Comuniq.EU

UPDATED: EU says it could admit new members by 2030, praises Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine

The European Commission said on Tuesday that the EU could welcome new members as early as 2030 as it praised Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova for their progress on reforms…

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MEPs Plot a Radical Rethink of European Parliament

The European Parliament’s political groups are more polarized than they’ve ever been. But they all agree on one thing: The debates are insufferably dull — and it’s time to change…

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Ukraine committed to EU accession but should do more on rule of law, Commission draft says

Ukraine is showing "remarkable commitment" to joining the EU, but must reverse recent negative trends in the fight against corruption and accelerate rule of law reforms, the European Commission said…

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US Commerce Secretary Lutnick invited to Brussels for trade talks

The European Union has invited U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to Brussels on Nov. 24 for talks with the bloc’s trade ministers, a Danish official familiar with the situation told…

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Budget Impasse Looms as EU Parliament Pushes for Changes

The European Parliament’s four centrist groups are to demand Commission President Ursula von der Leyen make major changes to her plan for the EU’s next seven-year budget, according to the…

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Rule of law declined in over two thirds of EU countries, World Justice Project says

The rule of law decreased in over two thirds of EU countries in 2025, according to an index published on Tuesday by the World Justice Project. The rule of law…

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56% of citizens support EU enlargement, new Eurobarometer poll shows

While EU enlargement is gaining new political momentum, a new poll indicates that more than half of Europeans support the process. To be precise, 56% of citizens approve of opening…

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Europol urges action against caller ID spoofing

Europol is calling for a coordinated European response to tackle caller ID spoofing, an increasingly common tool, used for online fraud and social engineering scams. Caller ID spoofing occurs when…

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EU considers more flexible climate target in hunt for deal, draft shows

European Union countries are negotiating proposals to give industries a more flexible path to meeting climate goals, a draft EU document showed, as the bloc attempts to win support from…

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Three Policy Divides That Could Derail Europe’s Social Media Crackdown

Getting kids to spend less time on social media is now a major priority for politicians across the European Union. But countries are far from being on the same page…

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EU pledges financial aid to Ukraine but demurs on Russian assets plan

EU leaders agreed on Thursday to meet Ukraine's pressing financial needs for the next two years but stopped short of explicitly endorsing the use of Russian frozen assets to give…

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UPDATED: Ukraine: EU Proposal for using frozen Russian assets ‘fully legal and fair’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European Union leaders on Thursday to agree as soon as possible on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who is…

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Europe adopts 19th sanctions package against Russia, including LNG import ban

EU countries on Thursday formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports. The 27…

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MEPs call for end to EU support for all Libyan security forces

Thirty-eight Members of the European Parliament from four political groups have urged the European Commission to halt all funding and cooperation with Libyan security forces, accusing them of violent actions…

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EU leaders to show support for Zelenskiy at Brussels summit

European leaders aim to put on a show of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Brussels on Thursday after a rollercoaster few days that saw Donald Trump announce and…

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Plastic packaging waste in the EU: 35.3 kg per person

In 2023, 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU, or 177.8 kg per inhabitant. While this marks a reduction of 8.7 kg per capita compared with…

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Jailed Journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli Awarded 2025 Sakharov Prize

The 2025 Sakharov Prize has been awarded to a pair of journalists -- the Polish-Belarusian Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian Mzia Amaglobeli -- both of whom are currently serving time in…

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Sentinel-4 offers first glimpses of air pollutants

The new Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission has delivered its first images, highlighting concentrations of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Despite being preliminary, these images mark a major milestone in…

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Merz, Macron, Meloni urge new EU drive to cut red tape

The leaders of 19 European Union countries have urged the bloc to launch a new drive to "review, reduce and restrain" legislation to make the EU more economically competitive, according…

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Weber’s Metsola Remarks Strain EPP–Socialist Power-Sharing Deal

The center-right European People’s Party President Manfred Weber on Tuesday refused to commit to handing the European Parliament’s presidency to the Socialists as scheduled in 2027. In what would be…

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EU pushes back on Trump’s demand Ukraine cede territory to Putin

Ukraine shouldn’t have to give up territory as part of a peace deal with Russia, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said after U.S. President Donald Trump pushed Kyiv to…

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Spain Revives Campaign to Scrap Daylight Saving Across Europe

Spain will attempt Monday to reenergize the EU's stalled proposal to end seasonal clock changes and demand Brussels fulfill its promise to end daylight saving time. "As you know, the…

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EU Weighs Partial Membership Plan to Ease Enlargement Deadlock

New countries could join the European Union without full voting rights, in a move aimed at easing opposition from leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to Ukraine’s membership. The proposal,…

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Belarus makes overture to EU countries after rapprochement with US

A senior Belarusian diplomat has recently met with European representatives following Minsk’s decision to issue diplomatic invitations last month, a move seen by European diplomats as an attempt to ease…

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Jailed journalists, Serbian students and Palestinian aid workers shortlisted for the EP Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament has announced the three finalists for the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which recognises individuals and organisations that defend human rights, freedom of expression, and…

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Slovakia and Austria Block EU Sanctions Deal on Russia

Slovakia and Austria have emerged as the main obstacles preventing a new round of European Union sanctions against Russia, ahead of next week’s EU summit. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico…

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EU to be ‘ready’ for war with Russia by 2030

EU countries have been given five years to prepare for war under a new Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, a strategy that underscores Europe’s growing focus on military self-reliance. According to…

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EU chief tells Serbia to act on reforms

The European Union’s top official on Wednesday told Serbia’s populist leader to “get concrete” about its proclaimed goal of joining the 27-nation bloc, including implementing sanctions against traditional ally Russia.…

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EU to propose short-term rental rules to tackle ‘social crisis’ in housing

The EU executive will propose rules to tackle the “huge problem” of short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, as it seeks to confront the “social crisis” of…

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EU Parliament backs air passenger rights

European airlines on Tuesday denounced the European Parliament's transport committee adopting a text that refuses to make it harder for air passengers to get compensation for delayed flights. The committee…

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European Commission delays decision on migration assistance

The European Commission is set to miss its own legal deadline on announcing which EU countries should receive help with their migration issues — and it’s not particularly worried. A…

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EU begins gradual rollout of digital border system

European Union member countries began rolling out a new entry and exit system on Sunday at the bloc’s external borders, electronically registering non-EU nationals' data. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an…

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Europe’s new biometric border checks: what do non-EU travellers need to know?

The European Union is preparing to dispense with passport stamps in favour of a new digital border management system. Australians and citizens of other non-EU countries travelling to Europe from…

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Hungary found to have sent agents to spy on EU

A report published in the Belgian newspaper De Tijd on Thursday revealed that the Hungarian intelligence service has for years been using a secret spy network in the European Union…

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Europe Praises Trump’s Peace Efforts as Malta’s Foreign Minister Nominates Him for Nobel Peace Prize

European leaders heaped praise on U.S. President Donald Trump for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — even as Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg formally nominated him for the…

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EU’s von der Leyen survives two no-confidence votes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen comfortably survived two bids to remove her when the European Parliament rejected no-confidence motions from hard-right and left groups on Thursday. EU lawmakers…

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EU lawmakers push to ban term ‘veggie-burger’

EU lawmakers voted on Wednesday to ban the use of the term "veggie-burger" and limit food descriptions such as steak, escalope and sausage to products containing meat, part of a…

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EU Chief: Drone Incidents Show Europe Under Coordinated Hybrid Attack

Recent drone incidents and other airspace violations show Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defence, EU Commission President Ursula von…

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New Website Tracks EU Lawmakers’ Attendance, Sparking Debate on Transparency and Accountability

A new online tool is shining a light on the attendance records of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), amid growing public frustration over transparency and accountability in EU institutions.…

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Europe Tightens the Net on Moscow’s Shadow Network

EU governments have agreed to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc, responding to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are often directed by spies…

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Von der Leyen Defiant in Brussels, Accuses Rivals of Playing Into Putin’s Hands

Ursula von der Leyen appealed for unity when she appeared before MEPs on Monday ― for the sake of the whole of Europe. Three months on from the last time…

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Leadership Under Fire: Von der Leyen Targeted by Two Censure Efforts

Three months after surviving her first-ever motion of censure, Ursula von der Leyen faces not one but two simultaneous attempts to topple her European Commission. The debate in the European…

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EU leaders warn of Russian threat as Frederiksen says Moscow ‘will not stop until forced’

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Russia’s war on Ukraine will not end until Moscow is forced to stop, as European Union leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss security…

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MEP Agius pledges to amplify voices of persons with disabilities in EU strategy

MEP Peter Agius has pledged to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities in the European Parliament as the EU updates its strategy on disability rights, highlighting their societal contribution.…

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EU Leaders Back Plan for ‘Drone Wall,’ Eye Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Aid

EU leaders gathered in Copenhagen gave "broad support" to proposals to ramp up the development of drone and anti-drone technology and to use immobilised Russian assets to loan money to…

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Cyprus and Malta almost entirely depend on sea transport for trade

The European Union relied heavily on maritime transport for international trade in goods in 2024, Eurostat data showed. Imports by sea reached 1.1 billion tonnes, valued at €1.25 trillion, while…

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UPDATED: Europe Vows Unity Against Russian Provocations Amid Calls to Cut Red Tape

European leaders pledged to resist Russian attempts to sow discord while debating how to strengthen the bloc’s economic competitiveness and reduce regulatory burdens, during talks in Copenhagen on Monday. European…

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EU housing plan to tackle speculation, short-term rentals

Brussels’ upcoming plan to take on the EU’s housing crisis will include measures curbing real estate speculation, Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen announced Monday. "There is no room in Europe for…

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EU mulls tweaking rules to bypass Hungarian veto on Ukraine’s accession

The European Union is mulling new plans to tweak the rules of enlargement in a fresh attempt to bypass Hungary's persistent veto on Ukraine's membership bid. As of today, each…

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Charlie Kirk, Budapest Pride and Palestinian journalists among finalists for EU’s Sakharov Prize

Every year, lawmakers in the European Parliament choose an individual or cause that stands out for its fight for human rights, the defence of freedom of expression, the rights of…

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EU Commission to ‘leave doors open’ for social media ban

The European Commission is “leaving all doors open” to shield children from the harmful effects of social media platforms including age restrictions at the EU level, spokesperson Thomas Regnier told…

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European Commission dismisses NGOs’ call to stop financing of Libyan Coast Guard

The European Commission has dismissed a call from 42 civil society organisations for it to stop financing the so-called Libyan Coast Guards whose agents are deployed on the country’s coast…

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EU Commission rules out pause on AI Act

The European Commission has dismissed growing calls for a suspension of the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act, despite increasing pressure from business groups and political leaders. Addressing the European…

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European Medicines Agency refutes Trump’s link between paracetamol and autism

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) joined a chorus of medical opinion stating on Tuesday that paracetamol is safe to use during pregnancy and that there is no evidence linking it…

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EU steps up ‘drone wall’ talks after Russian incursions

Talks are intensifying about a so-called drone wall to protect Europe's eastern borders from the Kremlin after a series of airspace violations by Russian warplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles. Seven…

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Von der Leyen says not thinking about German presidential election

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen isn’t thinking about running in Germany’s 2027 presidential election, the German politician said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday. “I am fully…

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From Valletta to Vienna: The EU’s Safest and Riskiest Cities for Gun Crime

This report, compiled by Euronews, examines the latest data on gun crime across the European Union, comparing which countries and capitals — including Valletta — rank among the safest and…

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