German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Ukraine to continue moving forward with reforms to ensure its successful integration into the European Union. Source: Merz at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on Thursday 10 July,

The conference comes as Europe has stepped up its military support for Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe for the first time since 2022 surpassed the U.S. in total military aid, totaling 72 billion euros ($78 billion) compared to 65 billion euros ($70 billion) from the U.S.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday urged Slovakia to drop its veto on the European Union's new sanctions package against Russia. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Merz emphasized that all countries should increase pressure on Moscow to compel Russian leadership to return to the negotiating table and end the war in Ukraine.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Russia could pose a security threat to the European Union by the end of the decade and that defense industries in Europe and Ukraine must be ramped up.

EU environment and climate ministers meeting in Denmark on Thursday tested their blood for "forever chemicals" linked to serious health risks, in a bid to raise awareness about chemical pollution, Danish and European officials said.

Europe recently downgraded the protected status of wolves, sparking concern among conservationists who warn this may undo decades of progress and lead to the species becoming threatened again.