WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE EU - euobserver - The Friday Five - Europe talks strategic autonomy, but Ukraine, Gaza, China and Russia expose the limits of its power, while Iceland tests its democratic instincts.

 

The Friday Five Editor-in-chief picks her favourite stories of the week. After deadly summer in Ukraine and Gaza, EU defence ministers refuse Patriot missiles and sidestep Israel sanctions Russian airstrikes killed a total of 400 Ukrainian civilians in July because Kyiv did not have enough interceptor missiles, but Greece and Spain declined to open their stockpiles at an EU defence ministers’ meeting in the Druids Glen golf club. Europe scrambles to secure its own military satellites after Ukraine’s wake‑up call The EU is lagging behind the United States and China when it comes to investing in satellite technology. Can the bloc close the gap? EU plans new ‘diversification’ rules to cut dependence on China The EU’s top trade official says China must demonstrate progress towards reducing its trade surplus with the bloc, but conceded that talks have made little progress since June. Iceland’s referendum tests whether Europe respects uncomfortable votes — as the UK, Greece and Cyprus did before Four referendums, different questions, and a common issue of democratic consent and popular sovereignty. Exclusive: Russian diplomats quietly leave Brussels, as Germany shuts another consulate over Leipzig plot Russia has quietly complied with an EU demand to eject some 20 diplomats from Brussels, amid a noisy dispute with Berlin on diplomat expulsions and the Leipzig airport sabotage plot.   Copyright © 2026 EUobserver.com. All rights reserved.