On 8 May, the Bulgarian Parliament approved the appointment of Rumen Radev as Prime Minister, following the victory of his party, Progressive Bulgaria, in the general election on 19 April. His government comprises 16 ministers, including four women.

On 5 and 6 May, the G7 trade ministers (France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada) discussed industrial overcapacity, the supply of critical materials, reform of the World Trade Organisation and international e-commerce. Furthermore, they expressed deep concern about economic coercion, which they said was evident in arbitrary export restrictions on rare earths, and agreed to strengthen their response to current global imbalances.

On 6 May, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were hosted in Amman by King Abdullah II of Jordan. In a context of high regional tensions, the leaders reiterated their commitment to stability, respect for international law and the security of trade routes, whilst deepening their cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure and food security. This trilateral format confirms the consolidation of a cooperation axis centred on the stability of the Mediterranean neighbourhood and Euro-Arab dialogue.

The early general election in Malta on 30 May, nine months ahead of schedule, is taking place against a backdrop of international tensions and debates over political stability. Prime Minister Robert Abela's Labour Party is leading in the polls with 52% of voting intentions, ahead of the Nationalist Party led by Alex Borg (43%). The election is dominated by issues of purchasing power and inflation, whilst matters of corruption, the rule of law, the economy and the international situation appear to have been relegated to the background, or are even absent from the debates.

On 8 May, the latest Eurobarometer survey showed that a large majority of Europeans view the European Union as a stabilising force and believe that their country has benefited from EU membership. At the highest level ever recorded, 75% of respondents feel they are citizens of the European Union. At the same time, record support (81%) is seen for a common defence and security policy, as well as strong approval of the European Union's response to the war in Ukraine. The Spring 2026 Eurobarometer was conducted between 12 March and 5 April among 26,415 EU citizens, as well as in nine candidate countries and the United Kingdom.

On 6 May, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the carrier strike group passed through the Suez Canal en route to the Gulf. This deployment is part of the multinational initiative launched by France and the United Kingdom in February with the aim of restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 marked a major strategic turning point with its proposal to pool European resources, thereby ensuring peace and reconstruction. 76 years on, the European Union, although transformed, is all too often seen as unfinished. A fresh impetus is needed to recapture the initial momentum and confirm the credibility of its successes.

On 9 May, the new Parliament, elected on 12 April, held its inaugural session, during which Agnes Forsthoffer was elected Speaker. Her first act was to raise the European flag over the Parliament building once again, after an absence of nearly twelve years. Furthermore, Péter Magyar was officially sworn in as Prime Minister by 140 votes to 54, with one abstention. He thus becomes Hungary's 60th Prime Minister. His new government is expected to be announced in the coming days.

On 8 May, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially signed the SAFE agreement with the European Union. This mechanism provides access to €44 billion earmarked for strengthening military capabilities. Against a backdrop of heightened security tensions in Eastern Europe, this programme aims to accelerate strategic investment in the fields of air defence, anti-drone systems, artillery, cybersecurity and military infrastructure. As the first Member State to formalise its accession to the scheme, Poland is thus confirming its determination to establish itself as a key player in the European defence pillar.

On 5 May, Romanian MPs voted in favour of a motion of no confidence tabled by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), which was backed by 281 MPs, thus exceeding the required 233 votes. It was motivated by opposition to the austerity policy pursued by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. It comes 10 months after the formation of a pro-European coalition government comprising, in addition to the PSD, the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The President, Nicusor Dan, is due to begin consultations with the parties with a view to appointing a new Prime Minister.

On 8 May, the European Commission issued a progress report on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, in which it noted progress across the board, particularly regarding the adaptation of legislation and the strengthening of transfer capacities between Member States. However, it notes that further efforts are needed to address the remaining gaps in the procedures and infrastructure required for the pact to function. With a two-year transition period from its entry into force, the provisions of the pact will apply from 12 June 2026.

On 7 May, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on amending the EU regulation on artificial intelligence. The text sets out a new implementation timetable for high-risk AI systems. It introduces a ban on the generation of non-consensual intimate sexual content and the production of child sexual abuse material. The amendments include a simplification component, notably to avoid certain regulatory redundancies and extend certain benefits to medium-sized enterprises.