rather than domestic issues. Since the Ukraine invasion, the Baltics have faced renewed tensions with Russia. This month, newly re-elected President Gitanas Nausėda has accelerated Lithuanian militarisation. How is the war in Ukraine shaping Lithuania's political landscape? And how does it compare with the rest of Europe?

Malta’s GDP is booming, surpassing the EU average, yet Maltese households find their purchasing power lower than pre-pandemic levels. Why is this happening, and what does it reveal about the economic model many EU countries follow? 

We explore the recent EU Joint Employment Report, inflation, wage stagnation, and the broader implications for economic policies across Europe. Is it time to rethink growth-driven economies?

Central London erupted over the weekend as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for climate and nature action to be prioritised in the upcoming general election campaign in the UK. Meanwhile, in the bloc that the UK left, conservationists are cautiously welcoming the EU’s approval of the Nature Restoration Law last week. But financing concerns and the resurgence of climate sceptic forces may set the stage for further battles to come. How significant these new laws are for Europe’s environmental future? Do they signify an end to biodiversity decline, or has the fight just begun?