European Commission

Von der Leyen Commission faces delay

After members of the European Parliament on Thursday rejected Ursula von der Leyen's French nominee for the new Commission, casting doubt on her ability to take office as scheduled on…

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EU sues Poland over judicial independence laws

The European Commission has referred Poland to the top European court over concerns that new laws strip judges of their independence. Investigations and even sanctions are expected to follow. The…

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French nominee for European Commission, Goulard, rejected by members of European parliament

Members of the European Parliament on Thursday rejected Sylvie Goulard as France's next European commissioner, dealing a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron and incoming Commission chief Ursula von der…

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EU sounds alarm on foreign interference in 5G networks

European cybersecurity authorities warned Wednesday that state hacking groups are a major threat to the security of 5G networks, increasing pressure on telecom operators to take action against new risks…

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Romania’s second proposal for EU commissioner rejected

The European Commission’s president-elect Ursula von der Leyen has rejected Romania’s second proposal for commissioner – Socialist MEP Dan Nica, EC spokesperson Nina Andreeva confirmed to the Romania news station…

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No 10 giving up hope of Brexit deal after Johnson call with Merkel hits deadlock

The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson is poised to give up on Brexit deal talks with the EU after speaking to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, with a No 10 source…

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Man attempts to set himself on fire in front of European Commission

There were some moments of panic outside the headquarters of the European Commission on Wednesday as a man attempted to set himself on fire. Witnesses said authorities “swarmed” on the…

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Photo Story: Paolo Gentiloni European Parliament hearing

European Commissioner-designate in charge of Economy, from Italy, Paolo Gentiloni, during his hearing before the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

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Six topics Helena Dalli was grilled about during her hearing

Former Equality Minister Helena Dalli faced a tough three-hour hearing at the European Parliament in the hopes of becoming the first European Commissioner for Equality. Denise Grech was in Brussels…

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European Parliament hearings with Commissioners-designate

Didier Reynders, European Commissioner-designate for Justice, attends his hearing before the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. MEPs from various committees are hearing the proposed members of Commission President-elect von der…

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MEPs vote to reject Hungarian and Romanian candidates for Commission

A European Parliament committee on Monday voted to reject Hungarian and Romanian candidates for the European Commission due to 'conflicts of interest'. MEPs "voted that the two commissioners-designate are unable…

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Commissioner designate Gentiloni says he will try to strike balance between growth and sound budget management

Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner-designate for Economic Affairs, has said that he will strike a balance between encouraging growth and sound budget management if his nomination is ratified. "As a…

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Corporate Dispatch Europe Explained – The Week Ahead

A quick glance at the main forthcoming events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings and other EU-related conferences and events. Events for the week of…

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Making migration manageable – Denise Grech

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Polish and Belgian EU Commissioner bid back on track

The European Union's anti-fraud agency said it would not proceed with disciplinary action Friday against Poland's candidate for the European Commission, Janusz Wojciechowski, following an expenses probe. The agency, known as OLAF, said…

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MEPs reject Romanian and Hungarian nominees for European Commission

Members of the European Parliament on Thursday rejected the Romanian and Hungarian nominees for the next European Commission over concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The decisions by the Parliament's…

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Photo story: Car-Free Day in Berlin

A few cars are seen on the Karl-Marx-Allee street with the TV tower in the background on the Car-Free Day in Berlin, Germany, 22 September 2019. During the 18th edition…

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Von der Leyen’s vision for the future: a push forward or a smokescreen? – Denise Grech

Summer is finally drawing to a close and the top bureaucrats from Europe are returning to their home base in Brussels. All eyes are on the whether the European Parliament…

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Leaked EU Commission memo shows that new UK Brexit proposals fall short of satisfying backstop objectives

A leaked European Commission memo has said the UK government's latest draft proposals for a new Brexit deal "fall short of satisfying all the objectives of the Irish backstop". In…

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Von der Leyen facing revolt over commissioner’s ‘Protecting European Way of Life’ title

The Socialists & Democrats group (S&D) wrote on Thursday that the intended portfolio for "Protecting the European Way of Life" smacked of xenophobia and "wrongly linked" migration and security. Tapped for the…

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British Brexit secretary to meet EU’s chief negotiator

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay is to hold talks with the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, later. It comes after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Sky News on Thursday that…

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EU leaders say no fresh proposals yet from Britain

EU chiefs said they heard no fresh proposals from Boris Johnson after a high-profile visit to Luxembourg ended with an abandoned press conference and an extraordinary public reprimand from the country’s…

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€676 million worth of EU investments in Poland for better rails and roads

The European Commission adopted three major Cohesion Policy projects, modernising the Polish rail and road network and increasing travel safety while reducing costs and travel time. EU-funded works will replace…

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A new EU Commission – but a new dawn? – Matthew Bugeja

The formation of the new European Commission seems to be coming together. Incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has put together quite a good team of quality politicians with…

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EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn defends ‘European way of life’ portfolio

In an interview with Euronews, EU commissioner Johannes Hahn, defended the Ursula von der Leyen decision to create a European Commission named "protecting the European way of life" that includes…

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Photo Story: First Seminar of Nominated European Commissioners

EU Commission President-designate Ursula Von der Leyen (C) poses for a family photo with members of the EU Commission. This was taken during a seminar of the new European Commission…

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European Commission and World Health Organization join forces to promote the benefits of vaccines

Today, the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) are co-hosting the world's first Global Vaccination Summit in Brussels. The aim is to accelerate global action to stop the…

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The European Union continues to lead the global fight against climate change

The European Commission has adopted a Communication reaffirming the EU's commitment to accelerated climate ambition. Preparing for the Climate Action Summit by the United Nations Secretary General in New York…

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Italian PM Conte wants financial penalties for those refusing to carry the burden of migration

Premier Giuseppe Conte said Wednesday that EU member States which refuse to share the burden of the arrival of migrants should face financial penalties. "Those who do not participate in…

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Von der Leyen calls for new pact on migration

European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has called for a "new pact on migration and asylum". She made the call in letters to future commissioners, Vice President with the…

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Newly appointed French Commissioner questioned by police as part of an investigation on fictional jobs at the European Parliament

The European Commission's new internal market commissioner Sylvie Goulard was questioned by French police on Tuesday as part of an investigation into fictional jobs at the European Parliament, a police…

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Ursula von der Leyen presents the new EU Commission aimed for a Union that strives for more

Today, President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her team and the new structure of the next European Commission. The new Commission will reflect the priorities and ambitions set out in…

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Ursula von der Leyen to reveal which commissioners get which portfolios on Tuesday

The European Commission's president-elect on Monday signed off on her list of nominees for the next Commission. On Tuesday Von Der Leyen will unveil the line up of the next…

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Unity is the only way forward for Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron stood in front of reporters last week and declared the gathering of seven key power players in South-West France to have gone “according to plan”. The…

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Maltese EU commissioner-elect Dalli earmarked for justice portfolio – Maltatoday

Helena Dalli, the Maltese commissioner-elect for the Von der Leyer executive in Brussels, will face the political test of her lifetime: the former equalities minister has been nominated for the…

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Final EU call to all EU citizens and businesses to prepare for Brexit

With 8 weeks to go until the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October 2019, the Commission has – in its 6th Brexit preparedness Communication – reiterated…

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Italy nominates Gentiloni for the European Commission

Italy has tapped former centre-left Democratic Party (PD) Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni as a candidate for the European Commission. Sources said Gentiloni was the only name to have been indicated by…

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EU to allocate financial aid for EU businesses, workers and farmers in case of no-deal Brexit

Reuters reports that the European Commission on Wednesday will propose financial help for European Union businesses, workers and farmers if Britain crashes out of the bloc without any agreement. To…

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von der Leyen offers Vera Jourova Rule of Law portfolio

European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has offered Czech nominee Věra Jourová a post in her team focusing on democracy issues, two senior officials told POLITICO. The portfolio would…

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Von Der Leyen waits Italy’s nomination for EU Commisioner

Incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is waiting for Italy to propose its candidate to the new College of Commissioners before she can move forward with making a…

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Von der Leyen is considering plans to revamp the European Commission

Ursula von der Leyen is considering plans to revamp the structure of the next European Commission. The biggest change in a draft plan being mulled by the incoming Commission president,…

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Juncker to resume full duties from Monday

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will resume his full duties from Monday, when he will meet his successor Ursula von der Leyen. Juncker, 64, had to undergo emergency gallbladder surgery earlier…

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Brexit talks between UK and EU to be held twice a week

Brexit talks will take place twice a week during September, with just two months to go before the October 31 deadline, according to Downing Street. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said…

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France to nominate Sylvie Goulard for EU Commissioner

France has proposed Sylvie Goulard, the deputy governor of the Bank of France and a former European lawmaker, as its candidate for European Union commissioner, according to various media reports.…

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Dalli’s EU Commission portfolio remains unclear

The new European Commission executive is taking shape as the current ones remains in office until the end of October, but most governments have already announced their candidates for the…

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Poland replaces EU Commissioner candidate

Krzysztof Szczerski, who was originally appointed as Poland’s candidate for the next European Commission, withdrew himself from consideration Monday after a meeting with President-elect Ursula von der Leyen, after she…

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Juncker won’t attend G7 summit after urgent gallbladder surgery

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker won’t attend the G7 summit at the weekend after undergoing emergency gallbladder surgery, a Commission spokesperson said Monday. Juncker cut short his summer vacation in Austria…

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French and Dutch seem to block Albania’s EU accession talks – Ambassador

Albania is at the "end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end" of its accession to the European Union, the bloc's ambassador to Albania has said and reported…

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EU calls for restraint on both sides and solution in Hong Kong crisis

The European Union on Saturday called on both sides of the escalating political stand-off in Hong Kong to enter into talks to find a peaceful solution to the weekslong crisis,…

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Juncker tells Britain: no-deal Brexit will hurt you the most

A no-deal Brexit would hurt Britain more than the rest of Europe no matter how much Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government pretends otherwise, outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said…

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EU worried by spread of African swine fever in Bulgaria

The spread of African swine fever in Bulgaria, which threatens the Balkan country’s pig breeding industry is worrying, an EU Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday. Bulgaria has reported more than…

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Cyprus asks EU help to relocate 5,000 asylum seekers

Cyprus has asked the European Commission to help relocate 5,000 asylum seekers to other EU countries as the island nation struggles to accommodate an influx of migrants. POLITICO reports that in…

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Brexit agreement is ‘the best deal possible’, EU Commission says – Johnson considers no-deal Brexit as his central scenario

The deal reached on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union is the "best possible" and is not up for negotiation but the European Commission is ready to talk with British…

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