The UK has announced it's rejoining the European Union's flagship science funding programme, Horizon. In the wake of Brexit, London had been blocked from re-associating with the scheme, which is the world's biggest civil research and innovation programme. The UK government says the new deal gives local scientists "unrivalled opportunities" at a good price for taxpayers. We take a closer look.

Syrians were the biggest group seeking asylum in Europe in the first half of 2023, according to the bloc's asylum agency. The count didn't include Ukrainian refugees.

The wildfires raging in northern Greece are causing unprecedented devastation. Nature reserves have gone up in flames and livelihoods have been destroyed. Some Greeks have accused migrants of starting the blaze.

Europe seems to have ever fewer options as it watches West Africa experience a series of military coups.

North Macedonia has been waiting since 2005 for EU accession negotiations to begin. Greece finally lifted its veto in 2019, but Bulgaria continues to throw a spanner in the works.

The EU is set to launch a new mission in West Africa in the fall, a German newspaper has reported. The combined military-civilian operation will aim to prevent instability triggered by jihadi groups.

The EU foreign ministers met to discuss ways to help West Africa's ECOWAS regional group handle the military takeover in Niger. The meeting came the junta stripped the French ambassador of diplomatic immunity.

European Council President Charles Michel said the EU and candidate countries must implement reforms so new members can join by the end of the decade. EU Leaders will discuss the issue at an upcoming summit.

EU hopes to rein in big tech platforms with a digital law that seeks to ensure online safety.

EU countries neighboring Belarus are ramping up border security, citing threats posed by Wagner mercenaries. That leaves Minsk more isolated, but ordinary Belarusians are impacted too.

The European Commission estimates that the bloc now has enough gas to cover a third of its winter needs. It says the EU energy market is in a much more stable position than it was this time last year.

For several years, EU states have been working to seal off the bloc's external borders, ramp up deportations and deter migrants. How effective are such measures?