Is the EU back in vogue?

This episode of *Today in Focus* explores whether the European Union is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, sparked by the dramatic defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the rise of his centrist rival Peter Magyar. The episode examines how Orban’s 16-year rule, marked by obstructionism on key EU issues like Ukraine’s enlargement and EU funding, created deep frustration among EU leaders. His fall is celebrated as a democratic victory and a potential turning point for European unity, especially amid global instability from the war in Iran, Russian aggression, and unpredictable U.S. leadership under Donald Trump. Simultaneously, the UK’s Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, is pursuing a new diplomatic reset with the EU, proposing legislation to align UK regulations with EU standards—particularly in food, agriculture, and potentially future sectors like AI and financial services. However, this approach raises concerns about sovereignty, as it relies on 'Henry VIII powers' that bypass parliamentary scrutiny, drawing criticism from opposition parties and Brexit hardliners. While public opinion in the UK appears to have shifted toward re-engagement with Europe, the episode questions whether these incremental steps will truly restore trust or merely serve political optics ahead of the May local elections. The broader narrative suggests a fragile but growing sense of European solidarity, not as a return to the past, but as a pragmatic response to an increasingly dangerous world.