Europe Explained

Today, Europe stands at a crossroad – Antonio Tajani (President European Parliament)

Insight and reflection by European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, for Corporate Dispatch. Europe’s story is one of freedom and citizen rights, of 70 years of benefits that were simply unimaginable…

Read More Here

We are stronger together – Roberta Metsola (MEP)

Insights and reflections on the occasion of Europe Day provided by MEP Roberta Metsola for Corporate Dispatch. Today marks the 68th anniversary of the day in 1950 when Robert Schuman,…

Read More Here

Moving Europe forward together – Miriam Dalli (MEP)

Insights and reflections provided by MEP Miriam Dalli for Corporate Dispatch on the occasion of Europe Day. The European Union we live in today is very different to the one…

Read More Here

Europe Day

Today is Europe Day. Observed on May 9 each year, this day marks the presentation of the Schuman Declaration in 1950, which proposed and eventually led to the creation of a…

Read More Here

Post Brexit customs union is crazy – Boris Johnson

The idea of a post-Brexit "customs partnership" with the EU would be "madness". The British Foreign Minister, Boris Johnson, leader of the Eurosceptics of the government, rejects in these terms…

Read More Here

Special edition of Europe Explained on the occasion of Europe Day

9th May is Europe Day. It involves all of the citizens of the EU because it celebrates the declaration delivered on 9th May 1950 by Robert Schuman. On that day…

Read More Here

The political innuendos in the lyrics of this year’s Eurovision song contest

The Irish Times reports that after a year when politics threatened to engulf the Eurovision Song Contest, the sabre-rattling is quieter in 2018, but European and global events are still…

Read More Here

Renzi satisfied that there was no deal between PD and M5s

Former premier and ex Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi said that he was pleased he had intervened to scupper the possibility of the centre-left group striking a government deal…

Read More Here

Proposals at EU level to deal with unfair competition rules in the airline industry

Watered-down proposals to tackle unfair competition from foreign airlines seem to be accepted by European diplomats. Countries, such as France and Germany, and the European Parliament, have pushed for airlines’…

Read More Here

European Credit Management Associations Federation to hold Congress in Malta

On 16th and 17th May, 2018, The Federation of European Credit Management Associations (FECMA) will be staging the 3rd Pan European Credit Management Congress in Malta. FECMA President, Josef Busuttil,…

Read More Here

Malta and Estonia register highest increase in CO2 emissions – Eurostat

Eurostat estimates that in 2017 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 1.8% in the European Union (EU), compared with the previous year. CO2 emissions are a…

Read More Here

DiscoverEU – 15,000 teenagers to benefit from free Interrail pass

The European Commission took its first steps towards implementing a scheme that will give 15,000 teenagers a free Interrail pass once they turn 18 at the start of 2018. This…

Read More Here

Karl Marx isn’t responsible for all the atrocity his alleged heirs have to answer for – Jean Claude Juncker

Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission defended Karl Marx’s record as a philosopher, arguing that he is not “responsible” for mistakes and atrocities committed in his name…

Read More Here

Analysing the EU’s Spring Economic Forecast

The European Commission yesterday published its Spring Economic Forecast. This forecast is based on a set of technical assumptions concerning exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices with a cut-off date of…

Read More Here

EU Spring 2018 Economic Forecast: Expansion to continue amid new risks

"The economic expansion in Europe is set to continue at a solid pace this year and next, supporting further job creation. However, we also see increased risks on the horizon.…

Read More Here

BREXIT – Britain will be unable to leave customs union before 2023

The Telegraph reports that the Cabinet's Brexit sub-committee informed ministers that Britain will be unable to leave the customs union before 2023. This sparked fears that the delay will be…

Read More Here

Mixed Reactions on EU Budget Proposals

The general sentiment, among the richer states of theEU is that of revolt, at least that's how the Financial Times opens up its report on the reactions on the EU…

Read More Here

European Commission proposed its post Brexit Budget – It proposes a new mechanism to protect the EU budget from financial risks linked to generalised deficiencies regarding the rule of law

The European Commission today unveiled its proposed budget for 2021-2027 describing it as a a pragmatic and modern. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Today is an important moment for our Union.…

Read More Here

EU Commission to unveil budget plan

The European Commission is expected to unveil its seven year budget plan today. According to reports on the Financial Times, Brussels is seeking to increase the seven-year EU budget to approximately…

Read More Here

Malta fl-Ewropa – 14-il sena wara. Riflessjonijiet

Erbatax-il sena ilu, Malta saret membru sħiħ tal-Unjoni Ewropeja. Kien mument storiku li għext mill-viċin u kellu tifsira kbira għal pajjiżi u għalija. Tul dawn l-erbatax-il sena pajjiżi inbidel u…

Read More Here

ESA releases the most detailed Space Atlas to date

The European Space Agency, thanks to GAIA, it spacecraft, whose mission is to produce a detailed three-dimensional map of the stars our galaxy, released the largest 3D star atlas ever…

Read More Here

BREXIT- The Lords deal another blow to May

The House of Lords has voted for an amendment to the Brexit withdrawal bill which gives the Parliament the final say on what the UK government should do if the deal…

Read More Here

EU Commission proposes new rules to facilitate free movement of companies, safeguarding against unfair treatment of employees and tax evasion

The European Commission has proposed new rules aimed at facilitating the free movement of companies within the Union. This proposal seeks to harmonise rules on moving, merging and dividing companies…

Read More Here

European Central Bank and Bank of England to meet on Brexit

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England will convene a technical working group on risk management in the period around 30 March 2019 in the area of financial services.…

Read More Here

EU member states approve ban on the use of three pesticides harmful to bees

EU member States on Friday approved a proposal from the European Commission to ban the use in the open of three pesticides found to be harmful to bees. The use…

Read More Here

EU announces position on vaccines

The European Commission is issuing a set of recommendations for how the EU can strengthen cooperation in the fight against diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. This follows President…

Read More Here

ECB retains same interest rates

This week, the European Central Bank announced that it will keep its interest rates unchanged. This decision was based on the ECB's regular economic and monetary analyses. In a statement, the…

Read More Here

Libya: General Khalifa Haftar returns to Benghazi

Khalifa Haftar, a veteran general and the most powerful figure in eastern Libya, has returned to the eastern city of Benghazi following an extended absence, including reported treatment in a hospital…

Read More Here

EU proposes measures to tackle online disinformation

The European Commission is proposing measures to tackle disinformation online, including an EU-wide Code of Practice on Disinformation, support for an independent network of fact-checkers, and a series of actions…

Read More Here

Macron’s evolution towards becoming a global leader

There was a lot of anticipation for the visit of the French President to the United States. A lot of column inches and words have been said on what was…

Read More Here

Decrease in European deficit and debt registered

In 2017, the government deficit and debt of both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 decreased in relative terms compared with 2016. In the euro area the government deficit…

Read More Here

EU Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian State loan to Alitalia

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Italy's bridge loan to Alitalia totalling €900 million constitutes State aid and whether it complies with EU rules for…

Read More Here

Brexit makes no sense at all – Jurgen Klopp

On the eve of an important UEFA Champions League Semi Final match against Roma (to be played today), Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp made an important statement in relation to BREXIT.…

Read More Here

EU Commission sets new, EU-wide rules for the protection of whistleblowers

Recent scandals such as Dieselgate, Luxleaks, the Panama Papers or the ongoing Cambridge Analytica revelations show that whistleblowers can play an important role in uncovering unlawful activities that damage the…

Read More Here

New Poll shows Europeans think life is generally fair

New poll shows most Europeans think life is generally fair, but have concerns over justice, political decisions and income inequality. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made fairness in the EU the cornerstone…

Read More Here

Northern Ireland’s Border remains an issue in BREXIT talks

The U.K.’s two post-Brexit customs proposals to solve the Northern Ireland border issue have been rejected by the EU. Earlier this week, a report on The Telegraph, indicated that the…

Read More Here

MiFID II – Burdens, Challenges or Opportunities?

This year, Europe saw the update to the Markets in Financial Instrument Directive (MiFID II) come into force. Focusing on core principles of the creation of fairer, safer and more…

Read More Here

Spain overtakes Italy, and it’s not about football.

Italy and Spain, often end up 'fighting it out' on the football pitch. The past weeks saw Roma and Juventus facing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. The matches were the…

Read More Here

Europe Explained – EU Enlargement Process Update

While it is generally known that the European Union is on a continuing path to further enlargement, few are those that know which process precedes a country becoming effectively a…

Read More Here

European Citizen’s Initiative to address concern about use of toxic pesticides

Growing concern has been mounting among citizens of the EU on the use of toxic pesticides and their effect on people and the environment. This led to a European Citizens’…

Read More Here

CNN: David Cameron says he doesn’t regret calling Brexit referendum

CNN: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron says he doesn't regret calling a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union -- but wishes the result had gone the other…

Read More Here

15 years ago – The EU Big Enlargement Signed and Delivered

The 16 of April 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the accession treaties of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia,…

Read More Here

First Citizens’ Dialogue in Gozo discussing the future of the Cohesion Policy for Malta and Gozo

In the first Citizens' Dialogue ever to be held on Gozo, the European Commission Representation in Malta will be discussing the future of the EU's Cohesion Policy with two EU…

Read More Here

Europe’s vicious circle of misery

You feel World War III is fast approaching when you are in a room in Brussels, during a technical working group meeting, discussing money. Who gets to pay -…

Read More Here

Air Strikes on Syria – Statement by Jean-Claude Juncker

The President of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker issued the following statement. Last night, France, the United Kingdom and the United States responded in a coordinated military action to…

Read More Here

EU countries to commit to doing more together on the digital front

Tomorrow the European Commission will bring ministers, representatives of EU countries, industry, academia and civil society representatives together to encourage cooperation in artificial intelligence, blockchain, eHealth and innovation. Discussions will…

Read More Here

18% increase in number of people who acquired EU citizenship

Eurostat data on those who acquired European Citizenship show that in 2016, 994 800 people obtained citizenship of an EU-28 Member State, a increase of 18 % compared with 2015. This increase occurred after…

Read More Here

Hillary Clinton: Don’t let Brexit undermine Ireland’s peace

Hillary Clinton - Twenty years ago, the Good Friday/Belfast agreement helped bring an end to decades of conflict and violence in Northern Ireland. It was a watershed moment – the result of…

Read More Here

Hungary – Reactions to Orban’s Victory

Winning a two-thirds majority for the third time straight time in Sunday’s election, gives Victor Orban the power to change constitutional laws - potentially paving the way for further friction…

Read More Here

The election in Hungary

Hungary’s right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is the second-longest-serving government leader after Germany's Angela Merkel, seeks a third consecutive term in parliamentary elections on Sunday. Opinion polls show…

Read More Here

Politico – Guy Verhofstadt on BREXIT

POLITICO: If there’s one member of the European Parliament who is thriving on the Brexit process (rather than mourning it, or popping Champagne bottles) it’s Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal…

Read More Here

Euro area annual inflation up to 1.4%

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.4% in March 2018, up from 1.1% in February, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European…

Read More Here

Will Trump’s ‘trade war’ also impact the EU Common Agricultural Policy?

Politico reports that Brussels is fearing Spanish olives, and potentially the EU’s agricultural policy as a whole, are the next potential victims of Donald Trump’s “America First” policy. The U.S. Department…

Read More Here

Cheap euro transfers everywhere in the Union and fairer currency conversions

The European Commission is proposing to make cross-border payments in euro cheaper across the entire EU. Under current rules, there is no difference for euro area residents or businesses if…

Read More Here

February 2018 Euro area unemployment at 8.5% EU28 at 7.1% – Malta (with Germany) registers second lowest unemployment rate

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in February 2018, down from 8.6% in January 2018 and from 9.5% in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded…

Read More Here

Tensions between Italy and France

Bardonecchia - Italy summoned French ambassador over incident at border migrant clinic which has irked the Italian authorities in an incident which has proved to be an opportunity to be…

Read More Here

Does cheese equal instability? What does cheese got to do with it?

Charles de Gaulle was right. The former president articulated the despair of French officials throughout history when he said, “How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?”…

Read More Here