News

3-point plan for a European NATO

Almost all NATO countries still cling to the United States: it must protect us, and we just need to raise our defence spending to meet the NATO benchmark. Calls for an independent Europe are dismissed as naive. But the only naive idea is the illusion that we can still rely on America.

It’s not how much money we spend, it is how we spend it

In response to NATO chief Mark Rutte’s press conference on the outcome of the NATO summit, Reinier van Lanschot, member of the defence committee in the European Parliament responds:  “ Today’s NATO agreement on a 5% of GDP is hopeful for the future of European defence and safety. However, money alone will not solve our problems. It is not how much money we spend, it is how we spend it. This question remained unanswered this morning. “ 

De-escalation is the only path – the EU must act accordingly

Israel’s attack on Iran is a violation of international law, and Iran is in breach of its obligations towards the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The EU must respond to uphold diplomacy and help to mediate.

Our plan to protect the oceans

As UNOC draws to a close, Volt is sounding the alarm over the health of our marine ecosystems.

Volt Europa urges EU action on Serbian government’s repression of civil liberties and obstruction of justice

Volt Europa strongly condemns the Serbian government’s repression of peaceful activists and its lack of accountability following the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse. We call on the European Commission to defend civil liberties and the Rule of Law in Serbia.

The situation in Gaza is intolerable – it must end

The situation in the Gaza Strip marks a new low in a conflict that seems almost interminable. Following Israeli government's breach of the January ceasefire, a new wave of escalation and violence has hit the Gaza Strip. The systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, the targeted use of starvation as a weapon and the mass displacement of the population have to be seen as the result of deliberate Israeli government policy.

European Independent Living Day: The urgent need for a true EU commitment to disability rights

On European Independent Living Day, Volt Europa emphasises the critical importance of defending and advancing disability rights across Europe.

Volt Europa Stands with Turkish Cypriot Resistance

Volt Europa stands with the Turkish Cypriot community resisting authoritarian interference, demographic manipulation, and attacks on secular democracy by the Turkish government.

Former President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves joins Volt 🇪🇪 💜

On Thursday, 10 April 2025, a Volt delegation – comprising Co-President Francesca Romana D’Antuono, General Secretary Achille Coenegracht, and MEP Reinier van Lanschot – welcomed President Ilves at the European Parliament in Brussels for a discussion about a shared vision for a united, equal, and prosperous European Union.

Sister Cities, Stronger Democracies: Building Resilience Beyond Borders

Frankfurt Deputy Mayor Eileen O’Sullivan’s recent visits to Philadelphia and Lviv show that strengthening ties on the local level can be a defence of freedom, pluralism and global solidarity.

Volt expresses its condolences on the passing of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy marked by compassion, humility, and a commitment to peace and justice that resonated far beyond the Catholic Church.

The Israeli government broke the ceasefire. Europe should hold it to account to bring real peace to Gaza.

Introduction Gazans are being ‘’trapped, bombed and starved again’’, according to a statement signed by seven UN agencies. Since early March, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza. In just the past week, over 1,000 children have been killed or injured, the highest one-week death toll among children in the past year.

Gaza: the backstory

How did the ceasefire collapse? After months of negotiations during the brutal Gaza war, a ceasefire came into effect between Israel and Hamas on the 19th of January 2025. The first phase of this ceasefire, a mutual exchange of prisoners, was meant to lead to a second phase, entailing the release of the remaining hostages and a permanent ceasefire. This meant life saving supplies finally reaching Gaza’s two million inhabitants.

The AI Act and the challenge of navigating a rapidly evolving technology

As the EU and the new US government appear set to argue over tech regulation, Volt takes a look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of a key piece of European digital legislation: the Artificial Intelligence Act.

US trade wars mean the EU must invest in its own future

Tariffs are bad for everyone, but where the US fails, Europe has a chance to take the path of sustainability and multilateralism

Sentencing of Marine Le Pen: we call for respect for the rule of law

Nobody is above the law. Volt will continue to defend democratic values, transparency and good governance throughout Europe

Reclaiming the Turkish Republic: How the youth are saving the country's democracy

Opinion piece by Cemre Ercan, a Volt Member Witnessing the democratic backslide in Turkey for years was truly heartbreaking to me. A nation rich in history and culture, having endured countless challenges throughout its modern history, now finds itself at another critical moment. The arrest and imprisonment of Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, marks a disturbing and dangerous escalation in Turkey's political landscape.

Unite to prevent war | A capabilities-based European NATO as the best path to a European Defense Union

Our call to urgency and vision to effectively put Europe in the position to deter and defend against ‘’the most extreme military contingencies’’ at the latest by 2030

Let’s not wait for war to unite us, let’s unite to prevent war

We have been working since day one of entering office to make sure the EU’s new defence initiatives are more ambitious than the dangers that threaten our continent. Since Christmas, we have been meeting hundreds of experts, officials and journalists and negotiated on two files: the White Paper on EU defence, and the European Defence Industrial Programme. We worked together closely with the Volt defense community and led the effort of creating a common position with the Greens.

The world needs a leading European Development Agency

At a time when the USA has abruptly cut the USAID programme and development aid budgets are being trimmed in Europe, Volt calls on European countries not to abandon public development aid and to mutualise it within the EU.

The European Commission’s Omnibus Proposal is a step back

The proposal weakens EU sustainability leadership and competitiveness through exemptions, delays, and potential cuts. Volt agrees with reducing bureaucracy, but not at any cost.