Europe Explained

Coronavirus: Commission strengthens preparedness for future outbreaks

The Commission has presented immediate short-term measures to strengthen EU health preparedness for COVID-19 outbreaks. The Commission has from the outset coordinated the exchange of information and recommendations with regard to…

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EU’s court decision on ‘Apple’s Tax Bill’ in Ireland is a challenge for corporate tax reforms

Policymakers will have to pay greater care to the legal foundations of corporate tax reforms after an EU order for Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($14.9 billion) in Irish back taxes was rejected in…

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EU plans clampdown on pro-corporate tax systems to aid recovery

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled plans to clamp down on tax regimes seen as unduly beneficial to big corporations in a move it said would aid Europe's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. European…

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Citizens call for a bigger EU budget to tackle crisis, new survey shows

In a new survey commissioned by the European Parliament and conducted in the second half of June 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (68%) want a stronger role for the…

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EU Council President proposes 5 billion euros Brexit emergency fund

European Council President Charles Michel said that EU talks with Britain on their new relationship were "not easy" and countries, regions and industries will face disruptions from 2021 whether there is a…

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EU must step up efforts to tackle medicine shortages – EP

In a report on the shortage of medicines, adopted by 79 votes to 1, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parlaiment addressed the root…

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EU funding for priority projects should reflect 2050 climate objectives

The revision of the TEN-E guidelines, to be proposed by the European Commission later this year, should be consistent with EU energy and climate targets for 2030, its long-term…

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Positive developments in the efficiency of justice systems in the EU while trust in judicial independence decreases

The EU has seen a continued improvement in the efficiency of justice systems in a large number of Member States. At the same time, according to the results of a…

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EU agency calls on European institutions to stop labour exploitation and protect workers from COVID-19

In Europe, thousands of exploited workers are forced to work endless hours with no or little pay and without adequate safety equipment. Many of those exploited workers are migrants. Their…

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ECB calls on Croatia, Bulgaria to do more before joining euro

Bulgaria and Croatia still have work to do in fixing their economies and improving their institutions before joining the euro, European Central Bank board member Fabio Panetta said today. The reforms undertaken…

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European Parliament to allow COVID-19 vaccines to be developed more quickly

As part of the EU's efforts to hasten the availability of a vaccine against the novel corinavirus, the European Parliament has adoped a regulation allowing such vaccines and treatments be…

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Let’s get going’: UK tells businesses to prepare for Brexit crunch

Britain is urging businesses and individuals to prepare for the Dec. 31 end of the Brexit transition period with an information campaign titled: "The UK's new start: let's get going."…

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MEPs set out new measures to stop money laundering

In a resolution adopted with 534 votes to 25 and 122 abstentions, MEPs welcomed the Commission’s Action Plan on how to fight effectively against money laundering and terrorist financing and…

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Bulgaria and Croatia enter last phase pre-Euro zone membership

Bulgaria and Croatia took a big step toward adopting the euro currency, potentially becoming the newest members to the bloc after years of economic crises and shocks. The European Central…

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India in talks with EU for trade deal, open to pact with UK

India has started trade talks with the European Union (EU) and is open to dialogue with the United Kingdom for a free trade agreement, the trade minister said on Saturday,…

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European Council head suggests tweaked EU Covid-19 recovery package

European Council President Charles Michel on Friday sought to offer concessions to countries across the EU in plans for the EU's long-term budget and economic recovery, hoping to bridge differences…

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MEP Miriam Dalli appointed on EP Special Committee on Beating Cancer

Maltese MEP Miriam Dalli (S&D) has been appointed as a full member on the newly-created European Parliament Special Committee on Beating Cancer. The members of these committees are chosen…

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No EU money for countries breaching rule of law – EPP

"Every Member State that wants to receive EU money must stick to the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law. There must be conditionality. The EU is not…

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Recovery plan, Brexit and Russia on agenda of EU leaders meeting today

EU leaders convene today for a virtual summit focused on the bloc's budget for the next seven years, coupled with a proposed 750 billion euro ($842 billion) fund to support…

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Europe needs a recovery fund, but with reforms, Dutch PM says

Europe needs a recovery fund, but it is important the fund comes coupled with structural reforms, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday ahead of a meeting with German…

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Paschal Donohoe elected Eurogroup President

The Eurogroup - the intergovernmental EU institutions of all euro area Finance Ministers, elected Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform of Ireland, as President of the…

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European Parliament green lights major reform of road transport sector

The new trucking and road haulage rules proposed by the European Commission were given their thumbs up by the European Parliament despite opposition by MEPs from a number of countries,…

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No-deal Brexit still on the cards – German Chancellor

Germany will continue to push to seal a new partnership agreement with Britain by the end of the year, but the European Union should also prepare for an abrupt split…

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Merkel presents German Presidency priorities to MEPs, calls for swift agreement on economic response

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for a swift agreement on the European Union's mass economic stimulus to advance unity that would strengthen the bloc as it recovers from the coronavirus…

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Towards a climate-neutral economy: EU Commission sets out plans for the energy system of the future

To become climate-neutral by 2050, Europe needs to transform its energy system, which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The EU strategies for energy system integration and…

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Maltese MEPs to propose amendments to EU trucking reforms in bid to protect local industry

Maltese Members of the European Parliament are expected to unanimously support a number of amendments to the so-called Mobility Package during today's Plenary Session in Brussels. Addressing local members of…

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MEPs to make case for strong financial package as EP Plenary returns

Ahead of the EU summit on 17 July, MEPs - returning today in a plenary session, will make their stance clear on the EU's budget for 2021-2027 and the recovery plan in…

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Abela insists with EU High Representatives on need for solidarity and automatic relocation of migrants

Prime Minister Robert Abela has shared Malta's concerns on migration and insisted on the need for automatic relocation of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean during a meeting with Josep Borrell,…

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Italy PM Conte says won’t accept “weak compromise” on EU recovery fund

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday the European Union must provide a strong response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that support measures must be activated rapidly.…

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UK would leave the EU on Australia terms if no deal reached, Johnson tells Merkel

Britain is prepared to leave the European Union on the same terms as Australia has with the bloc if it cannot agree on a future trading deal, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Germany's…

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Dismantling of an encrypted network sends shockwaves through organised crime groups across Europe

Europol and Eurojust have supported the French and Dutch law enforcement authorities in a joint effort to dismantle EncroChat, an encrypted phone network widely used by criminal networks. Over the…

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Shipping industry must contribute to climate neutrality, say MEPs

The Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verifying CO2 emissions from maritime transport (the “EU MRV Regulation”) and bring it in line…

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MEPs call for News Media Fund and boost to cultural sector

A number of MEPs from the major European political parties, have called on the European Union to support the strengthening of democracy by establishing a dedicated News Media Fund. They…

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EU sees an even deeper recession with wider divergences

The EU economy will experience a deep recession this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite the swift and comprehensive policy response at both EU and national levels. Because the…

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Competition rules should not stand in the way of collective bargaining – EU

The European Commission has launched a process to ensure that the EU competition rules do not stand in the way of collective bargaining for those who need it. The initiative…

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EU Banking Authority seeks way to enhance Bank recovery and resolution

The European Banking Authority has launched a discussion paper exploring ways on how to enhance the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) framework on early intervention measures. The objective is…

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EU support to farmers under current framework extended to end 2022

The European Council and Parliament agreed to extend support European farmers under the current legal framework until the end of 2022 when the new Common Agricultural Policy will enter into…

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Banks urge Britain and EU to sort out post-Brexit financial market access

Britain and the European Union need to make progress on EU financial market access given that the coronavirus crisis will make it even harder to cope with potential disruption if there is no…

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EU invites citizens to share views on upcoming legislation

The European Commission has launched a revamped version of the ‘Have Your Say' portal. This online platform invites all citizens, (including businesses and non-governmental organisations), to share their views on…

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EU Council extends mandates of three missions in Libya and Palestine

The European Council extended the mandates until 30 June 2021 of three of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian missions: the European Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya), the European…

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EPP calls for EU to step up action on health

The Group of the European People's Party in the European Parliament called for stronger commitment by the European Union with regard to health. In a statement, the Group said that…

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IAEA says North Europe radiation likely linked to reactor

The U.N. nuclear agency said Friday that slightly elevated levels of radioactivity detected in northern Europe likely were related to a nuclear reactor that was either operating or undergoing maintenance,…

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UK’s Johnson feels more optimistic than EU officials on post-Brexit deal

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was more optimistic than European officials that a post-Brexit trading deal could be struck but said Britain could leave the bloc without a comprehensive agreement…

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Boosting the EU’s green recovery: Commission invests €1 billion in innovative clean technology projects

The European Commission the first call for proposals under the Innovation Fund , one of the world's largest programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the…

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EU sues Austria, Belgium, Netherlands over anti-money laundering rules

The European Commission said it was suing Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands because the three countries had not fully integrated EU rules on anti-money laundering into their national laws. The 27-nation bloc's…

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Merkel calls for EU resolve and unity as Germany takes the helm

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged European Union leaders to reach agreement on a multi-billion euro coronavirus recovery fund, calling for resolve and saying Europe was facing the most difficult situation in its history. Echoing Merkel's…

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Investment Plan for Europe exceeds €500 billion investment target ahead of time

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have delivered on their pledge to mobilise €500 billion in investment under the Investment Plan for Europe. Some 1,400 operations have…

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EU Commission presents European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience

The European Commission has launched the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. It sets ambitious, quantitative objectives for upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in…

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Euro area unemployment in May rises to 7.4%

In May 2020, a third month marked by COVID-19 containment measures in most Member States, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.4%, up from 7.3% in April 2020. The…

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South American countries push for trade agreement with EU

Mercosur ministers reported progress on the final text of a trade agreement with the European Union on Wednesday on the eve of a summit meeting overshadowed by French President Emmanuel Macron's latest comments…

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Commission launches Youth Employment Support: a bridge to jobs for the next generation

The European Commission is taking action to give young people all possible opportunities to develop their full potential to shape the future of the EU, and thrive in the green…

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Ryanair to cut 3,500 jobs if pay cuts not agreed

Ryanair is planning around 3,500 job losses if it cannot agree pay cuts with its staff, the airline's boss Michael O'Leary said on Wednesday. Europe's biggest budget airline had previously…

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Trading in Europe affected by tech glitch in Germany’s Xetra

Trading in many European exchanges, including Frankfurt and Vienna, was interrupted on Wednesday morning due to a "technical issue" at German electronic trading platform Xetra, Deutsche Boerse said. The outage…

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EU consumers to achieve broader opportunity for redress

Consumers across the EU are about to be granted broader opportunities for the collective defence of their rights. Member states’ ambassadors have approved a deal concluded between the Croatian presidency…

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Airbus to cut 15,000 jobs to survive coronavirus crisis

Airbus is cutting 15,000 jobs within a year, including 900 already earmarked in Germany, saying its future is at stake after the coronavirus outbreak paralysed air travel. Airbus is moving…

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Financing the recovery must not burden the next generation – EP

Financing the recovery must not burden the next generation. The European Parliament stressed this point prior to the final decisions that need to be taken by the EU Member…

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Major Albanian-Italian drug trafficking network dismantled with support from Eurojust

With the timely support provided by Eurojust, judicial authorities and police in Italy and Albania have arrested 37 members of an organised criminal group (OCG) responsible for international trafficking of…

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