Europe

EU Commission approves €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support insurance market in coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support the domestic credit insurance market in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.…

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Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light

Following the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, the EBU and its Dutch Members NPO, NOS and AVROTROS are excited to confirm they are producing a new show, 'Eurovision:…

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Taiwan donates facemasks to EU

Earlier this week, Taiwan promised it would send face masks to countries in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The first consignment of 8 million masks has arrived in the EU,…

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EU Commission to allow state aid for capital injections in private companies

The European Commission is proposing an extension in the State Aid temporary framework, adopted last month, in its bid to further support European economies in facing the challenges brought by…

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Malta: Pressure for Malta to accept group of immigrants

Two boats carrying 85 and 70 immigrants on board are being rejected by Italy. In several Tweets on social media, the non-governmental organization Alarm Phone has called on the…

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Malta: Foreigners stranded in Malta invited to apply for repatriation flights

The government has offered repatriation flights to foreigners still stranded in Malta. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 4,206 individuals were repatriated over the past three weeks.…

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Flanders minister fires warning shot over EU Green Deal

The European Green Deal could find a bump in the road in the form of the climate minister for Flanders, Zuhal Demir. The Belgian regional Minister of Environment, Energy…

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EU to take up pandemic fight on a global level

The European Commission has set out plans for a robust and targeted EU response to support partner countries' efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. The EU's collective action will focus…

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EP offers its buildings to local communities in support of pandemic response

The European Parliament has offered its building as well as a fleet of cars and lorries to the Brussels regional authorities in its efforts to support the community to deal…

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“European Governments need to do much more” – EP President

After lengthy negotiations at Eurogroup level failed to bring about a unified European response, European President David Sassoli called on for greater responsibility amongst national Governments, urging for the creation…

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EU Commission clamps down on miracle cures

The European Commission gave new powers to consumer protection authorities in member states address deceptive marketing techniques exploiting buyers’ fears amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission is using the full…

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Eurojust supports EU countries to thwart criminal investment scheme

With the support of Eurojust, the EU agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, authorities in Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Serbia have successfully carried out operations against two organised criminal groups suspected…

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EC designates €160 million for security projects by industry

The European Commission launched a €160 million call for proposals for joint defence industrial projects in 2020. The Commission is looking to fund projects in 12 different defence categories including…

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The EU should procure and distribute medical supplies – MEP Miriam Dalli

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread to every corner of the continent, nations and hospitals are struggling to secure the necessary medical equipment required to support the increasing number…

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€8 billion in EU finance for 100,000 SMEs

The European Commission has unlocked €1 billion from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) that will serve as a guarantee to the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the…

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“We won’t leave Europe’s women alone” – European Parliament

The European Parliament's Women’s Rights committee Chair, Evelyn Regner, urged the EU and member states to increase support to victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis. Both globally and…

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Germany urges ‘European solidarity’ to combat economic fallout

The coronavirus is the European Union’s biggest ever challenge and member states must show greater solidarity so that the bloc can emerge stronger from the economic crisis unleashed by the…

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EU supports UN’s Secretary-General call for immediate global ceasefire

The European Union strongly supports the appeal by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for an immediate global ceasefire in light of the global coronavirus pandemic. The fight against this global…

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386,282 cases, 26,110 deaths – How the Coronavirus pandemic is spreading across Europe? – Update (31st March 2020)

As of 31 March 2020, 386 282 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK: Italy (101 739), Spain (85 195), Germany (61 913), France (44 550), United Kingdom (22 141), Belgium (11 899), Netherlands…

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Dear Nurses, Doctors, Care Workers; Europe owes you all a debt of gratitude – Ursula Von der Leyen

by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen I want to start by thanking all of those who have made this extraordinary session possible in what are truly extraordinary circumstances. It…

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60% of cases and 70% global coronavirus deaths in Europe

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said: "Since we last broadcast over a week ago the number of cases and deaths have tripled in Europe. The rate of increase…

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Eurovision cancelled in wake of coronavirus concerns

The popular Eurovision Song Context has been cancelled in the wake of recent developments related to the spread of the coronavirus. Malta was due to be represented by 17-year-old singer…

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European airlines demand urgent assistance

As the travel industry comes to an almost complete halt, in view of current developments related to Covid19, European airlines are grounding their planes and counting their losses. As the…

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Italy now has nearly a third of the world’s deaths from coronavirus

At a press briefing on Tuesday night, Hans Henri P. Kluge, the World Health Organizations regional director for Europe, said that 152 countries were now affected by COVID-19, creating a…

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EU-wide export ban for medical protective equipment

Brussels on Sunday imposed an EU-wide export ban for some medical protective equipment in a bid to keep sufficient supplies within the bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen…

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ISIS tells supporters to steer away from Europe

The Isis terrorist group is steering clear of Europe because of the coronavirus. Having previously urged its supporters to attack European cities, the group is now advising members to “stay…

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How are European countries responding to CoVid-19 pandemic?

In an extensive review of the current situation around Europe, news website POLITICO has provided a detailed assessment of measures taken so far. Directives issued by Governments around the continent include…

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The shutting down of Europe

Countries around the world on Saturday continued to close borders, impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, France…

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Europe is the new epicentre of COVID19 pandemic – WHO

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said Friday that Europe "has now become the epicenter of the #COVID19 pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the…

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USA suspends all travel from Europe for the next 30 days

US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new travel restrictions on Europe in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. In a televised address, he said all travel…

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EU will do everything needed to slow Coronavirus spread – Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Tuesday evening after a conference call with EU leaders on the coronavirus outbreak, saying that European nations will do everything that is…

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EU foreign affairs chief calls on countries involved in Greek-Turkey standoff to stop this game

Migrants attempting to get into Europe need to know the border between Turkey and Greece is closed, the EU's foreign affairs chief has said, as he called on countries involved…

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Europe braces for heavy rain, floods, 5-meter waves predicted in Spain

Parts of Europe are braced for Storm Jorge this weekend, which is expected to bring yet more rain to flood-hit Britain — and Saharan dust across southern Europe. Rain warnings…

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27

Feb

European consumers rate Lexus as most reliable brand

The member organisations of the Euroconsumers group have published the results of their annual survey on car reliability and customer satisfaction. For the second year in a row, Lexus is…

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Coronavirus, Europe’s health policy and the challenges ahead – Academic perspective

The difficulty to forecast the level of spread and danger of the Coronavirus is linked to the fact that the biggest problem that we have is that "we don’t know…

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The EU Budget – Are the differences too big to bridge?

Wide differences remain, particularly between the wealthy countries that are net contributors to the budget and others that are net recipients of EU funds, and it is unclear when leaders…

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What are government coalitions good for?

This article by Matthew Bugeja was first published on this week's edition of Diplomatique.Expert, Corporate Dispatch's eJournal. What are government coalitions good for? That really depends on who you ask. Government…

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Europe needs to develop an appetite for power – Borrell

The governments of the European Union states need to be willing to intervene in international crises or risk prolonging paralysis in their foreign policy, the EU's top diplomat said on…

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Libya – EPP and Europe’s internal divisions are a big hurdle for EU’s geopolitics ambitions

To sort out the Libyan civil war, the European Union first needs to sort out another vicious, internecine struggle: the one back home. Politico reports that as the EU faces…

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Coronavirus outbreak might lead to problems for Europe’s medicines supply

At this moment, the novel coronavirus outbreak isn’t causing problems for Europe’s medicines supply. But that’s almost certain to change, industry experts warn — and at the worst possible time…

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Spain not willing to replace Britain in post-Brexit EU driving force seats

Spain is not willing to compete to replace Britain as one of the three driving forces of the European Union, together with France and Germany. Instead of trying to fulfill…

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Massive storm shuts down air traffic across Europe

Northern Europe is currently being hit by a major storm, nicknamed Storm Sabine in Germany and Storm Ciara in the UK, which is moving south. Severe warnings have been issued…

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Huawei to set up manufacturing bases in Europe

Huawei’s top executive for Europe on Tuesday said the Chinese telecom giant would set up manufacturing hubs on the continent, as the company tries to fight off US pressure on…

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Five persons being tested for Coronavirus in Scotland, one suspected case in Bari

Five people in Scotland are being tested for suspected coronavirus after travelling to the country from Wuhan, China, according to the head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh.…

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Europe prepares for ‘credible threat’ of Chinese flu pandemic spreading despite likelihood is considered low

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Monday considered the likelihood of introduction of the virus to the EU to be "low", warning however that the risk…

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Smog in southern Europe sparks car bans and street protests

Cities across southern Europe are experiencing dangerously high levels of smog caused by a prolonged period of dry sunny weather and light winds. Temporary bans on diesel vehicles have been…

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European Ministers trigger process to save Iranian Nuclear Deal

Britain, France and Germany triggered a mediation process aimed at forcing Iran to return to compliance with limits placed on its nuclear program, or potentially face the reimposition of international…

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ECJ President warns Poland over judiciary reform as Venice Commission visits Poland ahead of Rule of Law vote in EP

Members of the Venice Commission visited the Polish Sejm (lower house of parliament) in Warsaw, to meet officials from the Justice Ministry, top courts, both houses of parliament and the judiciary…

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2019 sets record for Europe’s hottest December – Copernicus

The European Union's climate change monitoring agency, Copernicus, has reported that temperatures across Europe in December 2019 were the hottest on record for that month. Data shows the average surface…

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European subsidies cannot support sectors or technologies harmful to the environment – Von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen expressed her views on the future of Europe in an interview with the French news outlet Les Echos. "I feel that a period…

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Europeans are spending at least EUR 30 billion on drugs each year at retail level

Europeans are spending at least EUR 30 billion on drugs each year at retail level, making the drug market a major source of income for organised crime groups in the…

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Storms Elsa and Fabian leave nine dead across southern Europe

The death toll from fierce back-to-back storms pummelling Spain, Portugal and France has risen to nine as the region reels from more powerful winds and flooding. The death of a fisherman in Catalonia, who…

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Over 10 persons arrested for buying counterfeit euros on the Darknet

Between 9 and 11 December 2019 Europol coordinated joint raids against the sale of counterfeit euro banknotes on illegal platforms on the Darknet. Law enforcement authorities from seven EU Member…

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EU’s top diplomat urges bloc to step up and become real geopolitical player

The EU's new top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has urged the bloc to step up and be a real geopolitical player or risk Europe becoming just a playground for other big…

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NATO, Macron and the Donald

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump got together at the NATO summit in London this week, after the former called the intergovernmental military alliance ‘brain dead’. It was bound to be…

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Extreme cold weather might be heading to Europe in early December

Early December see a fresh wave of cold polar air, according to projections from the latest meteorological models. It is caused by a sudden stratospheric warming that pushes cold air…

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Brussels ViewPoint – European Commissioners: is it time for a system overhaul? – Denise Grech

The Brussels ViewPoint is written by Corporate Dispatch correspondent in Brussels, Denise Grech and was first published on The CorporateDispatch Week. There have been some who questioned whether the European Parliament’s committees are qualified enough to…

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