Atmosphere is ripe for party of big government to sweep elections – but that’s nothing new

Mark Rutte denies that ‘herd immunity’ was ever an active strategy

Gunman who killed nine in attack in Hanau sent letter to prosecutors in November

Output falls 5.3% in year to October, weighing on eurozone growth outlook

Leader of centre-right Moderates holds talks with increasingly popular Sweden Democrats

Conservatives urge Social Democrats to stick with coalition agreement

Dutch foreign affairs and justice ministries to appeal court decision ‘as quickly as possible’

Germany is challenged now to adjust to a more multipolar and fragmented world requiring greater sharing of its economic and political power at European level

Humiliating election result in Thuringia leaves party trailing far-right AfD and far-left Linke

Taoiseach’s remarks come as British government triggers no-deal preparations

Greens overtake Christian Democrats to become fourth-strongest party in parliament

Law seeks to ensure rescue missions not used to facilitate human trafficking

Europe Editor Patrick Smyth sets the scene and looks at the runners and riders

German chancellor travels to G20 summit as planned and spokesman says she is in good health

Thirty prominent merchants were main drivers of Dutch slavery in 17th century

Good turnout and swing from ultranationalism enhance Europe’s sense of legitimacy

Country-by-country guide to elections that saw modest gains for the far-right in many member states

Centre parties that have long held sway could lose ability to form majority on their own

Hungary going ‘in the wrong direction’, says leader of European People’s Party

Hungarian leader to work with Italian despite warnings from centre-right allies

Hague Letter: Right-wing Forum for Democracy may crush Wilders’ Freedom Party

Proposal forms part of strategy designed to create ‘national and European champions’

Migration policy likely to dominate Orban-Merkel talks on Thursday

CSU yet to accept EU proposals while minister pledges to begin turning back migrants

Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia to skip EU mini-summit on migration

Dutch claim growing unease in EPP at alleged anti-Semitic tone of Orban campaign

Interior minister says asylum process will be speeded up after ‘scandalous’ incident

One-third of SPD delegates decline to back candidacy of Andrea Nahles for leader

Across central and eastern Europe, systemic problems pose grave threats to the European Union and the western liberal order

Success of Merkel’s fourth term hinges on relationship with SPD figures Scholz and Nahles

Italian election has brought country's former leader back to the centre of its political debate

German leader’s unexpected post-election weakness is a problem for all of Europe

German leader tries to forge a new government as support for her alliance plunges

Angela Merkel’s CDU set to lead new government but talks could take several months

Presidents, politics and big business have become embroiled in a scandal that has cost the country over €33bn so far

For the first time since the early 1960s, the far-right will have a presence in the Bundestag

Far-right party enters parliament for the first time in over 50 years

Chancellor knows Germany must work closely with new French leadership or cede ground to populism

Dutch PM responds to petition on passports as 100,000 citizens in UK face uncertainty

Multiparty negotiations between unlikely bedfellows must bridge ideological gulfs