EU

Thailand expects to complete free trade talks with EU next year, PM says

Thailand expects to complete negotiations over a free trade agreement with the European Union in 2025, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to draw trade…

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EU leads call for probe into Navalny’s death at UN human rights body

A group of more than 40 countries reiterated calls for Russia to allow an independent international investigation into the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison. The call was…

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Ukraine expects to get 16 bln euro in 2024 from EU, says PM

KYIV, March 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine expects to get 16 billion euros ($17.30 billion) this year from the European Union under its four-year loan facility, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said…

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Farmers protest across Europe, press ministers to act

Farmers blocked a border crossing between Poland and Germany, threw bottles at police in Brussels and gathered in Madrid to demand action on cheap supermarket prices and what they say…

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Most influencers fail to admit to advertising, EU study shows

Four out of five influencers on social media fail to disclose commercial content they post is advertising as required under EU law, a European Union study released on Wednesday showed.…

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EU to step up efforts for more carbon markets worldwide

The European Union will increase diplomatic efforts to help countries outside the bloc to launch carbon markets in the hope of fostering international trade of CO2 emissions, the bloc's climate…

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EU lawmakers back political deal on artificial intelligence rules

Two key committees of lawmakers at the European Parliament on Tuesday backed a provisional agreement on landmark artificial intelligence rules ahead of a vote by the legislative assembly in April.…

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EU’s Vestager doubts if Big Tech will fully comply with landmark EU rules

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Thursday voiced doubts as to whether Big Tech will fully comply with landmark EU rules aimed at reining in their power and ensure a…

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EU seeks to agree key path towards green industry goals

European Union policymakers began final negotiations on Tuesday on new rules to promote local production of equipment for solar and wind power, fuel cells and other clean technologies and ensure…

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EU cautions against trade measures to support solar sector

The European Union needs to take into account its ambitious targets for solar power deployment before it considers any measures to curb imports of photovoltaic panels, wafers and other components, a…

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Potential Muscat immunity will not be impediment to justice – Casa

MEP David Casa has warned former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that should the latter seek to shield himself with parliamentary immunity, he would be at the forefront in ensuring the…

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EU moves closer towards stronger AML package

The European Union has inched closer towards a deal on a new anti-money laundering package, following a key agreement reached between the Council and the European Parliament. The institutions described…

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Euro zone banks expect rebound in mortgage applications – ECB

Euro zone banks expect a small rebound in the demand for mortgages and loans to companies early this year as a slump in lending shows early signs of moderating, a…

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EU draws up economic security plans, with mind on China

The European Commission will set out plans on Wednesday to bolster the European Union's economic security through closer scrutiny of foreign investment and tighter controls on exports and outflows of…

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Most euro zone banks face risk from climate complacency, ECB finds

Most big banks in Europe are failing to adjust their business to the looming decarbonisation of the bloc's economy and thus face increased financial, reputational and legal risk, the European…

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Big Tech should seek rivals’ input on complying with EU rules, European businesses say

Schibsted, Allegro and more than 20 other small European companies and industry groups on Tuesday urged Big Tech to seek their input into how it plans to comply with new…

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100 million Europeans set to benefit from Disability Card Directive, asserts MEP David Casa

The Disability Card Directive cleared an important hurdle as the Employment and Social Affairs Committee unanimously approved the European Parliament’s report on the new law. “Equality is a core value…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says EU will ‘stall’ Ukraine, Moldova accession

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was on Tuesday cited as saying the European Union would stall Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU, adding that Ankara had long earned the right…

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EU sets critical mineral goals, but faces struggle to hit them

The European Union has set targets to dig up, recycle and refine lithium, cobalt and other metals it needs for its green transition, but a shortage of new money, crippling…

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EU begin to hash out EU AI Act details starting Tuesday

Days after EU countries and lawmakers agreed on a provisional deal on artificial intelligence rules, experts from both sides are meeting on Tuesday to hammer out details, according to three…

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Pause or paralysis? EU-Mercosur hitch stalls EU trade momentum

Just a week after hailing approval of a trade agreement with New Zealand as a sign the European Union's free trade ambitions were back on track, a hitch in a…

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ECB’s Lagarde warns against premature inflation celebration

The European Central Bank has time now to assess how inflation unfolds after a record string of rate hikes but victory has not yet been won and bets based on short term…

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Euro zone to tighten fiscal policy in 2024, some still to spend too much

Euro zone fiscal policy will be tighter on aggregate next year but several countries, including France and Italy, plan to spend too much, breaking EU recommendations, the European Commission said…

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EU antitrust regulators raid online food delivery companies, probe no poach deals

EU regulators on Tuesday raided several online food delivery companies in two EU countries on concerns that they may have breached EU rules against cartels, with the focus also on their no poach agreements. The European…

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EU loophole lets banks dodge ECB’s crypto supervision, needs fixing -Enria

EU rules to protect the financial system from risks stemming from cryptocurrencies contain a loophole that allows banks to circumvent some safeguards and should be fixed urgently, the European Central Bank's chief…

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EU agrees rules to secure critical raw materials amid race with China, US

EU countries and lawmakers at the European Parliament on Monday clinched a deal on rules to secure the bloc's supply of critical raw materials ranging from aluminium to lithium, amid…

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EU pledges ‘substantial’ contribution to COP28 climate damage fund

The European Union will make a "substantial" financial contribution to a new international fund addressing the destruction caused by climate change, the EU's executive Commission said on Monday. The world-first…

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EU’s 20 billion euro plan for Ukraine military aid hits resistance

A European Union plan to spend up to 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion) on military aid for Ukraine is meeting resistance from EU countries and may not survive in its current form, diplomats say.Josep…

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MEPs want all countries to strengthen their climate commitments

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has adopted its demands for the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, which will take stock of the progress on implementing the Paris Agreement.…

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Germany’s Baerbock says EU needs deep reforms to prepare for future

Major reforms of the European Union are needed to secure the future of the bloc against geopolitical changes, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday at a conference on…

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China, US and EU agree to work together on AI safety at UK summit

China agreed to work with the United States, European Union and other countries to collectively manage the risk from artificial intelligence at a British summit on Wednesday aimed at charting a…

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EU, US rally support for global deal to triple renewable energy

The European Union, United States and the United Arab Emirates' COP28 climate summit hosts are rallying other governments to join a global deal to triple renewable energy this decade at the…

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Australia, EU say trade deal likely years away after rejecting terms

Australia has rejected European Union proposals for a free trade agreement, and a deal is now unlikely to be reached for several years, Australian government ministers said. Australia's agriculture minister, Murray…

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Scholz, von der Leyen urge Western Balkans to overcome conflicts and ‘grab opportunity’

Germany and the European Union urged the Western Balkan countries on Monday (October 16) to “overcome” their conflicts and to “Grab the opportunity” to move closer towards the European Union.At the so…

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Germany wants EU to push Member States to cut debt levels faster

The European Commission's proposed reform to European Union fiscal rules should take into account the new economic conditions in the euro zone, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Monday…

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EU seeks to ease US tariff, green subsidy threats

The European Union will seek this week to ward off the return of Trump-era metals tariffs and to lessen the negative impact on the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and…

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EU leaders back Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law

The European Union's national leaders back Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law, they said in a statement issued on Sunday."The European Union condemns in the strongest…

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Updated – Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 11 October 2023

Updated 1245 Government initiates process to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to become Mayors The government has initiated the legislative process aimed at allowing local councillors aged 16 or 17 to…

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EU will do ‘as much as possible’ to drive out fossil fuels, climate chief says

The European Union will do all it can to halt fossil fuel use as part of its "ambitious" position at the upcoming COP28 climate summit, the EU's new climate chief…

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Italy battles for flexible EU budget rules as bond spreads widen

Italy is lobbying its European Union partners with increasing urgency to approve more flexible budget rules, according to government sources, as bond spreads widen and Rome fears that deviations from its…

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Proposed EU green chief Sefcovic: hopes EU can set 90% target for emissions cuts by 2040

European Commission Executive Vice President Maros Sefcovic, the proposed EU green deal chief, said on Tuesday he hoped the European Union could set a target for to cut emissions by…

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Tunisia rejects EU financial aid, casting doubt on an immigration deal

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday rejected financial support announced by the European Union in September, saying the amount is small and goes against a deal signed three months ago. Saied's move…

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Zelenskiy says cooperation with EU vital for victory, Kyiv needs defence support

A Ukrainian victory in its war with Russia depends on cooperation with the European Union, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told EU foreign ministers gathered in Kyiv on Monday. Zelenskiy also underlined the importance of…

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Resist Russian disinformation as elections loom, EU tells Big Tech

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova on Tuesday urged Alphabet's Google, Microsoft, Meta Platforms and TikTok to do more to tackle what she called Russia's "multi-million euro weapon of mass…

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Weaker growth levels in EU to continue in 2024

The European Commission has revised its economic growth projections for the eurozone, forecasting a deceleration to 0.8 percent in the current year and an increase to 1.3 percent in 2024.…

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EU ministers agree watered-down position on vehicle emissions

European Union ministers agreed on Monday to water down an initial European Commission proposal on new vehicle commissions after eight states including France and Italy said the changes could divert…

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China could do ‘a lot’ to reduce EU perception of risk – EU trade chief

The European Union has no intention of cutting ties with China even as the bloc takes steps to lower economic dependencies and de-risk, but China "could do a lot" to help reduce the perception…

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ECB’s Villeroy: Inflation is a disease, rates medicine starting to work

The European Central Bank will maintain its interest rates at 4% for a sufficiently long time in its bid to bring down inflation, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on…

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MEPs react to Von der Leyen’s SOTEU speech

Leaders of the main European parties represented in the European Parliament reacted to the SOTEU speech delivered earlier today by the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (details here). Martin…

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Digital euro package should be focus of next EU Commission – McGuinness

The European Union's financial services chief said on Wednesday that a draft law to underpin a digital euro should not be rushed out ahead of European elections next June and instead be examined…

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EU lawmakers vote for tougher crackdown on energy market abuse

A committee of European lawmakers on Thursday voted in favor of a tougher crackdown on manipulation in gas and electricity markets which would give an EU agency the teeth to investigate and…

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UPDATE: US, Russia praise G20 summit declaration as meeting heads to close

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan praises declaration U.S. President Joe Biden leaves for Vietnam, misses summit's last session White House says not aware of any talks…

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Euro zone August downturn deeper than was thought -PMIs

The decline in euro zone business activity accelerated faster than initially thought last month as the bloc's dominant services industry fell into contraction, according to a survey which suggests the bloc…

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Poland asks EU’s top court to cancel three climate policies

Poland has filed legal challenges attempting to annul three of the European Union's main climate change policies, which the Polish government argues would worsen social inequality, documents published on Monday…

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Head of European Council says EU must be ready for new members by 2030

The European Union must be ready to admit new member states by 2030, European Council President Charles Michel told a forum in the Slovenian lake resort of Bled on Monday."I…

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EU’s Dombrovskis asks Russia to renew Black Sea grain deal

By Manoj Kumar NEW DELHI, Aug 26 (Reuters) - A senior European Union official urged Russia on Saturday to renew a deal to allow the safe export of Ukrainian grain…

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A strong anti-SLAPP law is non-negotiable, EPP argues

MEPs David Casa and Ramona Strugariu have sounded alarm bells on the rising trends of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) happening against the backdrop of negotiations on an anti-SLAPP…

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