It was like an estranged couple agreeing to give themselves another chance. Announcing the "Windsor Framework" in late February, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were emphatic that the UK and the EU are allies, trading partners and friends.

Talking Europe speaks to European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, whose wide-ranging portfolio covers migration and asylum, security issues, education and what the EU calls "promoting the European Way of Life", among other things. We focus on migration and the EU's efforts to rectify what Schinas calls a historic failure to build a cohesive asylum and migration policy.

France's government decided to bypass the lower house of parliament with contested pension reforms. The snap decision came moments before a planned vote, sparking fury inside and outside of parliament.

French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to push through a pension reform without a parliamentary vote. That has triggered a political crisis ― and could help the far right.

Thousands of nationalists in Belgrade protested against a Western-backed deal for the normalization of ties between Serbia and Kosovo, which they see as recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty and therefore "unacceptable."

The sanctions come against the backdrop of alleged human rights violations amid protests. EU defense and foreign ministers also agreed on a €2 billion ammunition plan for Ukraine.

Following an EU-hosted donors conference, the bloc says it will fund humantiarian assistance, but not full-scale reconstruction in Syria.

Since Russia started its war in Ukraine, the EU has made extensive use of its sanction's toolbox. Despite this, sanctioned goods from Europe still seem to find their way to Russia.

Berlin wants last-ditch changes to the landmark EU law spelling the demise of the combustion engine from 2035. It’s not a good look on the international stage, observers in Brussels warn.

Brussels has proposed rules requiring companies to produce evidence to back up green claims about products. It also wants to give consumers more rights when it comes to having products repaired.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he expected the pension reform bill to be enacted by the end of the year. The pension fight has brought him to the lowest point of his presidency's second term.

Protests erupted in several cities a day after President Emmanuel Macron doubled down on raising the pension age. Worker strikes shut down transport, while protesters blocked highways and other infrastructure.