Tim Ross
Verified- Chief Political Correspondent for Europe and UK, POLITICO Europe
- Freelance Journalist, Freelance
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Reporting European, U.K., global politics for @POLITICOEurope. Latest book ‘Landslide: The inside story of the 2024 election’. Also @timross1.bsky.social
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Articles by Tim Ross
Denmark’s Frederiksen slams Sánchez
Presented by YouTube By TIM ROSS with HANNE COKELAERE PRESENTED BY HELLO from Brussels, this is Tim Ross, back among the tired EU diplomats and journalists following day two of the monster European Council summit. After a late night arguing over the EU budget and energy prices, prime ministers and presidents turned to the equally troublesome topics of Ukraine funding and migration.
Trump and Putin’s ‘terrible’ alliance threatens to strain EU’s resolve on Ukraine
BRUSSELS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a direct pitch to European leaders for more help on Friday, amid a crisis of faith among allies over Donald Trump’s latest steps favoring Russia. At the second day of an EU summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy joins European prime ministers and presidents as they discuss Ukraine’s need for more weapons and cash, with concern growing that Kyiv faces a shortfall of billions of euros next year.
‘No logic’: Finland slams Trump for siding with Putin against Ukraine
BRUSSELS — There is “no logic” to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent moves to take Russia’s side in the Ukraine war, and he should remember his true allies lie in Europe, Finland’s prime minister said Thursday.
NATO allies to meet over Black Sea drone attacks on shipping
BRUSSELS — NATO allies will hold a crisis meeting to discuss how to respond to a series of drone strikes on cargo shipping in the Black Sea, Romania’s President Nicușor Dan said. Two chemical tankers were hit by air drones in the past 24 hours in or near Romania’s territorial waters, but it is “too early” to say for sure whether Russia was behind the attacks, Dan said.
Trump’s diesel deal dials up heat at EUCO
Presented by YouTube By TIM ROSS with HANNE COKELAERE PRESENTED BY SALUT from Brussels, where the European Council is back. This is Tim Ross writing from the airless gloom of the Justus Lipsius building, with hundreds of journalists from across the EU (and beyond) gathered waiting for news, while 27 national leaders sit down for veal and fig tartlet in the “Space Egg” Europa building next door. Ever wondered who Justus Lipsius was?
Russians face EU travel curbs to prevent hybrid attacks
Brussels officials are finalizing plans to tighten visa rules for hundreds of thousands of Russians who visit EU countries as tourists each year, in a move designed to strengthen the bloc’s defenses against hybrid attacks.
‘Nobody wants a new Greece’: Calls grow for crisis election in Romania
Romanian President Nicușor Dan faces demands from allies and adversaries alike to call a snap election, the first in the country’s modern history, if his latest attempt to end five months of political paralysis fails. The key NATO and EU member has lacked a fully functioning government since the coalition collapsed in May, and lawmakers have rejected a succession of Dan’s prime ministerial nominees.
Diplomat is Romania’s fourth prime ministerial candidate in five months
A senior diplomat will try to form a new government as Romania’s prime minister, in an attempt to end a five-month stalemate that threatens the country’s economic and political stability. President Nicușor Dan named Luca Niculescu, secretary of state in the foreign ministry, as prime minister-designate on Monday. He is the fourth candidate tasked with leading a government since the coalition collapsed in May.
Burnham wants to change British elections. Voters think they’re fine as is.
LONDON — Andy Burnham has his work cut out to convince voters the U.K. should change the way it elects MPs, according to a new POLITICO Poll. This week the prime minister vowed to come up with proposals to ditch the first-past-the-post voting system, which has been used in British general elections since 1884, to provide more political stability and a system that is fairer to all voters.
Romanian political crisis deepens as parliament rejects PM nominee
Romania’s parliament rejected Siegfried Mureșan’s attempt to form a government Wednesday, deepening a crisis that began when the coalition collapsed in May. President Nicușor Dan, an independent moderate, proposed MEP Mureșan for the job — but lawmakers in Bucharest refused to back his candidacy in a crunch vote Wednesday. It is the second time parliament has formally voted down Dan’s nominee, and under Romania’s constitution that means a snap election is now a possibility.
Romanian political crisis deepens as parliament rejects PM nominee
2 hours ago BUCHAREST, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Renewable energy developer Rezolv Energy, backed by British sustainable infrastructure investor Actis, said on Wednesday it secured a €561 million ($637 million) green loan from a 14-lender consortium to build the EU’s largest onshore solar park in Romania. • The loan …
Gordon Brown can’t stop talking to Andy Burnham’s team
LIVERPOOL, England — Former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently insisted he does not want to become “a backseat driver” telling Andy Burnham’s new government what to do. But it seems he just can’t help himself. A succession of cabinet ministers and other leading Labour politicians have told POLITICO that Brown, a party elder who was prime minister between 2007 and 2010, contacts them by email — written in capital letters — to offer them advice.
Britons want to get closer to the EU — and even Farage’s voters agree
LIVERPOOL, England — Seven out of ten voters want the government to build a closer relationship with the European Union, according to a new POLITICO Poll that shows the extent of support for overhauling the Brexit settlement. Even among voters who support Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, a majority — 51% — share the view that the current arrangement with Brussels is too distant.
UK voters believe Burnham can win the next election
LIVERPOOL, England — Andy Burnham has radically shifted the public’s view of British politics, with a majority now saying they believe his Labour Party has a real chance of winning the next election, whenever it comes. That’s the verdict of a new POLITICO Poll from Public First, which captures the state of play after Burnham’s first two months as prime minister — and shows what voters want him to do if they’re going to give him more time in Downing Street.
‘Sweden is back’: Magdalena Andersson has big plans for Europe
STOCKHOLM — After four years in opposition, Sweden’s former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is about to retake power — and she aims to use it to fortify Europe’s place in an unstable world. Andersson is in the middle of coalition talks as she prepares for a second stint as prime minister at the head of a left-leaning government, after winning a tight election against the right and far-right earlier this month.
Trump’s Greenland deal, explained
Eight months after Donald Trump almost destroyed NATO by threatening to annex Greenland — by force, if necessary — he signed what he called a “fantastic” new deal that would give the U.S. all the control and military access it needs over the Danish territory.
Trump signs ‘fantastic’ Greenland security deal with Denmark
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a deal on the future of Greenland, bringing an end to months of tensions over his demands to take over the North Atlantic territory.
Sweden targets Putin’s frozen cash
Presented by Booking.com By TIM ROSS with IAN WISHART and HANNAH ROBERTS PRESENTED BY WELCOME to the first edition of Brussels Playbook Capitals. This is Ian Wishart, POLITICO’s senior EU politics editor. The days have gone when those of us interested in EU politics could focus merely on goings-on in Brussels, with only a passing eye on the rest of the continent.
Why the far right lost: 11 lessons for Europe from Sweden’s election
STOCKHOLM — As far-right leader Jimmie Åkesson danced beside the pink balaclava-wearing singer Miss Smut at his final campaign rally, he hoped a late surge in the polls would carry his Sweden Democrats into power. But the following day’s election instead delivered a rude shock to Sweden’s anti-immigration vanguard: A loss of vote share, support and influence for the first time since the SD was founded by neo-Nazis in the 1980s.
Sweden’s left wins razor-thin election victory
Four days after voting ended in one of the closest elections in Swedish history, the count is finally done, pointing to a new center-left government and a comeback for former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. Her Social Democrats, as expected, won the most seats in Sweden’s 349-member parliament, but she requires the support of the three other parties in her left bloc to achieve a majority.
Left on brink of victory in Swedish election
Social Democrat Leader Magdalena Andersson is on course to become Sweden’s next prime minister as her left-wing bloc holds an unassailable lead over the right and far right with 99.9% of results declared. By 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday night, Andersson’s four-party grouping was three seats ahead of Ulf Kristersson’s alliance of the right and far-right parties in the race to control the 349-seat parliament.
Meet the most powerful woman in Sweden
STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s nail-biting election battle will come down to which prime minister candidate can cobble together a coalition with majority support in a new parliament that looks likely to be split almost equally between left and right. And that makes Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist perhaps the most powerful woman in the country, for now at least. She is the leader of the small, liberal Center Party, which is projected to win 25 seats in Sweden’s 349-member parliament.
Left edges ahead in Swedish election thriller
4 hours ago Swedish Election Result Too Close to Call www.youtube.com on YouTube • 4h Sweden's election is the tightest in its history and will hinge on the counting of late-arriving ballots and votes from overseas in coming days. The opposition forces headed by Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson command 176 seats versus 173 for the ruling bloc led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson when 94% of votes had been counted.
Left edges ahead in Swedish election thriller
STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s high-stakes general election is heading for a tight finish in a contest to decide whether a new center-left prime minister takes over or the far right enters government for the first time. With 95% of results now declared, the left-wing bloc of Social Democrat opposition leader Magdalena Andersson has a three-seat lead in the 349-member parliament — ahead of conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s four-party right-wing alliance.
Sweden election forecast says vote too close to call
STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s high-stakes general election is too close to call, according to an analysis of early results that suggests a late surge in support for the right. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing alliance had been adrift in the polls for most of the past year, only narrowing the gap with the leftwing opposition in the final two weeks of a sometimes bitter and bad-tempered campaign.
Sweden exit poll: Left on course for election win in blow to far right
STOCKHOLM — Former center-left Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is on course to retake power in Sweden as exit polling suggests a right-wing alliance that includes the far right is falling short. Andersson, the leader of the Social Democrats, spent much of the election campaign warning voters against handing ministerial posts to what she called an “extremist” party with “neo-Nazi” roots — the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
How to watch Sweden’s election like a pro
STOCKHOLM — Millions of Swedes will vote in a tense general election on Sunday that is set to deliver a new left-wing government or bring far-right ministers into power for the first time. The Social Democrat-led left bloc enjoyed a comfortable lead for months but polls tightened significantly in the final two weeks of the campaign, with one 11th-hour survey suggesting a dead heat.
Sweden’s NATO missions are at risk if the left wins election, warns PM Kristersson
STOCKHOLM — With two days to go before Sweden’s knife-edge general election, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has a warning for Europe: Don’t trust the left on defense. His country has been almost totally united in its support for Ukraine and in backing the decision — after decades of neutrality — to join NATO two years ago.
Putin’s bot army is targeting German and French elections, Sweden warns
STOCKHOLM — Russia poses a threat to upcoming elections in Europe’s biggest democracies and social media platforms must “step up” the fight against Moscow’s networks of bots, Sweden’s disinformation defense chief has warned. In an interview with POLITICO, Magnus Hjort, director general of the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, said elections were an “opportunity” for Vladimir Putin’s information war machine to try to polarize and divide European societies.
Nigel Farage wants to be a global statesman. First he needs distance from Trump.
BIRMINGHAM, England — Nigel Farage has one overriding task: to convince voters he’s ready to take over as British prime minister in an election he believes may be just months away. “When that election comes we will be ready, and when that election comes we will fight to win,” he told his party’s conference in Birmingham, central England, on Friday.
Why Farage and Bardella’s anti-immigration alliance won’t be smooth sailing
BIRMINGHAM, England — France’s Jordan Bardella and Britain’s Nigel Farage will on Friday lock arms on immigration policy, but the limits to their love-in are becoming clear. The two anti-immigrant populist leaders face opposition within Bardella’s far-right party, the National Rally, over Farage’s controversial proposal to enlist the Royal Navy to help repel immigrants trying to reach the United Kingdom on so-called small boats and return them to France.
Poll: British voters underwhelmed by Andy Burnham response to drought and wildfires
LONDON — Only one in five people think Andy Burnham acted effectively and quickly enough in response to the drought and wildfires that hit the U.K. this summer, according to The POLITICO Poll by Public First. The survey of 2,000 adults suggested voters were not particularly impressed by the way the new prime minister handled his first major domestic crisis since entering 10 Downing Street one month ago.
Class act: The working-class game binding London and Canberra
CANBERRA — When a new British prime minister speaks to their Australian counterpart for the first time, it's a reset of Australia's oldest and deepest relationship. The agenda seems obvious: Intelligence sharing. Tariffs. Hot war and simmering conflict. If the conversation turns to sport, cricket has often been the obvious choice. But as Andy Burnham began his introductory calls to world leaders, he and Anthony Albanese got to rugby league.
Western countries see World War III coming
Western countries see World War III coming Voters in leading allied states broadly support higher defense spending, but balk when faced with policy trade-offs.
Nigel Farage is under siege. That’s just how he likes it.
LONDON — Over the past decade, Nigel Farage has ripped political conventions apart, dictated the debate on Brexit and immigration, and driven his party into contention to win the next general election. But now the hard-right Reform UK leader faces what may be the biggest challenge in a career suddenly engulfed by troubles.
What voters really think of Britain’s new PM
LONDON — The reviews are in: Andy Burnham’s first week as the U.K.’s new prime minister couldn’t have gone any better. Voters across the political spectrum are warming to him, back his plans to ease the cost of living and believe he’ll deliver on his promises, The POLITICO Poll by Public First has found. The research gives the first comprehensive breakdown of voters’ opinions on the country’s new leader and his early policy decisions.
Political chaos turns spotlight on Romania’s MAGA champion
LONDON — In Italy and France, nationalist leaders like Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen have toned down their euroskeptic language in recent years in the pursuit of power. In Romania, the sixth most populous country in the EU, the Trump-aligned nationalist George Simion is showing no such restraint. “What they want to do in Brussels is to destroy Europe,” Simion, 39, said in an interview during a visit to London for the CPAC GB conference of activists on the right.
What Britain’s new leader is learning from Donald Trump
LONDON — Andy Burnham’s political success depends on his ability to turn Britain away from the wave of nationalist populism that gave the world Donald Trump. That has not stopped the U.K.’s incoming prime minister from studying the president’s rise, and — deliberately or not — embracing some of his methods for the political battles with the British right that lie ahead. “Trump is very unpopular in Britain,” said Luke Tryl, executive director at More in Common U.K., a think-tank and polling agency.
Andy Burnham’s T-shirt-wearing brand is about to be tested
LONDON — Britain’s political leadership is about to get a glow-up. On Monday, Keir Starmer is set to hand over as prime minister of the U.K. to Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester. Along with the injection of new personnel at the top of the government, the transition will also bring about an overhaul of political styles.
Farage and Le Pen try Trump’s trick of turning scandal to their advantage
LONDON — In a strange twist, Marine Le Pen and Nigel Farage, two giant figures of Europe’s populist right, faced simultaneous reckonings with what they like to call “the establishment” this week. Le Pen, the standard-bearer of France’s National Rally party, was found guilty of embezzling EU funds at an appeal hearing on Tuesday afternoon and was ordered to wear an electronic tag on her ankle for a year.
The POLITICO Poll: The South doesn’t trust ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham
LONDON — Andy Burnham is determined to put his Northern English identity and experience at the center of his pitch to run the U.K., but he already risks alienating voters in the South, according to a new POLITICO Poll. Even before Burnham takes over as British prime minister, as is expected later this month, research from Public First for POLITICO shows a vast difference in how the former Greater Manchester mayor is seen in Southern and Northern England.
The POLITICO Poll: Andy Burnham should call an election to let voters choose Britain’s PM
LONDON — A majority of adults in the U.K. believe Andy Burnham should call an election to win his own mandate to govern if he takes over from Keir Starmer as prime minister. The POLITICO Poll by Public First found 51 percent of respondents say Burnham, who became an MP just last week, “should call and try to win an election to give his government legitimacy.” Only 34 percent believe he would lead a legitimate administration without a new general election.
Burnham’s dilemma: A free ride on Starmer’s majority, or risk an election to seek his own
LONDON — It is an unwritten rule in British politics that a new prime minister who takes over mid-term will soon want a general election to win a majority they can call their own. That is the position Andy Burnham will find himself in, if, as expected, he succeeds Keir Starmer in three weeks’ time. The calculation is never straightforward — and for Burnham, the dilemma is particularly acute.
Romania’s Nicușor Dan faces his biggest test as political crisis deepens
Just over a year after Romania’s moderate President Nicușor Dan won power in a tense showdown with the far right, he is facing his most serious test yet — trying to broker a deal between rival parties to form a stable government. Romania’s last coalition fell apart in April, and Dan’s first two nominations for prime minister failed to secure enough party support to lead a new administration.
Andy Burnham will inherit a kingdom disunited by Brexit
LONDON — Everyone says that Britain isn’t supposed to work like this, that the chaos of chewing through six prime ministers in a decade is just “not normal” for one of the most stable and ancient democracies in the world. But what if it is? As Andy Burnham prepares in all likelihood to become the seventh person in 10 years tasked with forming a government, he stands to inherit a Labour party full of inexperienced MPs who have — sometimes literally — grown up in the era of Brexit politics.
The POLITICO Poll: Even Andy Burnham will struggle to save Labour
LONDON — Andy Burnham is the only Labour leadership contender with a plausible chance of slowing the march of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and — in the best case — saving his party from a catastrophic rout at the next election, according to polling from POLITICO’s polling partners Public First. Burnham’s victory in Thursday’s Makerfield by-election, in which he crushed his Reform rival, is already seen by his backers as clear proof that the outgoing mayor of Greater Manchester can be Labour’s savior.
Just a few thousand small-town voters are about to decide Britain’s future
ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, England — The future leadership of the British government will be shaped in the next 24 hours by just a few thousand voters living in a cluster of former mining communities who hate nothing more than getting stuck, as they often do, in a traffic jam.
From Davos to the G7: Mark Carney's middle-power moment
Diplomats from Europe to Australia say Carney's call for middle-power solidarity has captured the attention of countries looking for leverage in a harsher world.
From Davos to the G7: Mark Carney’s middle-power moment
Mike Blanchfield, Ryan Heath and Tim Ross Fri, June 12, 2026 at 8:09 PM UTC 9 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. From Davos to the G7: Mark Carney’s middle-power moment When Mark Carney arrived in Davos in January and warned that "middle powers" risked ending up "on the menu" of the "hegemons," he sounded like a Canadian prime minister on the hunt for a foreign policy. Six months later, diplomats across Europe and Asia are still quoting the speech.
Romania’s PM-designate promises reforms to help business as he urgently seeks support
The member of the European Parliament tasked with leading Romania out of a spiraling political crisis will not back down on the need for more painful austerity. With the clock ticking toward a make-or-break deadline for winning parliament’s support, Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac set out his program for government exclusively to POLITICO.
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