The European Union will resume membership negotiations with Ukraine on Monday after Hungary's new government lifted a long-standing veto imposed by former prime minister Viktor Orban. EU leaders said all member states had agreed to open the first phase of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a fresh show of support for Kyiv amid Russia's ongoing war.

Right now, the path the EU and NATO faces another set back. There's been no functioning government, despite three elections in less in 16 months.

In a week that began with President Trump pronouncing that a ceasefire extension was so close with Iran, two or three days max, and that would only take an hour to finalise. Hours later Tehran downed a US Apache helicopter off the Gulf of Oman with the crew rescued from the sea, the attack reportedly an attempt to deter the US’s evolving efforts to increase air patrols that target Iranian drones in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

The election of the Hungary's new centre-right prime minister, Peter Magyar, in April marked a particularly stinging defeat for Viktor Orban, whose government was widely regarded as one of the most anti-LGBTQ in the EU. Rights advocates expect legal changes but wonder about the timeline Magyar will adopt as the new prime minister remains cautious on divisive issues.

With Europeans sizzling in a record-breaking heatwave in May, and lands and rivers facing severe drought conditions in April, the effects of extreme climate-related events are becoming increasingly obvious. We sit down with the EU's Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Dutch politician Wopke Hoekstra, to talk about the EU's carbon emissions reduction targets, the next COP summit, and, of course, the energy crisis resulting from the war in the Middle East.

The EU Parliament and EU Council have provisionally agreed to simplify and speed up the return of migrants staying in the bloc unlawfully. Backers of the deal say it is urgent to do something about the low enforcement of deportation orders: 27 percent last year, and just 24 percent the previous year. But critics say governments are giving in to anti-migrant sentiment as they face pressure from rising populist forces across the EU.

On June 23, 2016 the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union with 52 percent of "Leave" votes against 48 percent for "Remain". It was a political storm few had predicted. Ten years on, our Revisited show explores the social and political impact of the decision. How did Brexit reshape the country and has it helped improve people's lives? What has been the impact on the economy and on sectors like farming? 

This week, FRANCE 24's media show Scoop looks at Britain's decision to block controversial left-wing commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur from entering the country. The interior minister judged that their presence was "not conducive to the public good". This vague standard is increasingly being used to keep out high-profile foreigners. Our guest is Jemimah Steinfeld, the CEO of Index on Censorship.

François Picard is pleased to welcome Professor Peter Shirlow, Director of the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool. Northern Ireland is once again confronting scenes of unrest, violence and anti-migrant attacks. Shirlow frames the violence within a wider European and global context. He argues that today's far-right mobilisations are no longer isolated local phenomena but are increasingly interconnected through digital networks, transnational misinformation campaigns and social media platforms that facilitate the rapid circulation of extremist narratives.

William Hilderbrandt is pleased to welcome Camille Le Coz. Director of the Migration Policy Institute of Europe. The implementation of the EU's new Migration and Asylum Pact marks the beginning of a critical experiment in collective migration governance. After more than a decade of negotiations, the pact seeks to reconcile competing imperatives: strengthening border management, accelerating asylum procedures, ensuring greater coordination among member states, and rebuilding trust within a fragmented European system.

On the final day of his Spanish tour, Pope Leo XIV on Friday visited Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, where he urged migrants to do their part to integrate and host communities to welcome newcomers. "All of us are migrants", said the pontiff, urging communities to save people fleeing war, poverty and climate change from the "silent shipwreck" of abandonment. 

A major EU immigration reform allowing member states to reduce protections for asylum-seekers comes into force on Friday. The changes have prompted right groups to warn that humanitarian concerns are taking a backseat to politics in Europe, where public opinion has hardened on migration.

Police in Northern Ireland on Thursday prepared for further disorder, as anti-immigration riots risked entering their third night. The unrest erupted after a brutal street stabbing on Monday by Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, who has been charged for attempted murder following his attack on Stephen Ogilvie. False and outdated images have been fanning the flames online, amplified by far-right voices like Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk.

British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury of failing to provide sufficient funding for the armed forces. The departure deepens pressure on Starmer ahead of a crucial by-election, with Healey warning that the government's delayed long-term defence investment plan could leave Britain vulnerable to security threats.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday visited Spain's Canary Islands, the once-notorious centre of the European migration debate, where he threw a bouquet of flowers in the sea in tribute to the migrants who perished trying to reach the Atlantic archipelago. The pontiff made a plea for "human dignity" and condemned leaders, including Christians, who turn them away with "indifference". 

Images shared by military bloggers show Russian forces using black-and-white striped camouflage on their trucks. The technique aims to deceive the AI recognition systems of Ukrainian drones, underscoring the constant adaptation of tactics in the conflict.

As it races to become NATO’s frontline fortress against Russia, Poland has launched large-scale civilian courses teaching survival skills during times of crisis. The programme is intended to help bridge the gap between the military and society while psychologically preparing civilians for war.

Northern Ireland braced Wednesday for a potential second night of violence directed at immigrants, following unrest that UK authorities say was stoked by far-right activists on social media after a brutal Belfast stabbing. Britain's ​media regulator warned online platforms of possible legal consequences if their services are used to ​incite ‌violence. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Jack Crangle, Queen's University Belfast Lecturer in Contemporary British History.

At the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian capture of Kinburn Spit – a narrow piece of land that holds the key to several Ukrainian ports – was hailed as one of Moscow’s most significant victories on the southern front. From there, Russia could launch attacks on the Ukrainian mainland, and use it as a springboard should it make an attempt to take Odesa. Now, Russian forces appear to have pulled back from the once so-strategic spit. What is going on?

On the day that the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona is to be blessed by the pope, a sculptor whose work is to be placed inside the new parts of the famous building has told FRANCE 24 that she's very excited to be a small part of it. French sculptor Béatrice Bizot has lived near Barcelona for over 20 years and has created a statue of the patron saint of pilgrims, Saint Roch, who was born in the French city of Montpellier. She says that seeing human beings capable of such a beautiful thing as the Sagrada Familia is incredible.