EU

Matteo Salvini wants that EU sanctions against Russia are dropped by end 2018

Politico: The Italian government would “not be afraid” to use its veto powers in the EU as a “last resort” to push the bloc into lifting sanctions against Russia, Interior Minister…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning Our morning briefing for today focuses on the main points following the US - Russia summit where comments by US President Trump were deemed as treasonous. On the…

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Eu and China agree to further develop the EU-China strategic partnership

The EU and China agreed to further develop the EU-China strategic partnership at the 20th EU-China summit. Leaders expressed their joint support for rules-based tradeand reaffirmed their joint engagement to reform the World…

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European Commission calls on Airbnb to align themselves with EU consumer rules

The European Commission and EU consumer authorities are calling on Airbnb to align their terms and conditions with EU consumer rules and be transparent on their presentation of prices. Airbnb…

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Donald Tusk urges US President and Putin to avoid conflict and chaos through destruction of World order

AP: European Council President Donald Tusk on Monday urged President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and China to work with Europe to avoid trade wars and prevent conflict and chaos.…

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Trump told May that she should sue EU

BBC: The US president said on Friday at a joint news conference he had given Mrs May a suggestion - but she had found it too "brutal". Asked by the…

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Di Maio warns that a majority of Italian Parliamentarians will vote against EU-Canada free trade deal

Italy's deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio said that a majority in parliament would reject an EU-Canada free trade deal, thereby threatening to scupper the entire agreement. "Soon the CETA…

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Theresa May’s Brexit plan also dismissed by key ‘Remainers’

The Guardian Britain’s former trade commissioner in Brussels, Lord Mandelson, is making common cause with hardline, anti-EU Tories, saying Theresa May’s latest Brexit blueprint would lead to “national humiliation” and leave the country…

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EU pushes ahead with ‘Disembarkation platforms’ outside Europe to stop illegal migration

Financial Times: European interior ministers have vowed to intensify the fight against illegal immigration by pushing ahead with the creation of “platforms” outside the continent to stop migrants arriving into the…

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EU budget for 2019 approved by Council

On 11 July 2018, EU ambassadors agreed the Council's position on the 2019 EU draft budget in advance of negotiations with the European Parliament. In total, the Council foresees €164.1…

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Juncker’s Task Force on Subsidiarity and proportionality finalises report on EU’s operations way forward

The Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and 'Doing Less, More Efficiently', chaired by First Vice-President Timmermans, handed over its final report to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The report responds to…

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The Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning The successful rescue operation in Thailand ended successfully, highlighting a number of 'human traits' that at times are overshadowed by the dullness of other happenings around us. This…

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Senior ministers and Merkel endorse May

Reuters: British Prime Minister Theresa May won the support of senior ministers and an endorsement from Europe's most powerful leader, Angela Merkel, on Tuesday, surviving the explosive resignations of two top…

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Trump visits Europe for summits with NATO and Russia against a backdrop of ‘geopolitical disruption’

AP: President Donald Trump launched a weeklong Europe trip Tuesday with harsh criticism for NATO allies and predicted predicted that his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin “may be the…

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British Government Crisis – The Beginning

The News of the Resignation of Davis The Telegraph : Theresa May's Government is in deep crisis after David Davis dramatically resigned as Brexit Secretary on Sunday night. Mr Davis shocked…

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EU has not fulfilled commitments to provide equipment to Libyan Coast Guards – Libyan Navy Spokesman

Euronews: The EU has not "fulfilled any commitments" to provide the Libyan Coast Guards with equipment to help stem the flow of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, a spokesman for…

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EU Summit – Maltese Prime Minister Muscat comments to Corporate Dispatch

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who was one of the first to announce the agreement in the early hours of Friday expressed his views to Corporate Dispatch that the conclusions…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Our morning briefing for Friday 29th June follows: News about an agreement between European Leaders on migration during the European Council meeting broke at dawn. It was…

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EU Summit – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Comments

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is reported to be satisfied by the deal. "It was a long negotiation but from today Italy is no longer alone." He listed the elements…

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EU Summit – Angela Merkel Comments

In comments reported by Euronews, Angela Merkel said "Overall, after an intensive discussion on the most challenging theme for the European Union, namely migration, it is a good signal that…

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EU Summit: Malta’s Prime Minister Muscat Comments

Malta's Prime Minister Muscat tweeted "In #EUCO conclusions, all #EU Member States agree that vessels operating in the #Mediterranean must respect the applicable laws and not obstruct operations of #Libya…

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Brexit negotiations cannot go on with divided British Cabinet – Juncker

The Guardian Brexit negotiations cannot go on with a divided British cabinet, Jean-Claude Juncker has said, as European leaders expressed concern that they do not know who is in charge. With major…

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EU Summit Agenda- Migration & Security

Migration Leaders will discuss migration policy. They are expected to underline the need for a comprehensive approach to migration and the importance of effective control at the EU's external borders. The heads of…

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Opinion – EU Summit June 18

Politico: June is not supposed to be the rainy season in Brussels. Migration and asylum. Eurozone. Brexit. Poland and the rule of law. A trade war with Washington. The EU’s long-term…

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Wednesday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Here is our Wednesday's morning briefing. The Malta Independent and The Times report the latest developments about the MV Lifeline. The Independent focuses on the fact Malta yesterday signalled its willingness…

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Cautious green light given to open accession negotiations with Albania and Macedonia

The door to EU membership for Albania and Macedonia remains closed at least until June 2019, but accession is on offer if the countries make progress on reforms, EU ministers decided Tuesday.…

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Macron and Conte meet to defuse tension between the two over immigration

A report on Financial Times says that Giuseppe Conte and Emmanuel Macron held an unscheduled dinner this week to defuse tension over immigration — the issue convulsing European politics and which threatens…

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EC to EU27 : Prepare airports and aviation sector for ‘no-deal’ Brexit

POLITICO: EU countries should prepare their airports and aviation sector for a “no-deal” Brexit, the European Commission told diplomats at a briefing earlier this month. The warning came during a June…

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Austrian’s EU Presidency to push hardline migration policy

Financial Times: Syrians, Afghans and African nationals seeking refuge in the EU would have to file their asylum applications before entering the bloc under radical migration proposals put forward by Austria’s government.…

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Tuesday Morning Briefing

Good morning Our morning review Three magistrates were promoted to judges and three lawyers were sworn in as magistrates in a ceremony that took place at the Palace in Valletta.…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning The EU Summit about Migration and the Turkish Elections are the main events which perhaps characterised the latest hours with developments taking place during the night and news…

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Eu Migration Summit

An emergency mini summit Sunday of EU leaders seeking a common solution on migration yielded a breakthrough, of sorts: a general agreement to stop seeking an overall, common solution. It…

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QuoVadis Europa on Migration? Political Views from Malta

Malta’s Prime Minister said that Europe is yet again facing uncertain times not because of too much Europe but because of too little of it. This is not simply…

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BREXIT – EU citizens living in the UK and their family members will need to apply to obtain a new UK immigration status

The UK Home Office has published much-awaited details of the settlement scheme for EU citizens after Britain exits the EU in March 2019. Under the deal, outlined on Thursday, EU…

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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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Saudi Arabia to to hold regional summit to discuss Jordan’s economic crisis

Saudi Arabia will host a regional summit to discuss the ongoing economic crisis in Jordan, where a proposed income tax rise recently triggered some of the largest protests in years.…

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G7 – The Confusion after the storm

Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the US had withdrawn its endorsement of a joint communiqué and launched a blistered attack on the Canadian Prime Minister. Trump described Trudeau as…

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G7’s media reports show the different currents and converging points reflecting global political uncertain times

Sky News and The Guardian said that G7 countries have agreed to a "rapid and unified" response to hostile actions by Russia in the wake of the nerve agent attack in Salisbury. Sky…

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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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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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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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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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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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#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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EU committed to Iranian nuclear deal; wants the US to exempt the bloc from steel tariffs

The EU remains firmly committed to the Iranian nuclear deal, and it wants the US to permanently exempt the bloc from steel tariffs. Donald Tusk, the European Council president said…

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EU proposes upgrade for Visa Information System

The European Commission proposed to upgrade the Visa Information System (VIS), the database containing information on persons applying for Schengen visas, in order to better respond to evolving security and…

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The clash of the Donalds – With friends like this, who needs enemies? Donald Tusk on Donald Trump

“Looking at the latest decisions of Trump, someone could even think: With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council didn't leave much to anyone's imagination to…

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Iran Nuclear Deal – US doesn’t exclude sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran

The US administration is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran following his withdrawal of the US from the international nuclear deal. Trump’s most senior foreign policy aides…

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Which head of state is paid most?

A selection of Heads of State and Government for the 35 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) were surveyed for their income and how their salaries fare between them…

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DiscoverEU – 15,000 teenagers to benefit from free Interrail pass

The European Commission took its first steps towards implementing a scheme that will give 15,000 teenagers a free Interrail pass once they turn 18 at the start of 2018. This…

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BREXIT – Britain will be unable to leave customs union before 2023

The Telegraph reports that the Cabinet's Brexit sub-committee informed ministers that Britain will be unable to leave the customs union before 2023. This sparked fears that the delay will be…

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Malta fl-Ewropa – 14-il sena wara. Riflessjonijiet

Erbatax-il sena ilu, Malta saret membru sħiħ tal-Unjoni Ewropeja. Kien mument storiku li għext mill-viċin u kellu tifsira kbira għal pajjiżi u għalija. Tul dawn l-erbatax-il sena pajjiżi inbidel u…

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EU Commission proposes new rules to facilitate free movement of companies, safeguarding against unfair treatment of employees and tax evasion

The European Commission has proposed new rules aimed at facilitating the free movement of companies within the Union. This proposal seeks to harmonise rules on moving, merging and dividing companies…

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Europe Explained – EU Enlargement Process Update

While it is generally known that the European Union is on a continuing path to further enlargement, few are those that know which process precedes a country becoming effectively a…

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European Citizen’s Initiative to address concern about use of toxic pesticides

Growing concern has been mounting among citizens of the EU on the use of toxic pesticides and their effect on people and the environment. This led to a European Citizens’…

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