Europe Explained

State of The Union: One Speech, Six Perspectives

Diplomatique Expert recommends the following reports from different media on how the #SOTEU was reported. Different views and perspectives. Eu Observer Juncker, the 'sad and wiser' man of Europe The…

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Today’s vote is a global symbol of enduring courage – MEP Roberta Metsola

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, who led the EPP negotiations on the Hungary issue, told Corporate Dispatch that today's vote underlines what Europe stands for. EU Parliament votes to trigger Article…

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European Parliament vote to trigger Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary

EU Parliament votes to trigger Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary In a tense vote, a majority of EU lawmakers backed a motion that opens the door to sanctions against…

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Letter of Intent maps plan of action for next months of European Commission efforts

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker and Vice President Franz Timmermans, said that the EC needs to adopt swiftly a series pending proposals. In a letter of intent, there were…

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State of The Union Speech – Key messages

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker today delivered his 2018 State of the Union Address, before the Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, presenting his priorities for the year ahead…

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Europe Explained: State of The Union – Speech

The speech is an opportunity for the Commission President to address the European Parliament and the wider public. He looks back on the work of the Commission over the past…

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Weber to back censorship motion against Orbán

Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, said Tuesday he will vote for a motion declaring Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government is at risk…

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European Parliament backs a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030

European lawmakers agreed late Monday to boost carbon dioxide standards for cars and vans in a fight that has pitted the interests of the car industry against efforts to cut…

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Possibility of EU – US trade deal by November

The US has held out the prospect of a partial trade deal with the EU in the next two months as part of detente in transatlantic commercial relations. After a…

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Calls for dedicated EU anti-money laundering agency

The European Central Bank board member Benoit Coeure called for a dedicated EU anti-money laundering on Friday. Addressing the press in the context of the Eurogroup meeting in Vienna on…

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European finance ministers agree to intensify talks on tech tax

European finance ministers have agreed to intensify negotiations on an EU-wide tax targeting the revenues of Google, Apple and other technology giants even as several member states said that they…

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Scheduled Kosovo talks called off

Talks of partitioning Kosovo from Serbia, scheduled for Friday, were called off in Brussels, dashing hopes of a potential land swap that would resolve a decade-long stalemate between the two…

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Europe needs a new beginning and more democracy – Manfred Weber

Earlier today, Manfred Weber has announced his intention to be EPP lead candidate and next president of the European Commission. The following is an article submitted for Corporate Dispatch. Dear…

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2019 – a year of changes at European Institutions

2019 will bring a lot of changes in the European Institutions as various roles' terms expire. Financial Times Europe’s biggest jobs reshuffle is at hand. Never have so many…

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Manfred Weber expected to announce he is running to be Spitzenkandidat

Manfred Weber is expected to formally announce he is running to be Spitzenkandidat at an EPP meeting next Wednesday, a senior EPP official said. POLITICO reports that Manfred Weber has received Angela Merkel’s backing to…

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EU willing to scrap tariffs on all industrial products in its trade talks with US

Politico reports that Brussels is willing to scrap tariffs on all industrial products, including cars, in its trade talks with the United States, EU trade chief Cecilia Malmström said Thursday. “We said…

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Macron accepts role of being anti-Salvini and Orban

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday billed himself as the main opponent to hard-right, anti-immigration parties in Europe, seemingly relishing a challenge from Italy's Matteo Salvini and Hungary's Viktor Orban.…

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EU to address misuse of personal data by political parties

The Financial Times reports that the EU is seeking the power to impose significant fines on European political parties who misuse voters’ personal data to influence elections, as Brussels moves…

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The Update – No Deal Brexit plans revealed and status update

The Conservative government published a series of notes advising people and businesses how to protect themselves from the potential disruption of a 'no deal' break with the E.U. on Thursday,…

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EU to crack down on ‘citizenship by investment’ schemes

The Financial Times reports that Brussels is preparing to crack down on EU governments, that award citizenships to rich people from outside the bloc, as concerns mount about so-called dirty money…

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Merkel & Sanchez discuss fair distribution of migrants across the EU

DW reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel advocated a "fair distribution" of migrants across the EU. She also spoke out against racism during a press conference in Spain after a working lunch…

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European diplomats vow to work together to preserve nuclear deal with Iran

Europe's top diplomats have vowed to work together to preserve a multinational nuclear deal with Iran, as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for the…

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The Netherlands set to become 21st EU member State to join European Public Prosecutor’s Office

New Europe reports that the Netherlands is set to become the 21st EU Member State to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) after the European Commission confirmed that Amsterdam plans to take…

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Insight: “A will to become politically effective can save the EU from dissolution” – Jurgen Habermas

Simply retreating behind national borders is not an adequate response to the challenges of our time. Why the people of Europe have long since left the political elite behind. …

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UK’s customs proposals ‘torn’ by Barnier

The Guardian / BBC reports that Michel Barnier has warned that attempts to appeal to EU leaders over his head were a waste of time, as he tore up Theresa May’s proposals on customs…

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German Ministers welcome initiatives agreed during meeting between Trump and Juncker

Reuters: German ministers welcomed an initiative agreed between U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to ease the threat of a trade war, with one describing it as…

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President Juncker meets President Trump

AP/European Commission/CNN: European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is visiting the USA for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Juncker told Trump that the E.U. and U.S. are partners and…

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EU could try to seek wide reduction of tariffs in negotiations with US

Euronews reports that the European Union's budget commissioner, Guenther Oettinger, said on Wednesday the bloc could try to seek a wide reduction of tariffs in negotiations with the United States this…

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EU businesses are losing millions, and will be losing even more due to skills mismatches

The European economy loses over 2% of productivity per year due to a mismatch of skills, according to a recent study commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee. This…

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European Commission unveils its plan for migration

Following the call by EU leaders at the June European Council, the Commission on Tuesday expanded its position on the concept of controlled centres as well as short-term measures that…

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EU expected to publish migration proposals policy changes today

The Financial Times reports that Brussels will offer EU governments €6,000 for every migrant they take in from boats stranded in the Mediterranean, in plans designed to help ease pressure on…

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Eu Chief’s negotiator raises a series of concerns with May’s Brexit Plan

The Independent (UK) The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has taken apart Theresa May‘s new Chequers Brexit plan, just hours after the embattled Prime Minister insisted there would be no further compromise on her side.…

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It’s legitimate for Europe to find a role of its own in the world – Angela Merkel

DW: In her yearly meet-the-press session before her summer vacation, Angela Merkel put forward the European Union as an example of cooperation and multilateralism. While reaffirming the centrality of Germany's trans-Atlantic…

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European Commission takes further steps in infringement procedures against Hungary on migration

The European Commission has today decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for non-compliance of its asylum and return legislation with EU law. The…

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Anti-Money Laundering: EU Commission calls on Latvia, Malta and Spain to completely transpose the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive

Eu Commission: Thursday, the EU Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Latvia and Spain, and an additional reasoned opinion to Malta for failing to implement the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive into national law. Spain has so far only partially…

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Breaking News: European Commission urges EU member states to intensify preparedness at all levels and for all outcomes in Brexit

The European Commission has today adopted a Communication outlining the ongoing work on the preparation for all outcomes of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. On 30 March…

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Romania’s first decade of EU membership was mishandled – Romania’s EU accession chief negotiator

Euractiv: Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, successive governments have failed to make the best of bloc membership but there is strong pressure for change in the country, the man…

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700,000 small and medium-sized companies are set to benefit from improved access to finance through European Investment Plan

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has mobilised €335 billion in additional investment across the EU since July 2015. The Juncker Plan has made a clear impact on the…

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European Commission’s President to meet Trump on 25th July

The Independent (UK): "The president of the European Commission is to travel to Washington for meetings with Donald Trump as relations between the EU and US hit their lowest point in recent memory. Jean-Claude Juncker will meet…

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Europe Explained – EU Japan Agreement

EU and Japanese leaders signed two landmark agreements to increase their cooperation at the 25th EU-Japan summit: 1) The EU-Japan free trade agreement will remove 99% of tariffs paid by EU companies…

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EU and Japan to sign new Trade Deal to eliminate all tariffs

The European Union and Japan are signing a widespread trade deal that will eliminate nearly all tariffs, seemingly defying the worries about trade tensions set off by President Donald Trump’s…

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Eu and China agree to further develop the EU-China strategic partnership

The EU and China agreed to further develop the EU-China strategic partnership at the 20th EU-China summit. Leaders expressed their joint support for rules-based tradeand reaffirmed their joint engagement to reform the World…

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European Commission calls on Airbnb to align themselves with EU consumer rules

The European Commission and EU consumer authorities are calling on Airbnb to align their terms and conditions with EU consumer rules and be transparent on their presentation of prices. Airbnb…

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Donald Tusk urges US President and Putin to avoid conflict and chaos through destruction of World order

AP: European Council President Donald Tusk on Monday urged President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and China to work with Europe to avoid trade wars and prevent conflict and chaos.…

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EU pushes ahead with ‘Disembarkation platforms’ outside Europe to stop illegal migration

Financial Times: European interior ministers have vowed to intensify the fight against illegal immigration by pushing ahead with the creation of “platforms” outside the continent to stop migrants arriving into the…

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Unfavourable external environment, such as growing trade tensions with the US, can dampen confidence and take a toll on economic expansion. – EU Commission

Growth is set to remain strong in 2018 and 2019, at 2.1% this year and 2% next year in both the EU and the euro area. However, after five consecutive…

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