Progressive policies are at stake as conservatives attempt to forge alliances in the European parliament with extreme nationalists, says Paul Taylor of the Friends of Europe thinktank

The nation relies on tourism, yet many local people feel the right to enjoy these timeless places is being denied them, writes the Greek author Elias Maglinis

Giving up alcohol for a month wasn’t hard, even in the apéritif-loving capital. But it opened my eyes to one of France’s simplest pleasures, says writer Alexander Hurst

Opposition to the green agenda is growing – and the populist right is latching on to it, says Nathalie Tocci of the Italian Institute of International Affairs

Guns or butter? To build up the military capacity vital for self-protection, European nations will have to make painful choices, says Paul Taylor of the Friends of Europe thinktank

We can no longer stand back and hope for the best; instead we must be strong partners to those promoting peace and freedom, says German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock

France does not expect much in the way of philanthropy from its low-profile billionaire class. Perhaps it should, says Alexander Hurst of Sciences Po

The invasion has plunged Germany into an agonised debate about its history – this process is only just beginning, writes historian Helene von Bismarck

Cultural colonialism has rightly been rejected – but China’s protest shows that authoritarians can also weaponise tradition, says philosopher Lorenzo Marsili

Russian forces planned to invade after conquering Ukraine. Now Europe’s task is to ensure that Moldova’s democracy survives, says Nathalie Tocci, director of the Italian Institute of International Affairs

The president had no mandate to dismantle France’s social model. His contempt for the people risks opening the door to extremism, says writer and activist Rokhaya Diallo

Months of anger have obscured reality and sapped resistance to the politics of nostalgia, says France-based writer and lecturer Alexander Hurst

Since 1989 my family has gone from farm labourers to high achievers. Something similar has happened to my country, says social scientist Anna Gromada

Russia is harking back to the glory days of the second world war, writes the Bulgarian novelist Georgi Gospodinov