In the weeks before the EU elections of June 9, FRANCE 24's Europe team, and the channel's correspondents and reporters, reported from across the continent to shine a light on the issues preoccupying voters.

From defence and security to immigration, housing and the cost of living, the major topics of the last five-year European mandate remain serious challenges for the freshly elected European Parliament – and for Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected by MEPs in mid-July to serve another term as head of the European Commission.

Faced with an unconventional Hungarian rotating EU presidency, as well as uncertainty over US politics and the situation in Ukraine, the EU Council will have its hands full as well.

Reports by Clovis Casali, Johan Bodin and Luke Brown

Motion designs by Sophie Samaille

Produced by Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero