Ahead of a new European Commission, following June's European elections, ARTICLE 19’s Mark Dempsey outlines a vision for a European Union where the information environment is open, decentralised, fair, diverse, and inclusive.

The Member States have defended the position of Latvia and Lithuania, who criticise the new fisheries control regulation for being too strict on the recording of small by-catches, while the Commission is refusing to amend the text.

The Socialist Party and Place publique (S&D) lead candidate for the European elections, Raphaël Glucksmann, was chased out of a procession marching in Saint-Etienne for Labour Day on Wednesday (May 1).

The US on accused Russia of violating the international chemical weapons ban by deploying the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops and using riot control agents "as a method of warfare".

The United States on Wednesday (1 May) issued hundreds of fresh sanctions targeting Russia over the war in Ukraine in action that took aim at Moscow's circumvention of Western measures, including through China.

Solomon Islands lawmakers selected a new prime minister on Thursday (2 May), choosing foreign minister Jeremiah Manele, who has pledged to continue the Pacific Island nation's foreign policy that drew it closer to China.

The EU called Georgia to 'stay on the European course' and cease spiralling violence in the country's capital after security forces on Wednesday (1 May) used water cannons, teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse pro-EU demonstrators opposed to a Russian-style 'foreign agents' law.

A senior US official on Thursday (2 May) urged China and Russia to match declarations by the United States and others that only humans, and never artificial intelligence, would make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons.

Slovakia has given temporary protection to a Ukrainian and Israeli citizen who is accused of running a pro-Russian influence campaign via a news website and is under Czech sanctions, Czech media reported.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Bulgaria restricting gambling and banning advertising across media, Italy resolving a decade-long beach concession dispute with the European Commission, and so much more.

The US, Britain and the EU are pressing the United Arab Emirates to show it is cracking down on firms evading sanctions imposed on Russia over the war in Ukraine, according to three sources aware of the diplomatic outreach.

Support for the three parties that make up Denmark's ruling coalition has hit an all-time low, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday, after the coalition abolished a popular public holiday last year against the will of the majority of Danes.

Malta’s socialist (S&D) former prime minister Joseph Muscat, his former chief of staff Keith Schembri, and former minister Konrad Mizzi have been named by the country’s attorney general in connection with suspicion of money laundering in connection with a controversial hospitals public-private partnership.

Bulgaria has banned the opening of casinos in towns with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and completely banned gambling advertising in all types of media, with most parliament lawmakers voting in the new bill’s favour.

Thousands marched at May Day protests across France on Wednesday (1 May), making demands ranging from better salaries to a ceasefire in Gaza, with minor skirmishes in some cities.

A recent decision by the Italian Council of State ordering the country to urgently introduce genuine tendering procedures for beach concessions has brought to an end the contentious legal battle between the European Commission and Italy over its beach concession practices.

Spain's far-right VOX party is counting on the support of former US president and Republican candidate Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Argentina’s President Javier Milei, among others, to boost its message of a Europe of sovereign nations ahead of the European elections in June.

Britain set out its "roadmap" for authorising investment funds from the EU to offer products in the UK, a post-Brexit milestone that reflects how most funds sold to retail investors in the country are still listed in the EU.

France's far-right Rassemblement party, which is currently leading opinion polls in France ahead of the EU elections, has unveiled the first 35 names on its list of candidates for the June vote, including outgoing MEPs, historic leaders, several youn g people, and supporters of Marine Le Pen.

In an interview with Euractiv, the Maltese energy minister warned against considering the European energy crisis over and laid out a vision of her island nation becoming the power connection between Europe and North Africa.