Alexander De Croo

EU leaders on Wednesday weighed a response to suspicions of Russian meddling ahead of June elections in the bloc, with several states pushing for sanctions targeting "malign activities" by Moscow.

Brussels has issued escalating warnings about Russia sowing disinformation ahead of the polls, and seeking to weaken Western support for Ukraine as it fights off Moscow's invasion.

A scheduled conference of far-right European politicians, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former British MEP Nigel Farage, was abruptly halted by police in Brussels. The intervention, ordered by one of the municipal mayors in the Belgian capital, sparked controversy and condemnation from various quarters.

A brewing scandal has gripped European politics as reports surface of Russia's alleged payment to high-ranking Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a bid to sway the upcoming European elections scheduled for June. According to Politico, the revelations come amidst growing concerns over foreign interference in democratic processes within the European Union.

BRUSSELS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday in Brussels he had had an important discussion about Serbia with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and a long conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron about geostrategic affairs.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a nuclear energy summit organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Brussels on March 21, where world leaders will discuss the role of the nuclear energy in addressing challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security and boost economic development.

Amid growing concerns over security threats posed by Russian aggression, Bulgaria and a coalition of 13 other European Union countries have urged the European Investment Bank (EIB) to bolster defense financing. The call, joined by powerhouse nations Germany and France, aims to enhance the bloc's defense capabilities in response to escalating tensions, as reported by Bloomberg.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, along with five more European leaders, will travel to Cairo Sunday.

The other leaders are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and the Prime Ministers of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, and Italy, Giorgia Meloni.

Athens has described forthcoming EU support for Egypt with a generous €7.4 billion package to manage migration as "vital" for the wider region.

Describing Egypt as a "reliable partner" in the management of migration, EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas appeared adamant on Tuesday that the upcoming visit of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Cairo, accompanied by the prime ministers of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and Belgium, Alexander De Croo, will bring "substantial results."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit Cairo on Sunday March 17, European Commission spokesperson Veerle Nuyts announced during a press briefing on Friday.