European Commission

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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Ursula von der Leyen to propose new migration and asylum pact

Ursula von der Leyen said Friday that she wants to "propose a new pact for migration and asylum" as she meet Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte for a bilateral meeting in…

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“It will soon be too late” – President George Vella on Libya’s political process

President Vella expressed his full support to a declaration by EU High Representative and VP Mogherini on the support needed to the UN facilitated political process in Libya. In a…

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Jourova confirmed for EU Commission by Czech government

"Our Commissioner Věra Jourová was very successful," Babiš said. "They don't like her in all countries, also in our region, so it was quite difficult for her, but she got…

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EU to strip five countries of some market access rights

The European Commission will deem that Canada, Brazil, Singapore, Argentina and Australia don't regulate credit ratings agencies with the same rigour as the EU, the Financial Times reported, citing a…

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The new European Commission – What we know so far…

POLITICO presents how the new European Commission is shaping up. Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvia, European People's Party (EPP) Current role: The European Commission's vice president for the euro and social dialogue Expected role in…

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Money laundering failures signal policy headaches for new Commission

In the twilight of its five-year administration, Jean-Claude Juncker's Commission on Wednesday released a package of reports that reveal how and why the EU failed to prevent a slew of…

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European Commission issues series of infringement decisions against Member States, including Malta

In its monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission pursues legal action against Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law. These decisions, covering various…

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Brussels takes Hungary to court for criminalising activities that help asylum seekers

The European Commission is referring Hungary to the EU’s highest court after Budapest further tightened eligibility requirements for asylum seekers and made it a criminal offense to help refugees. The 2018 law…

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Helena Dalli nominated as Malta’s European Commissioner

European Affairs and Equality Minister Helena Dalli has been nominated for the post of European Commissioner. A Department of Information statement said that during the past days, Prime Minister Joseph…

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EC President starts visit in Malta

The relationship between Malta and the EU Commission has never been as good as it is now, outgoing Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday. Speaking at Castille, Juncker said…

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European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker will visit Malta on Monday

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will be in Malta on Monday and Tuesday on an official visit, the government said. He will have talks in Castille with Prime Minister Joseph…

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Austria, Greece and Slovenia ignore Von Der Leyen request for two Commissioner nominations

Ursula von der Leyen pledged to form a gender-balanced European Commission — but it's looking like an uphill battle. And some EU officials are bracing for the possibility that a…

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European Commission’s chief spokesperson nominated as Greek EU commissioner

European Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas has been nominated by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as the country's next commissioner, the prime minister's office wrote in a statement Thursday. Schinas,…

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Austria confirms Hahn as its European commissioner

Austria confirmed that it wants Johannes Hahn, the current European Commissioner for enlargement, to stay on as its member of the next commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen. The…

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Ursula von der Leyen warns hard Brexit would be massive blow for both sides

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian and four other European newspapers the European commission’s new president has said a hard Brexit would have “massively negative consequences” for both Britain…

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EU Commission announces new measures to protect Rule of Law in member states

The European Commission on Wednesday announced new measures aimed at protecting the rule of law in EU member states. The package, whose central feature is an annual EU-wide rule-of-law review,…

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Ursula Von Der Leyen elected as President of European Commission

Ursula Von Der Leyen has been elected as President of the European Commission. Von Der Leyen will be the first female President of the Commission. Her nomination as a compromise…

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Von Der Leyen makes final pitch ahead of decisive vote

Ursula von der Leyen delivered her final pitch to members of the European Parliament on Tuesday, offering socialists and liberals a constellation of policy promises as she sought to win…

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On Von der Leyen’s D-Day, confirmation vote is anything but sure

Unhappy socialist and liberal MEPs could upset Ursula von der Leyen's bid to be the next European Commission president in a vote this week, the EU Observer reports. However she…

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Central and Eastern Europe countries expecting important Commission portfolios

Central and Eastern Europe was shut out in last week's race for senior EU positions, so the region's governments are eyeing important Commission portfolios and a vice presidency as compensation. “The…

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Brussels shake-up

The European Parliamentary elections are an interesting exercise in the democratic expression of more than half a billion people across Europe. From the chilly Nordic nations in the north to…

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PM Muscat expected to nominate Ministers Helena Dalli and Edward Scicluna to European Commission

The Malta Independent on Sunday reports that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is expected to nominate Ministers Helena Dalli and Edward Scicluna to the European Commission. The nominated Commission President Von…

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Ready, set ……. wait

Cartoon by Rytis Daukantas was first published on POLITICO.eu, Belgium on July 13, 2019. Cartoon by Oliver Schopf was first published in Der Standard, Austria, July 6, 2019 and cartoon…

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Will von der Leyen win the needed absolute majority?

To become Commission president, von der Leyen must win an absolute majority of Parliament in the vote scheduled for Tuesday evening in Strasbourg. That means, in practical terms, the conservative…

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Changes in Juncker’s commission

Romania and Estonia wrote to Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne expressing their desire to continue to be represented in Brussels, and thus change their Commissioners. Estonia’s Vice-President Andrus Ansip and Romania’s European…

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Ursula Von Der Leyen faces MEPs’ skepticism during severe hearings at the European Parliament

Ursula von der Leyen's drive to get the European Parliament behind her nomination for the top job in Brussels hit a wall of skepticism on Wednesday, including calls to delay…

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Washington Post on Malta’s role in the Mediterranean migrants’ rescue operations

With Italy firmly blocking its seaports, the tiny island country of Malta has emerged as an unlikely and reluctant lifeline for migrants making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.…

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Eu Commission President nominee von der Leyen meets transition team

Urusula von der Leyen is currently preparing for the eventuality that her nomination as President of the European Commission is approved. The nomination still requires the approval of the European…

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