European Commission

EU leaders not agreeing on process to choose successor to Juncker

European leaders are split over the process for choosing the next president of the European Commission and face stormy negotiations on top jobs after this month’s EU elections. Emmanuel Macron,…

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EU heads meet in Romania to chart bloc’s next steps

European Union leaders meet in Romania today to try chart a way forward after the historic setback of Brexit and to have their first go at picking people to…

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Strength in unity: Commission makes recommendations for the EU’s next strategic agenda 2019-2024

Ahead of the meeting of EU27 leaders in Sibiu, Romania, tomorrow, the European Commission is setting out a number of policy recommendations for how Europe can shape its future in…

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Juncker regrets not having corrected Brexit campaign lies

The president of the EU commission has said he regrets not intervening in the UK’s Brexit referendum to correct “lies” about the bloc during the campaign. Speaking at a press…

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Global uncertainties weigh on European economy growth prospects

The recent slowdown in global growth and world trade, together with high uncertainty about trade policies, is weighing on prospects for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2019 and 2020.…

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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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Warning that British MEPs in next EU parliament could create ‘messy’ situation

Jyrki Katainen, the European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, warned that the prospect of British candidates getting into the European Parliament and then leaving after Brexit could…

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Corporate Dispatch Europe Explained – The Agenda

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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Analysis – Europe’s new ally is Japan

If he hadn't been speaking Japanese, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe could easily have been mistaken for an EU leader. Visiting Brussels on Thursday to meet Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and…

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Trade talks dominate as EU and Japan hold annual summit

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday at the 26th annual EU-Japan summit. DW reports that the leaders…

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Weber and Timmermans first face-off debate is nothing but confrontational

The two leading contenders to be the next president of the European Commission went head-to-head for the first time in a TV debate aired on Wednesday evening, and although the…

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The European Parliament approves strengthening of Frontex

The European Parliament adopted the proposal, piloted and negotiated by Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, to reinforce the European Border and Coast Guard Agency with a standing corps of 10,000 border guards…

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Corporate Dispatch Europe Explained – The Week Ahead 15-19 April 2019.

Good morning, 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…

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Alan Kurdi ship saga ends… migrants to be taken in by four EU countries

The Maltese government announced that more than 60 migrants stranded at sea for more than a week on the German rescue ship Alan Kurdi would be taken in by four EU…

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Commissioner Hogan insists ‘no-deal’ Brexit makes no sense

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said a 'no-deal' Brexit makes no sense and is the worst possible Brexit outcome. Hogan, who hails from Ireland, made the comments when asked about comments…

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Corporate Dispatch Europe Explained – The Week Ahead 8-13 April 2019

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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EU institutions organise exercise to test EU’s response for potential elections’ cybersecurity incidents

The European Parliament, the EU Member States, the European Commission and the EU Agency for cybersecurity (ENISA) organised an exercise to test the EU's response to and crisis plans for…

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EU takes legal action against Poland

The EU has launched fresh legal action against Poland over controversial reforms to its legal system which it said represent a serious setback for legal freedoms. The European Commission…

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€74 million EU-funded project to provide Malta with better drinking water

The European Commission adopted a €4 billion investment package for infrastructure projects across 10 Member States consisting of 25 large infrastructure projects in 10 Member States. Almost €74 million will…

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EU Commission reacts to vote by saying no-deal Brexit on April 12 ‘likely’ – EU Summit scheduled for April 10

EU Council President Donald Tusk has announced that in view of the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons, he decided to call a European Council on 10…

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European Commission welcomes European Parliament’s vote on new rules facilitating access to online TV and radio content

Following the European Parliament's approval of modernised copyright rules earlier this week, today the Parliament endorsed another crucial piece of legislation to make the copyright rules fit for the digital…

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EU plans speed limiting technology for vehicles from 2022

Speed limiting technology looks set to become mandatory for all vehicles sold in Europe from 2022, after new rules were provisionally agreed by the EU. Safety measures approved by the…

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EU votes to pass new copyright law

The European Union on Tuesday voted to pass a controversial new copyright law to replace the existing copyright law that dates back to 2001. The reform means platforms such as YouTube and…

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European Commission action and EU consumer authorities will lead to full transparency in car rental prices

Following a call from the European Commission and EU consumer authorities, five industry leaders, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt, have changed the way they present car rental prices, making…

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Brexit: EU completes preparations for possible “no-deal” scenario on 12 April

In a press release issued Monday, the European Commission pointed out, that as it is increasingly likely that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a deal on…

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EU expected to drop threat of Huawei ban

A Reuters exclusive report states that the European Commission will next week ignore U.S. calls to ban Huawei Technologies but urge EU countries to share more data to tackle…

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Brexit set to dominate EU’s Council meeting in Brussels

Theresa May is in Brussels Thursday to ask for more time on Brexit as EU leaders gather for a two-day summit, with China, trade and disinformation also on the agenda.…

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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. Main events for the week…

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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…

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Time’s Up: European Parliament to vote on scrapping mandatory daylight savings time

After the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee this week became the latest EU body to endorse the proposal in a report this week a vote on scrapping mandatory…

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Weber insists that Turkey will not become an EU member

Manfred Weber, the European Peoples Party's (EPP) lead candidate to be the new EU Commission President , Wednesday insisted that Turkey will not become an EU member. Weber insisted…

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EU warns ‘no solution’ in sight for Brexit deal

British Brexit negotiations to win changes to Theresa May’s Brexit deal are going badly, and the EU Commission warned that “no solution” is in sight. Talks Tuesday evening in Brussels broke…

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Provisional agreement reached on EU’s 2021-2027 Justice Programme

The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the 2021-2027 Justice programme proposed by the European Commission in May 2018. This new programme will support developing an integrated…

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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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EU plans to place Saudi Arabia on a money laundering blacklist blocked

The Financial Times reported that European Union plans to place Saudi Arabia and four US territories on a money laundering blacklist has suffered a humiliating defeat after virtually unanimous opposition…

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European Commission welcomes political agreement on InvestEU

The European Commission welcomes the political agreement among Member States on InvestEU, the proposed programme to boost private and public investment in Europe in the next long-term EU budget. With…

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New EU rules to combat fake medicines enter into force

The falsification of medicines has remained a serious threat to public health in the EU for too long. As of tomorrow, the new rules on safety features for prescription medicines…

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Eu accuses eight banks for collusion in government bonds

Brussels has accused eight unnamed banks of colluding to game the €7tn market for eurozone government bonds, marking another escalation in the EU’s drive to punish financial institutions for rigging…

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Hungarian government demands suspension of ‘Soros’ man in the EU Frans Timmermans from Commission throughout EP election campaign

The Hungarian government is demanding Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, suspend his role in the Commission throughout the course of his European Parliament campaign. Timmermans is responsible…

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Will Barnier be the next European Commission President?

via Politico - "European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier opened the new political year vocally discussing Europe's future — possibly hinting at his own next career step. "Now is not the…

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Deal reached brings end to saga of 49 people stranded off Maltese shores

An agreement on a deal has been reached which will bring to end the saga of a group of 49 long-suffering migrants disembarking in Malta from two NGO rescue ships…

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Juncker on Brexit, Romania’s presidency and Orbán in Die Welt interview

The European Union is not trying to keep Britain in and wants to start discussing future ties the moment the UK parliament approves Brexit, partly to focus on its own…

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New rules to strengthen Schengen Information System come into force

New rules to strengthen the Schengen Information System (SIS) – proposed by the Commission in December 2016 and adopted earlier this year – are entering into force today. The SIS…

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Amber Rudd says that Juncker ‘grotesque’ behaviour towards May and women should be subject to an official complaint

Jean-Claude Juncker is “ghastly” and his “grotesque” behaviour should have been subject to an official complaint, Amber Rudd has claimed. Citing the EU Commission president’s “terrible” conduct at last week’s EU…

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European Commission finds Gibraltar’s corporate tax regime illegal under EU State aid rules

The European Commission has found that Gibraltar's corporate tax exemption regime for interest and royalties, as well as five tax rulings, are illegal under EU State aid rules. The beneficiaries…

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MEP Election Watch – Greens choose candidates for Commission President

The European Greens picked Germany’s Ska Keller and Dutchman Bas Eickhout as co-candidates for European Commission president, at the party’s congress Saturday, making them the faces of the party’s campaign…

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Turkey and the EU to restart dialogue after 1.5 years

Turkey and the European Union will hold a High Level Political Dialogue meeting on Nov. 22 after 1.5 year of break as a sign of progress in dialogue efforts. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign…

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No breakthrough on EU budget

The EU will be forced to resubmit a draft proposal for the bloc’s 2019 budget after negotiators failed to reach an agreement which forces the bloc to pin its hopes on…

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Eurozone finance ministers urge Italy to redraft budget plan

Economy Minister Giovanni Tria has "understood" the need to act within the EU rules on Italy's 2019 budget bill, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Monday. ANSA reports Moscovici said "he is…

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Eurozone ministers meet in Brussels to discuss Italy’s budget standoff

Eurozone finance ministers gathering in Brussels on Monday will discuss Italy's escalating budget standoff with the EU as the bloc waits for the government in Rome to respond to the…

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Europe Explained – European Commission’s position on Italian budget

The Commission has issued an opinion on the Italian draft budgetary plan for 2019. It requests that Italy presents a revised draft budgetary plan as soon as possible, and in…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, In the last hours, there were significant changes from the US administration, in their view on the Khashoggi's murder with President Trump affirming that he believes that Khashoggi…

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EU sends Italian budget back to sender

Brussels has reprimanded Italy’s populist government for breaking EU deficit rules in its first budget, putting the European Commission on course for an unprecedented rejection of a eurozone member’s spending…

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Italy’s budget standoff (Updated)

Update: Brussels has reprimanded Italy’s populist government for breaking EU deficit rules in its first budget, putting the European Commission on course for an unprecedented rejection of a eurozone member’s…

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US-EU trade gets in Mid-Term electoral narrative and ‘fragile’ peace deal on trade seems to be at a breaking point

Europe’s fragile peace deal with the U.S. on trade is at a breaking point. Washington is again threatening high tariffs on Europe’s all-important car industry just as U.S. President Donald…

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8 additional cancer-causing chemicals, including diesel exhaust, will be covered by the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive

The European Parliament and the Council came to an agreement on the Commission’s second proposal to broaden the list of recognised cancer-causing chemicals in the workplace. With this agreement, 8 additional…

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Thursday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The strike ordered by the MUT shares the centre stage of Malta's newspapers, with the news of the intention to have binding demands from the European Commission on…

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