EU

UK’s Frost says EU needs to change tack for N.Ireland talks

British negotiator David Frost said on Sunday that the European Union needs to change its attitude if talks this week on the Northern Irish Brexit protocol are to be successful.…

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EU ambassador to UK says trust is low ahead of Brexit talks

The European Union's ambassador to the United Kingdom said on Sunday that levels of trust between the two powers was low ahead of Brexit talks on the Northern Ireland protocol…

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Ireland confident G7 tax deal won’t dent multinational investment

DUBLIN, June 5 (Reuters) - Ireland's finance minister said he remained confident the country's low-tax economy would continue to attract multinational investment and jobs even as an overhaul of global corporation tax rules moved a major step closer on…

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Germany backs carbon pricing in EU climate policy overhaul – document

The German government is backing an extension of European Union carbon pricing and an end to free carbon permits for airlines as the bloc prepares new measures to help meet…

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France to allow vaccinated travellers from EU countries without need for tests

Fully-vaccinated travellers from EU countries will be able to enter France without taking a COVID test from 9 June, in line with new rules published on Friday. With these new regulations people…

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Therese Comodini Cachia to quit politics / Malta News Briefing – Friday 4 June 2021

Afternoon Portal Review The Times of Malta reports that Nationalist MP Therese Comodini Cachia revealed on Friday she will not be contesting the upcoming general election, less than a year…

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Large majority of Maltese satisfied with EU response to pandemic

A large majority of the Maltese population said they were satisfied with the EU's response to the pandemic and want the Union to have a greater role in combating similar…

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EU delays including UK to Covid ‘white list’ due to fears of Delta variant

The EU has delayed putting the UK on a “white list” of countries from where non-essential travel into the bloc is approved because of concerns about the rise in cases…

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EU to kick off pandemic plan with 10 bln euro bond issue -French minister

The European Union plans to kick off its 750 billion euro ($917 billion) pandemic recovery package with an initial 10 billion euro bond issue, France's junior minister for European affairs,…

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EU approves use of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine for children 12 and up

Children aged 12 and up in the European Union can be administered with the Covid-19 vaccine made by BioNTech/Pfizer after the European Commission granted its approval on Monday."Member states can now…

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Belarus airline chief decries airspace restrictions by EU states

The head of Belarusian national airline Belavia on Saturday condemned as "despicable" the decision by numerous EU countries to impose airspace restrictions on the carrier following the forced landing of…

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EU regulator oks Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 12-year-olds

Europe's medicines regulator on Friday backed the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12, paving the way for a broader roll-out in the region after similar…

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EU outlines a €3 billion economic support package to a future democratic Belarus

Today, the European Commission is presenting to the Council its outline for a comprehensive plan of economic support to a future democratic Belarus. The plan, of up to €3 billion, reflects…

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EU seeks large AstraZeneca fine for alleged contract breach

BRUSSELS, May 26 (Reuters) - A lawyer for the European Union accused AstraZeneca on Wednesday of failing to respect its contract with the 27-nation bloc for the supply of COVID-19…

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EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss Belarus response

The European Union could decide to sanction Belarus once again on Monday evening after the country forced a Ryanair flight to land and detained a Belarusian opposition journalist on board. The…

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EU leaders to discuss Ryanair forced landing at Monday summit

European Union leaders will discuss the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Belarus at a summit in Brussels on Monday, the Council's chairman Charles Michel said. "EU leaders will…

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Forced Ryanair landing must have consequences, EU Commissioner says

The forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk must have consequences, the European Union's Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said on Sunday, after Lithuania called for EU countries to recommend…

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Malta: Country has lowest COVID-19 case and death rate in the EU

Malta now has the lowest COVID-19 infection and death rates in Europe, after the number of new cases continued to drop in recent weeks. The details emerged from fresh weekly…

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MEP wants stronger privacy rights in proposed EU tech rules

Proposed EU rules targeting Facebook, Google and other large online platforms should include privacy rights for users as well as their right to anonymity, a key EU lawmaker steering the…

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European Parliament gives final approval to bloc’s green transition fund

The European Parliament on Tuesday formally approved the European Union's multi-billion euro fund to support countries as they wind down fossil fuel industries, as the bloc overhauls its economy to…

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EU to seek Israel-Palestinian peace talks with US, Russia – Malta foreign Minister Bartolo

An emergency European Union video meeting on Tuesday is set to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, offer more humanitarian aid and try to relaunch…

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Concern over detentions of EU nationals by UK on immigration grounds

The European Commission will raise the recent detentions of EU nationals at U.K. airports on immigration grounds with the British government at a coming meeting, MEPs said. POLITICO had revealed…

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EU urges Israelis and Palestinians to prevent broader conflict

BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) - The European Union's foreign policy chief on Wednesday called for an immediate end to violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories that has killed…

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EU confident of COVID-19 travel certificate for summer

The European Commission expects to finish work soon on a COVID-19 certificate that could allow citizens to travel more easily this summer in the 27-nation bloc, the EU executive said…

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UK calls on EU to show pragmatism over N.Ireland trade

Britain called on Tuesday for the European Union to show pragmatism over the issue of Northern Irish trade, which has been disrupted by rules imposed since a Brexit deal agreed…

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EU countries want emissons target to remain linked to wealth

European Union countries will ask the European Commission to keep national emissions targets linked to their levels of wealth as it crafts plans to overhaul EU climate policies, according to a draft document. The…

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EU and Japan discuss education, culture and sport

Today, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, held a videoconference with the Japanese Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Koichi Hagiuda, to discuss EU-Japan cooperation…

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EU has not ordered AstraZeneca vaccines beyond June – Commissioner

The European Union has not made any new orders for AstraZeneca vaccines beyond June when their contract ends, European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Sunday, after the EU…

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9 new Covid-19 cases as 60% of the population is vaccinated / Malta News Briefing – Sunday 9 May 2021

Update - Vouchers to be distributed on 7th June A second round of government-issed €100 vouchers will be announced over the coming days, the Prime Minister announced on Sunday. "Over…

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EU governments adopt Porto declaration on jobs, social rights

The heads of state and government of the European Union attending the informal summit in Porto adopted a declaration proclaiming their determination to implement a European pillar of social rights,…

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EU Agenda

Tuesday 04 May- Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi holds a conference call with Executive Director of FRONTEX, Fabrice Leggeri. Wednesday 05 May- Commissioner Helena Dalli holds a videoconference call with representatives of…

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EU court to rule May 12 on Amazon, Engie appeals against tax orders

BRUSSELS, April 30 (Reuters) - Europe's second-highest court will rule on May 12 on Amazon.com Inc's appeal of an EU order to pay about 250 million euros ($300.5 million) in…

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Spain submits recovery plan to Brussels

FT - Spain has sent Brussels its landmark plan to spend €140bn from the EU coronavirus recovery fund as Pedro Sánchez’s government seeks to respond to criticism that it has…

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Italy submits its Recovery Plan to EU Commission just before deadline

ROME, May 1 (Reuters) - Italy submitted its Recovery Plan to the European Commission late on Friday, a government spokesman said, just getting the document to Brussels within the April…

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EU budget commissioner calls for revision of the bloc’s debt rules

Berlin (dpa) - EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn has called for a reform of the EU’s Growth and Stability Pact in order to create more flexible rules for countries deep…

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EU’s Vestager says solution over Alitalia replacement possible

BRUSSELS, April 30 (Reuters) - EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said on Friday that she believed that a solution regardingItaly's plan to set up a new airline to replace cash-strapped…

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Sant calls for less confrontation as he abstains on EP resolution on Russia

Alfred Sant has abstained on a European Parliament resolution on Russia and said that the way forward for the EU and Russia should be less confrontational and more objective. In explaining…

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UPDATE – EU Presidents condemn Russia’s move – Statement

The President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Parliament condemned in the strongest possible terms today’s decision of the Russian…

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Sassoli, Jourova among 8 EU citizens barred in retaliation by Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Friday barred eight officials from European Union countries from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU. Russia's foreign ministry said…

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EU explores chipmaker alliance as alternative to foreign-funded megafab

PARIS/BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - The European Union is considering creating a semiconductor alliance including STMicroelectronics, NXP, Infineon and ASML to cut dependence on foreign chipmakers amid a global supply…

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Russia, China sow disinformation to undermine trust in Western vaccines, EU report says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russian and Chinese media are systematically seeking to sow mistrust in Western COVID-19 vaccines in their latest disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing the West, a European Union report said on Wednesday. From December to April, the two countries' state media…

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