Dear reader,

We have always aimed to be transparent over the past 26 years. When challenges arose, we addressed them openly and shared what we faced. We intend to continue that openness now.

2026 has been a year of new beginnings. In March, we joined the Slovak independent publishing house Dennik N, and many things have changed since, so here are a few updates I would like to share:

An editorial strategy focused on quality

We are placing greater emphasis on foreign affairs, whether involving the US, the Middle East, Russia, or China. This aligns with the core policies and topics that have defined EUobserver: migration, human rights, corporate lobbying, rule of law, gender equality, consumer rights, and all matters under the European affairs umbrella.

EUobserver will continue to cover the daily Brussels Bubble, but with renewed focus on analyses, explainers, interviews, and investigations. We seek to better clarify the EU decision-making process and its outcomes. This means readers will receive more exclusive and quality content, investigative reporting, in-depth analysis, and opinions rather than gossip and breaking news found elsewhere.

We are also going a bit longer. In an era of short social media videos, we believe many still appreciate a deep dive. Our longer formats provide context, historical reflection, and connections between events.

We adopt a more independent approach to coverage, accept no support from political parties or industries, and rely on editorial judgment rather than prevailing narratives to guide our reporting.

In short, we may not be the outlet for immediate business decisions, but rather for understanding what EU policy choices mean for people and society.

If you have tips, ideas, or suggestions for stories or investigations, contact each reporter or me directly by email, or reach us at euobserver@proton.me. For opinion articles, write to comment editor Matt Tempest at mt@euobserver.com.

More central, eastern Europe, and Ukraine

EU affairs coverage has traditionally centered on the Brussels machinery and major Western European players. Yet Poland, Hungary, the Baltic states, and others along the EU eastern flank now hold greater influence on security, energy, enlargement, and Russia relations. That is why we are bringing central and eastern European voices to a wider audience and into the Brussels bubble long shaped by German, French, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish viewpoints.

This shift is already happening, and the data shows it is the right move.

Our weekly update on Hungarian politics to prepare readers for the April 2026 election proved effective. Veronika Munk analyses combine internal developments with broader effects, and we have chosen to continue them for now.

As you may have seen, coverage of Ukraine has increased, along with our daily update on frontline military developments, which has proven useful to the European Commission External Action Service, EU delegations, and diplomats.

This is all thanks to editorial ties allowing republishing and co-production with Dennik N in Slovakia, Denik N in Czech Republic, Napunk in Hungary, and the investigative magazine Respekt in Czech Republic. In return, more EUobserver articles appear in these outlets, bringing Europe closer to the region. This two-way journalism exchange boosts both reach and relevance.

More newsletters - unlimited access

We are pleased to mark a key achievement: 40,000 newsletter subscribers and growing. What began as one morning update with an exclusive editorial has expanded with our audience. Today we offer six distinct newsletters, each designed for different needs and interests.

EUobserver Morning Update: The essential start-your-day briefing. All key stories delivered every working day at 7:30 AM.
Ukraine Battlefield Update: Expert-driven defence intelligence and independent analysis of developments in Ukraine. Delivered every weekday afternoon for those following events on the ground.
THIS WEEK (Agenda): Your Monday morning look-ahead. We outline key political events, meetings, and debates shaping the EU in the coming week. Every Monday at 6:10 AM.
EUobserver Voice: For those seeking perspective. A daily opinion piece by our staff writers, published every weekday morning.
The Friday Five: My personal selection of the five most interesting and impactful articles of the week, sent every Friday around noon.
Inside EUobserver: Our behind-the-scenes update. Stay informed about latest developments, special offers, and notable publications, sent at most once a month.

Tailor your subscription in a few clicks. Visit Newsletters to toggle each on or off, or select Subscribe all to stay fully informed.

Follow reporters and specific topics

With an improved metadata system, subscribers can now follow specific topics such as digital or defence or sections such as investigations we regularly cover, including Migration, Rule of Law, Trade, Hungary, or Israel, and receive tailored email notifications. If you appreciate a reporter style, you can follow an author and their focus area directly.

Follow our reporters here:

Andrew Rettman, who covers foreign affairs and security
Nikolaj Nielsen, who covers migration, lobbying and transparency
Benjamin Fox, who covers geopolitics, trade and Africa
Wester van Gaal, who covers economic and energy
Petra Pavlovicova, who covers EU politics
Gaia Neiman, who covers EU politics
Matthew Tempest, opinion editor
This editor-in-chief, who also writes on a range of topics

Follow our columnists here:

Alejandro Tauber, our publisher and tech specialist
Shada Islam, our commentator on EU affairs and diversity
Alberto Alemanno, law professor and EU influencer
Caroline de Gruyter, our commentator linking Europe history and geopolitics
Judith Arnal, CEPS fellow and expert on finance and markets
Anton Shekhovtsov, our Ukrainian expert on Russia and European politics
Michael Meyer-Resende, our commentator on democracy and EU affairs
Edward Lucas, former editor at The Economist and weekly op-ed writer on security

More collaborations

By partnering with trusted media across Europe, we pool resources, share investigations, and amplify stories that matter beyond single borders. Examples include work with Europod, Project Syndicate, Investigate Europe, Follow the Money, DeSmog, and Pulse Network, among others. We will keep expanding this network to reach new audiences and strengthen independent media.

EUobserver is partly funded by sharing our reach and trust with readers. We aim to collaborate with partners to communicate in ways that benefit them while adding value for readers. If interested in working with our commercial team, review our media kit or contact publisher Alejandro Tauber at at@euobserver.com for tailored campaigns.

We welcome your feedback, comments, or criticism. Please reach out at esn@euobserver.com. I also enjoy calls and in-person chats over coffee.

For tough feedback or criticism, send it directly to the new boss at tb@euobserver.com.

Yours,

Elena
editor-in-chief