EU

Macron and EU leaders to insist on tough enforcement rules for any trade deal with Britain

French President Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders will insist on tough enforcement rules for any trade deal with Britain, warning that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's bid to override the…

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EU’s Dombrovskis tells US to withdraw tariffs

The European Union's new trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis has told the U.S. to withdraw tariffs on more than $7 billion of EU products or face additional duties on exports to…

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European Commission says that Turkey’s EU membership bid is evaporating

The European Union's executive said on Tuesday that Turkey's government was undermining its economy, eroding democracy and destroying independent courts, leaving Ankara's bid to join the EU further away than…

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EU sanctions ‘a small victory’ – Belarusian opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya

European Union sanctions against 40 officials in Belarus are "a small victory" but should be widened, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Monday, adding she would press Germany's Angela Merkel…

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EU: ‘Team Europe’ recovery package reaches €36 billion

'Team Europe' package has been mobilised to almost €36 billion to support partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. The objective of the “Team Europe”…

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Germany expects EU to impose new sanctions against Russia over Navalny’s poisoning

Germany expects the European Union to impose new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny with an internationally banned nerve agent, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said…

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Von Der Leyen and Johnson discuss post-Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, instructed their negotiators to work intensively to try to bridge the gaps that remain between the…

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Powerbroker Aguila Saleh removed from EU’s Libya Sanction List

The European Union on Friday removed an east Libyan powerbroker from its sanctions blacklist to encourage peace efforts and ensure the EU plays a central role in any negotiated settlement…

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Could you imagine Malta without the EU during the pandemic?

by DENISE GRECH interview with DR. ELENA GRECH EU member states were frozen when the Coronavirus pandemic first hit, European Commission Representation head Elena Grech said. The European Commission was…

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Brexit persistent serious divergences highlighted by Barnier after round of talks

"Persistent serious divergences" between the UK and the European Union remain, the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator said on Friday after the latest round of talks ended. Michel Barnier flagged in a…

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EU Commission seeks to strengthen role of education in recovery

The European Commission adopted two initiatives that will strengthen the contribution of education and training to the EU's recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and help build a green and digital…

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EU launches new Customs Union Action Plan

The European Commission has launched a new Customs Union Action Plan setting out a series of measures to make EU customs smarter, more innovative and more efficient over the next…

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Hungary says new EU proposal on rule of law conditions ‘unacceptable’

Hungary considers a new proposal by the European Union presidency to tie future EU aid to rule of law conditions to be “unacceptable,” Justice Minister Judit Varga said on Tuesday.…

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Google offers concessions in fresh bid to win EU okay for Fitbit deal

Alphabet unit Google has offered concessions for a second time in a bid to address EU antitrust regulators' concerns about its bid for fitness tracker maker Fitbit, a European Commission filing showed on…

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Hungary PM calls for resignation of European Commissioner over ‘derogatory’ remarks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called for the resignation of European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova over what he described as her "derogatory public statements" about democracy in Hungary.…

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Financial Services: EU seeks to boost Capital Markets Union

The European Commission has published a new, ambitious Action Plan to boost the European Union's Capital Markets Union (CMU) over the coming years. Developing the EU's capital markets, and ensuring…

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Johnson should rip up Brexit divorce deal, think-tank says

An influential pro-hard Brexit think-tank urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to tear up his divorce deal with the European Union on Saturday, saying it would still allow the bloc too…

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EU migration pact ‘bows to’ anti-migration governments

Anti-poverty organisation Oxfam said that the EU has bowed to pressure from anti-migration governments. “The tragic fire, which completely destroyed Moria refugee camp in Greece, has exposed Europe’s failure to uphold…

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EU Summit postponed after President Michel goes into coronavirus quarantine

European Council President Charles Michel postponed a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday and Friday until the start of October after going into coronavirus quarantine due to contact with an infected security…

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EU foreign policy chief ‘will do whatever he can’ for Belarus sanctions

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he will do whatever he can for sanctions against Belarus to be adopted. "It is becoming a personal commitment because I understand clearly…

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EP negotiators still pushing for better long-term EU budget

During the fourth trilateral talks with Council and Commission, the European Parliament’s negotiators underline that a lot remains to be done before an acceptable agreement can be reached. “During this…

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Nobody is born racist – Commissioner Dalli

Nobody is born racist. It is not a characteristic, which we are born with. So it is a question of nurture, and not nature. And this action plan, together with…

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EU set to miss Monday’s deadline for sanctions on Belarus

The European Union is likely to miss its own Monday deadline for imposing sanctions on Belarus, three diplomatic sources told Reuters, stalled by a lack of unanimity among member states…

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Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder is a shame for the European values – Charles Michel

What happened is a shame for the European values : the rule of law, the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press. European Council President pays tribute to Maltese…

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Ireland’s Golfgate can reveal a more responsive EU

by Aimee Donnellan via Reuters Breakingviews The “Double Standards Arms” features in a currently popular Irish video. At this pub, a golfer explains, our 81-person party doesn’t actually break the…

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Maduro says election postponement is impossible

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday said it would be "impossible" to delay parliamentary elections planned for Dec. 6, after the European Union suggested pushing back the vote to meet…

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Ask government to end quarantine and embrace coordinated restrictions – IATA to EC President

Leaders of Europe’s coronavirus-stricken travel and tourism industries have appealed to the EU’s chief executive to press governments to end quarantine requirements and instead embrace coordinated restrictions and testing. “This…

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Ursula Von der Leyen ‘convinced’ EU and UK can still reach trade deal

The president of the European Commission on Thursday said she was convinced a trade deal with the UK was still possible despite the “distraction” caused by Boris Johnson’s move to…

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EU to grant Britain temporary Euro clearing access until June 2022 – sources

The European Union is expected to grant clearing houses in Britain access to the bloc's market for 18 months from January, industry sources said on Tuesday. Britain left the EU…

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EU top court gives thumbs up to net neutrality rules

Europe's highest court on Tuesday gave its backing to the European Union's net neutrality rules which require telecoms operators to treat all Internet traffic equally, dealing a blow to the…

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EPP wants digital or financial transactions tax back on EU agenda

The centre-right EPP Group will vote in favour of setting up a binding calendar for introducing revenues such as a digital tax on big international tech companies, a levy on…

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New EU migration pact will prioritise keeping people in their own countries

The European Commission said that a new migration and asylum pact will try to keep people from entering the bloc. European Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life Margaritis…

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No guarantee that EU will allow for UK food imports – Brexit negotiator

The European Union has made it clear there is no guarantee it will add Britain to its list of approved third countries for food imports, London’s top Brexit negotiator David…

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Blair and Major urge Johnson to drop ‘shocking’ plan its withdrawal agreement with EU

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major said on Sunday Britain must drop a "shocking" plan to pass legislation that breaks its divorce treaty with the European Union, in…

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European Commission to propose more ambitious 2030 climate goal

The European Commission will propose that the European Union sets a 2030 target of cutting its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% against 1990 levels, according to an internal document…

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EU countries lost €140 billion in VAT revenues in 2018, with a potential increase in 2020 due to coronavirus

EU countries lost an estimated €140 billion in Value-Added Tax (VAT) revenues in 2018, according to a new report released by the European Commission today. Though still extremely high, the…

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EU finances transfer of 400 unaccompanied minors after fire in Greek refugee camp

The EU has agreed to finance the transfer of 400 unaccompanied minors after a fire in Greece's refugee camp. The EU's Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johannson made the announcement after…

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Spain pushes for EU harmonisation of COVID travel measures, foreign minister says

Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Tuesday her government was pushing for a European Union harmonisation of COVID-19 travel measures to limit problems for tourists and tourism operators.…

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Legal experts warn UK could be sanctioned if it breaches Brexit Treaty

The latest developments in the Brexit dispute which threatened to put the whole process into confusion could even end up at the European Court of Justice, if British Prime Minister…

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Von der Leyen warns the UK against overriding Brexit agreement

The European Union told Britain on Monday that there would be no trade deal if it tried to tinker with the Brexit divorce treaty, raising the prospect of a tumultuous…

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Young translators at EU schools – Commission opens registration for 2020 translation contest

The European Commission announced the launch of its annual translation contest for secondary school students from across Europe, Juvenes Translatores. Schools from all EU countries will be able to register…

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Mediaset can now join single broadband network project in Italy

Italian media group Mediaset could join the single broadband network that the government wants to create, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday, adding that rules on telecoms ownership in…

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EU foreign policy chief: ‘US sanctions on International Criminal Court are unacceptable’

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the US' sanctions on the International Criminal Court's prosecutors are 'unacceptable and unprecedented'. The measures seek to "obstruct the court's investigations and judicial…

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Greece reports first coronavirus case in one of island’s largest camp

A 40-year-old man has tested positive in one of the largest migrant camps in Greece, reports said. The man, originally from Somalia, is living at the Moria camp in Lesvos.…

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EU: Bulgarian Greens leader ‘violently arrested’ during peaceful demonstration

Borislav Sandov, co-chair of Zeleno dvizhenie (Bulgarian Greens), was “violently arrested” while taking part in a peaceful demonstration in front of the Bulgarian parliament, the European Greens said. Three other members…

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EU foreign policy chief in Libya to insist on peace talks

The EU's High Representative Josep Borrell was in Libya yesterday to resume political dialogue in an effort to end conflict in the country. He met with the Prime Minister of…

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France Foreign Minister blames UK for stalemate in Brexit talks

France’s foreign minister on Monday blamed the stalemate in Brexit talks on what he called Britain’s intransigent and unrealistic attitude. Negotiations between Britain and the European Union on future relations…

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Johnson signals that a Brexit Deal became ‘very difficult’

Boris Johnson has signalled that the UK is currently heading towards a no-deal Brexit as progress in negotiations with the EU has become "very difficult", The Independent reports. The prime minister's spokesperson said an agreement…

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353 migrants disembark in Italy

Over 300 migrants are set to disembark in Pozzallo, after Italy agreed to take in the rescue boats Louise Michel and Sea-Watch. The boat, funded by British artist Banksy had…

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Advisors warn that EU’s microplastics ban needs to be smaller

A draft EU ban on microplastics would allow industry to use even smaller particles in cosmetics, detergents and paints, which could be more damaging than the tiny pieces of plastic…

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EU will be able to recall vehicles if they breach EU emissions limits

The European Commission will be able to recall vehicles and potentially revoke their roadworthiness certifications if they breach EU emissions limits, under new rules that apply from Tuesday and aim…

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ComuniqEU – Foreign Affairs – EU welcomes Libyan ceasefire, calls for resumption of full oil production

by Keith Zahra From CorporateDispatch PRO EU welcomes Libyan ceasefire, calls for resumption of full oil production The EU has welcomed the Libyan ceasefire announced earlier this week. In a…

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EU looking into legal action against Cyprus citizenship-investment scheme

EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said that he was looking into the possibility of legal action against Cyprus over the country's citizenship-through-investment scheme, Al Jazeera reported. Talking to the broadcaster,…

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Brexit is far from over for the UK and EU member states

When it comes to Brexit, Brussels is still hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. The seventh formal round of post-Brexit talks ended last week in a familiar stalemate and mutual…

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EU considering sanctions against Turkey over oil drilling in East Med

The EU is considering imposing economic sanctions against Turkey over its gas drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean while urging Ankara to engage in a dialogue, the bloc’s foreign policy…

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EU secures AstraZeneca’s potential COVID-19 vaccine

The European Commission has made a 336 million euro ($396 million) downpayment to British drug maker AstraZeneca to secure at least 300 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, a…

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Merkel tells Russia to investigate suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic – UPDATED

Updated 1411 - Russia refutes calls for investigation The Kremlin said on Tuesday it saw no need for now to investigate the circumstances leading up to opposition politician Alexei Navalny's…

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