World
New European Parliament intergroups: What’s in and What’s Out
Although informal, parliamentary intergroups are a mirror of Europe’s ever-changing priorities—part tradition, part reinvention, and occasionally, a little bit of whimsy.
As the European Parliament embarks on a new legislative mandate, fresh topics are set to capture the attention of MEPs and bring new Parliamentary ‘intergroups’ to life.
These intergroups—informal networks of MEPs from different political groupings—focus on specific issues, often with input from civil society.
Although not official parliamentary bodies, intergroups are formally recognised by the Parliament and established at the start of each term.
For this tenth legislative term, political groups have approved a list of 28 intergroups. Many are being set up this week in Strasbourg, with launch events expected to take place alongside the plenary sessions.
It’s important to note, as the European Parliament clarifies on its website, that intergroups are distinct from “friendship groups”- another more clubbable type of Parliamentary grouping – even if some of their names suggest they might be a lot of fun
To illustrate how MEPs’ interests and engagement with various issues have evolved, Euronews has curated a selection of intergroups—both new and long-standing—from past and present mandates.
The most inclusive LGBTQ+ group in history
The European Parliament’s LGBTQ+ intergroup, confirmed for the fourth time in a row, has come a long way in its journey toward inclusivity.
When it first began, it focused solely on lesbians and gays, even if it’s title “Lesbian and Gay” suggested it consisted of one of each. By the seventh legislative term, the group had expanded to include bisexual and transgender individuals, becoming the LGBT intergroup.
In 2014, “I” was added to represent intersex people, but now that’s been replaced by a “+” symbol, a small change designed to carry a big message: nobody is left out.
Historical Intergroups
Some intergroups have history on their side—quite literally. One focuses on promoting the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes and has since broadened its scope to cover other European cultural routes and heritage.
Other enduring intergroups sport distinctive names. SEARICA, for example, tackles seas, rivers, islands, and coastal areas, while ARDI focuses on anti-racism and diversity. But not all historical groups survived this term.
Another intergroup with its own name, the RUMRA dedicated to rural, mountainous, and remote areas since 2014, did not make the cut this time.
Then there are some evergreen intergroups, like those on Sky and Space or Welfare and Conservation, which have been around for several decades and seem destined to outlive us all.
Intergroups not spared by political guidelines
Some new intergroups naturally stem from themes expected to dominate the EU’s agenda in this term. For instance, competitiveness is front and centre with the new intergroup ‘Attracting Investment to Ensure a Competitive and Sustainable EU’ whose title might have been dubbed by Mario Draghi himself.
Others leave a little more to the imagination. Take the new ‘Police’ intergroup for example—will it focus on tackling police violence or advocating for better protection for law enforcement? Or perhaps it’s a secret fan club for The Police, the legendary English rock band. (We’re still waiting to find out.)
ADVERTISEMENTMeanwhile, mental health has finally earned its own intergroup, reflecting its rising prominence across policy discussions. First-timers like the resilience, disaster management, and civil protection intergroup are also stepping onto the scene.
The ‘cancelled’ ones
As new intergroups emerge, others inevitably fade away. The Green Deal intergroup, active from 2019 to 2024, has been shelved for this term—apparently, nobody volunteered to carry the torch of the flagship initiative of the past mandate.
This isn’t unusual. Many intergroups have lived short, dramatic lives, surviving only a single term. Remember the eighth legislative mandate’s “Media” and “New Media” intergroups? They lasted no longer than a trending tweet.
Another group called ‘Family, children’s rights, and bioethics’ also struggled to make it past a single term.
ADVERTISEMENTGeopolitical Intergroups
Some intergroups have faded due to shifting political priorities, particularly those dedicated to specific geopolitical areas.
Take the intergroup on Tibet, which ran for a decade before vanishing in 2014, or the Western Sahara group, which has also dissolved now after a decade.
As political tides shift, new groups emerge. This term, a new intergroup titled “The Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine” has been introduced, reflecting the Parliament’s evolving geopolitical focus and the shifting of interest in the broader geopolitical arena.
World
FACT FOCUS: Norway brought its own food to the World Cup. But not because it distrusts US products
As Norway excels in its first World Cup appearance since 1998, false claims about what the team is eating are also grabbing attention online.
The allegations focus on the quality of American food — more specifically, that the Norwegians distrust it so much that they brought food from home to avoid eating it. Norway’s team is based in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the duration of the 2026 tournament, which is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
It’s true that the team shipped certain products from Norway for the World Cup, but the reason has nothing to do with concerns about quality.
Norway fans perform a rowing ritual prior to the World Cup Group I soccer match between Senegal and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Here’s a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: The Norwegian men’s national soccer team brought its own food to the 2026 World Cup because it doesn’t trust the quality of food in the U.S.
THE FACTS: This is false. The team brought some products from Norway to maintain consistency in players’ diets and provide a taste of home, according to its head chef Aron Espeland. Other ingredients have been sourced locally. Nutrition experts say that such a practice is common among elite athletes who play internationally.
“When athletes are competing at the highest level, consistency is important,” Espeland said. “The players are used to certain products and flavors, and familiar foods can contribute both to nutrition and overall well-being during a demanding competition.”
He continued: “Overall, the experience of cooking for the team in the U.S. has been excellent. We have had access to high-quality local ingredients, and our approach has been to combine those with a selection of Norwegian products that help create continuity and a sense of home for the players during the tournament.”
Many of the claims spreading online say the team brought in 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of food from Norway for the World Cup. Espeland confirmed that the amount is actually about 580 kilograms (1,276 pounds). That consists of 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of Norwegian salmon and trout, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of halibut, 80 kilograms (176 pounds) of Norwegian brown cheese, and 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of Jarlsberg cheese.
The team, whose support staff includes three chefs, did not bring oranges from Norway, despite social media posts claiming otherwise. Espeland said that players are served freshly squeezed orange juice every morning, made from oranges sourced locally in the U.S.
Plenty of other teams travel with their own chef and have taken their own food to past World Cups. For example, Argentina and Uruguay each brought thousands of pounds of meat to Qatar in 2022. The U.S. squad traveled to Brazil in 2014 with oatmeal, Cheerios, peanut butter and A1 Steak Sauce.
Such practices are not unusual for elite athletes who compete in different countries, according to experts. The reasons include maintaining routine and consistency, reducing risk of adverse reactions, providing cultural familiarity and accommodating personal preferences.
Norway’s players pose before the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
“Interpreting this practice as a lack of trust in the host nation’s food system misunderstands the purpose of high-performance nutrition,” said Rafaela G. Feresin, an associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University. “The goal is not to evaluate local food quality; it is to eliminate unnecessary variability during competition. Bringing a chef and familiar ingredients to a major tournament is standard, performance-driven logistics.”
Amy Goodson, a sports dietitian who has worked with professional teams including the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, explained that bringing food to international competitions is more about “control, consistency, and performance” rather than distrust.
“Nutrition is a performance variable at the World Cup level,” she said. “These athletes train, travel, and compete with elite intensity, often multiple times in a short window, while managing weather and time zone changes. What they eat directly impacts energy availability, hydration status, recovery, immune function, and even decision-making on the field. When margins are razor thin, fueling consistency becomes critical.” ___
Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
Trump congratulates Colombia presidential candidate
Trump congratulated Abelardo De La Espriella, known by many as ‘El Tigre,’ following an initial ballot count. While not officially called, the narrow lead signals a potential rightward shift for Colombia. (Reuters.)
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Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda on Wednesday conceded Colombia’s presidential election to conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
The concession came days after Cepeda initially refused to acknowledge defeat following preliminary results that showed de la Espriella as the apparent winner.
“At this stage of the vote count, I have decided to accept the result emerging from that process, which indicates that Abelardo de la Espriella is the new President of the Republic,” Cepeda said in an address to the nation.
“I do so as an act of democratic responsibility.”
TRUMP SAYS COLOMBIA’S ‘EL TIGRE’ WILL BE A ‘GREAT PRESIDENT’ AS SOCIALIST OPPONENT LAUNCHES LEGAL CHALLENGE
Ivan Cepeda speaks during a campaign rally in Cali, Colombia, on June 6, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
De la Espriella, a businessman and lawyer who had never previously run for office, known to his supporters as “El Tigre,” defeated Senate member Iván Cepeda by one percentage point in a remarkably close election, according to officials.
“The vote count shows an extraordinarily narrow margin between the two options vying for the trust of the Colombian people,” he said. “Less than 1% of the vote separates the candidacies that participated in this contest.”
Despite his concession, Cepeda made serious allegations that de la Espriella’s victory was influenced by “foreign interference” by the United States and the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate voters.
“During this process, we denounced the open and improper foreign interference in Colombia’s internal affairs—particularly the interventions by the United States government, and specifically the interventions by President Donald Trump in support of Abelardo de la Espriella’s candidacy,” he said.
He further accused the opposing campaign of widespread vote-buying and unethical tactics that he said undermined the legitimacy of the election results.
ANTI-CARTEL HARDLINER CHANNELS TRUMP IN BID TO END COLOMBIA’S LEFTIST ERA IN PIVOTAL ELECTION
Abelardo de la Espriella delivers a speech to supporters during a campaign rally in Palmira, near Cali, Colombia on May 14, 2026. (Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP via Getty Images)
President-elect de la Espriella will begin his four-year term in August.
“Starting August 7, we will work with determination to consolidate a common agenda that strengthens the security, freedom, and prosperity of our nations,” de la Espriella in a post on X.
The result will effectively end outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s leftist influence on the state and the policies Cepeda had pledged to continue if he won the election.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, left, and President Donald Trump are shown in separate photographs. (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images; Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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A core pillar of Petro’s signature agenda was his “total peace” strategy, aimed at opening negotiations with remaining guerrilla forces, drug cartels, and armed paramilitary groups in an effort to end Colombia’s decades long internal conflict.
In contrast, de la Espriella has pledged a more hardline approach, including a militarized crackdown on criminal organizations, proposals to build mega-prisons, expand fossil fuel fracking, and revive the controversial practice of aerial glyphosate spraying to eradicate coca crops.
The president-elect, who holds dual Colombian and U.S. citizenship, has also said he plans to add Colombia to the Trump-dubbed “Shield of the Americas,” a proposed coalition aimed at coordinating efforts against criminal groups in Latin America.
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Ten years after the UK voted to exit the European Union, the debate over Brexit’s legacy is far from over. MEPs Barry Andrews (Renew Europe) and Sander Smit (European Conservatives & Reformists) go head-to-head on whether Brexit has strengthened or weakened Europe—and whether Britain could or should one day return to the bloc.
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For Irish MEP Barry Andrews, the answer is clear. He argues that leaving the EU was a mistake and a “total disaster” for the UK, pointing to years of political instability and economic challenges since the referendum. He also contends that Brexit has ultimately strengthened support for the European project, stating that “there is nobody looking to leave the European Union anymore.”
Dutch MEP Sander Smit takes a different view, saying the EU still misses “the UK’s crucial voice for fiscal and financial discipline” and warning against a more centralised Europe. “Our future lies in a stronger partnership,” he says. “Let the UK and EU countries move beyond the past and work together as natural, sovereign allies.”
The Ring is hosted by Méabh Mc Mahon, produced by Luis Albertos Altarejos and Amaia Echevarria, and edited by Vassilis Glynos.
You can contact us at: thering@euronews.com
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