In the week that EU leaders agreed on a sixth round of sanctions against Russia, Polish Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Pawel Jablonski speaks to FRANCE 24 about the effect he hopes the measures will have on the Russian economy, his disappointment at the Hungarian government's stance regarding sanctions and the latest developments in Poland's rule of law dispute with the European Commission.

For the latest edition of Europe Now, we head to Poland and Hungary. These two EU members both border Ukraine and have both taken in large numbers of Ukrainian refugees. But on more political issues, their governments' responses to the war have been drastically different. Our team meets lawmakers from across the political spectrum of both countries to discover why the Polish and Hungarian governments have taken such different stances. We also explore other key issues, such as the ever-expanding EU files on degradations of rule of law.

The European Union should change the way it does business with Africa to redress imbalances left over in part from the colonial era, EU lawmakers have said.

The proposal to label natural gas and nuclear energy as "green" as a guide for private investors has been met with resistance along the way. A tight vote is expected.

The European Parliament voted to make abortion a fundamental right in the 27-nation bloc. The move is a reaction to the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Hungarian leader Orban looks increasingly isolated —his pro-Putin stance has cost him most of his allies in the EU; the bloc could end up blocking all funds. And, there are protests at home for the first time in years.

Hungary's far-right ruling party has proposed weakening the European Parliament and the EU's political integration. The passed resolution said democracy in the bloc was at a "dead end."

Hungary blocks finalization of EU sanctions package – DW's Christine Mhundwa reports

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged for the global right to "coordinate the movement of our troops" at a conservative conference in Texas. Former US President Donald Trump is also expected to speak.

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to take urgent action, saying that Hungary could "no longer be considered a democracy."

Hungary's parliament approved two anti-corruption reforms to unlock funding from the European Union. The EU has long-expressed rule of law and graft concerns about the illiberal government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the attack was claimed by a pro-Kremlin group. It comes after lawmakers voted to name Russia a "state sponsor" of terror.