Comuniq.EU

Is it the end of ‘centre’ in Europe politics? (Long Read)

Paul Taylor, contributing editor at POLITICO writes: The second wheel is starting to fall off Europe’s political wagon. After the center left suffered a working-class revolt against globalization and austerity, the mainstream…

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Brexit talks must intensify over summer

RTE: Brexit talks must intensify over the summer, particularly on the issue of the Irish border, or Britain risks being unable to withdraw smoothly from the European Union, Ireland's foreign minister…

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Eurozone Ministers discussing Greece’s debt adjustment

AFP: Eurozone ministers will on Thursday try to resolve their differences over the terms of Greece's departure from its massive bailout programme with splits over the degree of debt relief needed…

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Juncker convenes informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues

The European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker announced that he will be convening an informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues in Brussels on Sunday, in order to…

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Merkel and Macron agree to open a new chapter in European Union relations

Germany and France have agreed to "open a new chapter" in European Union relations, after Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron met to finalise plans for sweeping reforms of…

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Macron to push for eurozone reform

Euronews: Emmanuel Macron is expected to push eurozone reform back on the European agenda when he meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today. Reforming the management of Europe's single…

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Asylum seeking applications in Europe down by 44% compared to 2016. Approximately 15% of asylum seekers come from Syria – EASO

The total number of asylum applications throughout all of the EU, plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, last year, was 728,470, or some 44 percent less when compared to 2016,…

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Insights : Why isn’t there greater outrage about Russia’s involvement in Brexit?

Nick Cohen, a columnist for the Observer writes that the first duty of the leaders and citizens of a democracy is to defend its elections from subversion. Yet a country that…

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Theresa May pledges 20 billion pound budget increase for the NHS

CNBC: British Prime Minister Theresa May pledged on Sunday to increase funding for the National Health Service (NHS) by 20 billion pounds ($26.5 billion) after Brexit, partly from tax hikes…

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New Brexit blueprint amendments respect public’s desire to leave the EU

Reuters: Prime Minister Theresa May’s government’s new amendment to her Brexit blueprint on giving parliament a greater role on the exit process respects the public’s desire to leave the European Union,…

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Money laundering, the IIP scheme, Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder and other related issues under the EU lens during Commisioner Jourová’s visit to Malta

The following dispatch is based on reports from The Times, The Malta Independent, & MaltaToday and Politico. European Commissioner for Justice Vĕra Jourová said there were gaps in Malta's implementation…

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Number of MEPs to be reduced to 705 from the current 751 after the UK leaves EU

The European Parliament will shrink from 751 to 705 MEPs when the United Kingdom leaves the EU, leaving room for new countries that may join in the future. Besides reducing…

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Poland will face disciplinary hearing on rule-of-law dispute with EU

Politico: EU ministers will hold a hearing on Poland’s alleged rule-of-law violations later this month, pushing forward with a disciplinary process that Warsaw insists is unjustified. The decision by EU diplomats…

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According to EU Commission, Malta acted according to international rules

The Malta Independent : EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that according to the Commission’s appraisal, Malta behaved according to international rules in the Aquarius case.…

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Jeremy Corbyn facing Brexit rebellion as 6 junior frontbenchers resign

Jeremy Corbyn has suffered his biggest Brexit rebellion in the Commons as nearly 90 backbenchers defied his orders and five junior frontbenchers resigned from their roles. Junior Labour frontbenchers Laura…

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Opinion : How One Migrant Ship Became a Symptom of a Sick Europe (TIME)

Time : A 253-feet long, 2,000-ton boat makes for an ungainly political football, especially when it is carrying some 629 desperate migrants and is staffed by a crew of angry…

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Parliament gets more power in Brexit negotiations as UK government avoids damaging defeat

Politico: The U.K. government has agreed to give parliament more power over its Brexit negotiations in a last-ditch bid to avoid a damaging House of Commons defeat. Rebel Conservative MPs, who…

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May under pressure on Brexit vote, UK Justice Minister resigns, Four more prepared to quit

The Daily Telegraph: Four more ministers are prepared to quit over Brexit after Phillip Lee's "warning shot" resignation, The Daily Telegraph has learned. A source close to Dr Lee said his resignation is…

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Macron accuses Italy of “cynicism and irresponsibility”

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accused Italy of "cynicism and irresponsibility" over its refusal to take in hundreds of migrants stranded on a rescue ship in the Mediterranean. Macron…

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Brexit Bill: The amendments British MPs will be debating and voting on

Sky News: British MPs will debate and vote on 15 amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill on Tuesday. Theresa May's Cabinet has agreed to one of the amendments but members…

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Merkel more open to Macron’s plans on migration and defence policy than the Euro

AFP: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was more open to French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform migration and defence policy in Europe than his hopes to bolster the euro.…

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Two Years since Brexit vote and 292 days from the days and Brexit gets messier by the day

EuroNews: With only months to go until Britain leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May faces a showdown with critics that could further undermine her fragile grip on power…

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Broadband Internet access across rural EU

Euronews : More than a dozen EU countries have poor broadband coverage in rural areas, latest figures reveal. The data, published in a report by the European Court of Auditors…

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Businessman financing Farage’s campaign had multiple meeting with Russian embassy, suggesting Russian interference during BREXIT

The Guardian - Arron Banks, the millionaire businessman who bankrolled Nigel Farage’s campaign to quit the EU, had multiple meetings with Russian embassy officials in the run-up to the Brexit…

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German proposals for strengthening Euro currency union

AP reports that Germany's finance minister is urging bolder steps to strengthen the 19-country euro currency union by setting up a fund to help member states with high unemployment and…

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BREXIT – UK’s proposal for backstop doesn’t correspond to EU’s wishes

The U.K’s proposal for a “backstop” solution to Ireland “doesn’t correspond” to the EU’s wishes, Barnier said on Friday, adding that May had agreed on the need for it, and…

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European Commission proposes €100 billion for research and innovation

A new programme – Horizon Europe – will build on the achievements and success of the previous research and innovation programme (Horizon 2020) and keep the EU at the forefront…

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EASO’s Executive Director resigns amid allegations of harassment and an OLAF investigation

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) Management Board appointed Mr. Jamil Addou as interim Executive Director of Agency. The decision was taken by EASO's management board, which is the governing body of…

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Putin visits Austria in first visit in EU state since re-election

Easing of sanctions against Russia, the relations with the US and the European Union were the main topics discussed during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian chancellor, Sebastian…

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Will the EU Parliament be lost in translation?

Next week’s European Parliament plenary week in Strasbourg could be disrupted by a series of strikes by interpreters, who plan to stop work for “one or two hours” a day,…

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Differences at EU Commission on how to deal with Poland

POLITICO reports that in the battle over the rule of law, Poland is splitting the European Commission at its highest level. EU officials and diplomats familiar with the latest developments say…

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Theresa May facing revolt from Eurosceptic Cabinet Ministers on ‘Irish backstop’ arrangement

The Telegraph reports that Theresa May is facing a revolt from Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers after disclosing plans which they fear could keep Britain tied to the Customs Union "indefinitely" after Brexit. The Prime…

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Trade Tariffs: EU Commissioners endorse the imposition of additional duties on a number of US products

The European Union announced it will start imposing duties from July on a list of U.S. products in response to President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on steel and…

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Broadband coverage across the EU improved. 2020 targets significantly distant.

Although broadband coverage has generally been improving across the EU, not all targets set for 2020 will be met, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors.…

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EU court gives landmark ruling regards same same-sex marriages recognition

EU countries that have not legalised gay marriage must respect the residency rights of same-sex spouses who want to live together in their territory, the European court of Justice has…

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European Parliament sets up group to monitor investigations into the murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak

Reuters report that the European Parliament set up a group of lawmakers who will monitor the investigations into the murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta last October and Jan…

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Juncker invites ‘German-speaking’ countries not to repeat the Greek mistake with Italy and avoid giving lessons to Rome

Deutsche Welle and The Guardian reported that since the new Italian government assumed power, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker seems to have taken a position of respectful distance. In a stark warning to 'Germany'…

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Theresa May should be replaced

Michael Gove should be installed as the new Tory leader because Theresa May has shown that she cannot “carry Brexit through”, Crispin Odey, a major party donor has publicly warned. The…

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Total Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU decreased by 0.4% in 2016

Total greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU) decreased by 0.4 % in 2016, according to latest official data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Using less…

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Brexit – Northern Ireland’s DUP dismisses joint UK/EU status

According to Reuters, the Northern Irish party that supports Britain’s minority government dismissed the idea of giving Northern Ireland joint European Union and UK status after Brexit as at best…

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EU launches legal proceedings in WTO against China

The EU has launched legal proceedings in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against Chinese legislation that undermines the intellectual property rights of European companies. Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: "Technological innovation…

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Donald Tusk emphasises on unity and solidarity in congratulatory letters to Conte and Sanchez

The President of the European Council congratulated Professor Giuseppe Conte on his appointment as President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. "Your appointment comes at a crucial time for…

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60% increase in EU funds for the EU programme for the environment and climate action

"The EU is a global leader for environmental protection and climate action; where we spend our money should reflect this. With more funding, we can strengthen our LIFE programme to…

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Northern Ireland might get joint UK, EU status

According to Reuters the United Kingdom is considering attempting to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations with a proposal to give Northern Ireland joint UK and European Union status so it…

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A bad day for world trade – EU

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his concern following the decision by the US that starting on 1 June 2018 ,it will impose additional duties of 25 % and 10…

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BREXIT: May warned by some of Europe’s biggest businesses that ‘time is running out’

The Telegraph reports that Theresa May has been warned by some of Europe's biggest businesses that "time is running out" and that a free trade deal after Brexit must be as "frictionless as…

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Former Chair of Vote Leave campaign applies for ‘carte de sejour’ in France

Nigel Lawson, has denied accusations of Brexit hypocrisy after it emerged he was in the process of applying for a French residency card. The Tory former chancellor who chaired the Vote…

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Juncker’s comments on Italy, as reported on the Guardian, stirs controversy and criticism.

"Italians need to work harder and be less corrupt". This is what the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, would have said, according to the Guardian. Juncker's declaration has created a…

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European Court of Human Rights concludes that Lithuania and Romania violated the European ban on torture

The European Court of Human Rights said on Thursday it had concluded that Lithuania and Romania hosted a CIA detention centres and allowed for Tortures. Lithuania hosted this prison from…

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I want to stop Romania from turning into another Hungary

Romania’s former Prime Minister Victor Ponta has told Euronews he wants to stop the country from turning into a new Hungary. He launched his political comeback bid this week after…

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New anti-dumping rules approved by European Parliament

Higher tariffs can be imposed on dumped or subsidised imports to better protect EU jobs and businesses, under a December 2017 informal agreement that was approved by the Parliament on Wednesday. The…

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New EU directive to curb plastic use

The European Commission proposed new EU-wide rules on Monday aimed at reducing plastic pollution in cities and oceans by banning several plastic products. Through the new directive plastic utensils, straws,…

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BREXIT: “Stop playing hide and seek” – Michel Barnier to UK Government

European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier urged the British Government 'to stop playing hide and seek' over the country's aims for trade ties and went on warning that delays…

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First complaints against Social Media platforms following GDPR law changes

The Financial Times report that Facebook and Google became the first large tech groups to be accused of breaking the EU’s far-reaching new privacy rules that came into force on Friday…

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Processing personal data with the new GDPR

While today, the 25 May 2018 is the day when rules on the processing of personal data will finally change, entering the 21st century, it is interesting to look at…

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#EUandMe – EU releases five films that make Europe more accessible to millenials

The European Union released five short films, directed by prominent European filmmakers, which demonstrate how the rights and benefits enjoyed in the EU improve people’s lives. The films aim to launch…

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Emmanuel Macron, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Edyta Kocyk, Boyan Slat, Krisztian Imre and Florin Badita given European Leadership Awards

Emmanuel Macron, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Edyta Kocyk, Boyan Slat, Krisztian Imre and Florin Badita were all recognised for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields during the European Leadership Awards…

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