European Commission

State of The Union: One Speech, Six Perspectives

Diplomatique Expert recommends the following reports from different media on how the #SOTEU was reported. Different views and perspectives. Eu Observer Juncker, the 'sad and wiser' man of Europe The…

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Today’s vote is a global symbol of enduring courage – MEP Roberta Metsola

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola, who led the EPP negotiations on the Hungary issue, told Corporate Dispatch that today's vote underlines what Europe stands for. EU Parliament votes to trigger Article…

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Extraordinary Brexit Summit expected to take place in November

EU leaders are expected to announce during a meeting in Salzburg next week that an extraordinary Brexit summit will take place in November, as they give Michel Barnier extra encouragement to strike…

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European finance ministers agree to intensify talks on tech tax

European finance ministers have agreed to intensify negotiations on an EU-wide tax targeting the revenues of Google, Apple and other technology giants even as several member states said that they…

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Diplomatique Expert recommends…

As traditional parties stumble, Europe’s top job is up for grabs - Politico As we entered the holiday period, the front-runners in the race for the European Commission presidency…

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Weber announces intention to be EPP lead candidate and next President of the European Commission

Manfred Weber announces intention to be EPP lead candidate and next president of the European Commission. Europe is at a turning point. European Elections 2019 will decide the future of…

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Macron’s party will not support political groups that back ‘Spitzenkandidat’ process

Emmanuel Macron’s La République En Marche will not support any European political group that backs the so-called Spitzenkandidat or “favored candidate” process, Christophe Castaner, the movement’s chief executive, said on…

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European Ombudsman says that procedures weren’t followed in appointment of Martin Selmayr – European Commission defends the appointment (UPDATED)

The European Commission on Tuesday defended the appointment of Martin Selmayr as its secretary-general after an EU watchdog said the move “stretched and possibly even overstretched the limits of the law.” Commission spokesman Margaritis…

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2019 – a year of changes at European Institutions

2019 will bring a lot of changes in the European Institutions as various roles' terms expire. Financial Times Europe’s biggest jobs reshuffle is at hand. Never have so many…

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Food labelling and Irish border on BREXIT talks agenda

Michel Barnier is refusing to back down on establishing a border in the Irish Sea to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, and has publicly asked the British…

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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The following briefing brings you the latest news from Malta, 13 countries around the Europe and the world and 4 main institutions following a review of the highlights…

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Europeans want end of seasonal clock changes

The European Union is to propose ending twice-yearly clock changes after a large-scale public survey, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday. According to Juncker, more than 80% of EU citizens…

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Manfred Weber expected to announce he is running to be Spitzenkandidat

Manfred Weber is expected to formally announce he is running to be Spitzenkandidat at an EPP meeting next Wednesday, a senior EPP official said. POLITICO reports that Manfred Weber has received Angela Merkel’s backing to…

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EU to address misuse of personal data by political parties

The Financial Times reports that the EU is seeking the power to impose significant fines on European political parties who misuse voters’ personal data to influence elections, as Brussels moves…

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Conte argues that Malta (and other countries) did not honour its commitment in the last Pozzallo disembarking of migrants

Italy's prime minister has allowed all child migrants on the coastguard ship that docked in the port of Catania on Monday into Italy The legal agency in Sicily responsible for…

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European diplomats vow to work together to preserve nuclear deal with Iran

Europe's top diplomats have vowed to work together to preserve a multinational nuclear deal with Iran, as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for the…

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The Netherlands set to become 21st EU member State to join European Public Prosecutor’s Office

New Europe reports that the Netherlands is set to become the 21st EU Member State to join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) after the European Commission confirmed that Amsterdam plans to take…

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EU Commission against Belgian decision of charging journalists to attend EU summits

Politico reports that a Belgian decision to charge journalists €100 per year to attend summits of EU leaders was criticized by unions and the European Commission. Journalists were informed this week…

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EU warned by UK negotiators by making implicit threat to EU interests

The Guardian reports that UK negotiators have told their counterparts in Brussels that about 7,000 European-based investment funds that rely on British clients for their cash and profits will be hit…

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Polish controversial judicial changes signed into laws

Euronews: Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law on Thursday a measure allowing the government to choose the next Supreme Court chief despite protesters claiming it violates judicial independence. In spite…

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Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Your Morning Briefing provides you with the salient news of the main happenings in Malta, Europe and the World. Wishing you a good day. Greece has “serious…

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President Juncker meets President Trump

AP/European Commission/CNN: European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is visiting the USA for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Juncker told Trump that the E.U. and U.S. are partners and…

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Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The apocalyptic scenes from Greece, the deaths and the drama related to the wildfires dominate European headlines. In Malta the Egrant inquiry publication remains the main story, though…

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EU expected to publish migration proposals policy changes today

The Financial Times reports that Brussels will offer EU governments €6,000 for every migrant they take in from boats stranded in the Mediterranean, in plans designed to help ease pressure on…

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Eu Chief’s negotiator raises a series of concerns with May’s Brexit Plan

The Independent (UK) The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has taken apart Theresa May‘s new Chequers Brexit plan, just hours after the embattled Prime Minister insisted there would be no further compromise on her side.…

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May urges EU to evolve position on Irish border

FT: Theresa May on Friday urged the EU to “evolve” its position in the Brexit talks to resolve the vexed question of the Irish border, and warned Eurosceptics in the Conservative…

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European Commission takes further steps in infringement procedures against Hungary on migration

The European Commission has today decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for non-compliance of its asylum and return legislation with EU law. The…

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Google accuses Brussels of trying to dismantle its business model

Financial Times: Google accused Brussels of trying to dismantle its lucrative business model for smartphones and other mobile devices on Thursday, as it considered asking for emergency court protection against the…

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Thursday Morning Briefing

Good morning, From Trump's back pedalling to the Queen's messages hidden in brooches. From the court room in Valletta to the temporary beach volley court in the same city. Our…

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Europe Explained – EU Japan Agreement

EU and Japanese leaders signed two landmark agreements to increase their cooperation at the 25th EU-Japan summit: 1) The EU-Japan free trade agreement will remove 99% of tariffs paid by EU companies…

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Wednesday Morning Briefing

Good morning, Matteo Salvini denounces photos of people stranded at sea by Libya as fake after being accused that this is a result of his action. Donald Trump blames his…

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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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The Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, He came, he disrupted, he conquered. Or not? For sure he conquered the headlines. In a nutshell that's the essence of Trump's visit to the UK impact. However…

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The Friday Morning Briefing

Good morning, The world news scene was 'overshadowed' by Trump's tirades and comments at NATO summit and in Britain. He can easily be dubbed as a the 'agent of disruption'…

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Unfavourable external environment, such as growing trade tensions with the US, can dampen confidence and take a toll on economic expansion. – EU Commission

Growth is set to remain strong in 2018 and 2019, at 2.1% this year and 2% next year in both the EU and the euro area. However, after five consecutive…

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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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Romania’s anti-corruption chief fired amidst concerns from EU

After months of legal turmoil, Romania's anti-corruption chief has been fired. Her sacking and controversial legal reforms to weaken corruption charges is raising concern in Brussels. DW: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis…

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UK Government Crisis – What we know so far

Historians might revisit this day as one of the longest days in British history. It rekindles the spectres of the days when Margaret Thatcher, in November 1990 resigned as Prime Minister and…

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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning Our morning briefing for today follows. Investigations are underway following the stabbing of Hugo Chetcuti. Chetcuti who owns a number of entertainment places in Paceville (Malta) has been…

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Soft-BREXIT negotiation mandate secured for Theresa May

The Telegraph: Theresa May won her battle with Eurosceptic ministers on Friday night as she announced the Cabinet has signed up to a Brexit deal that keeps Britain tied to EU rules…

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Five major powers agree for more talks in an attempt to save nuclear deal

DW: The Foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia met in Vienna on Friday with their Iranian counterpart to discuss an economic plan that could save the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of…

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Ketchup, Cars and Trade Wars

Financial Times : Targeting iconic American products such as Harley-Davidson motorbikes and bourbon in the fight against US president Donald Trump’s first round of transatlantic tariffs was just a start —…

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Tuesday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Tuesday's Morning Briefing. Migrant vessel Sea-Watch 3 captain Pia Klemp yesterday accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and European politicians of bearing responsibility for the mass grave in the…

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EU opens fresh legal case against Poland on Rule of Law

European Commission / Reuters: The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure by sending a Letter of Formal Notice to Poland regarding the Polish law on the Supreme Court, which critics says…

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Italy wants relevant EU Commission portfolio linked with Economy

Reuters: Italy is looking to secure one of the economic commissioner positions when the European Union Commission expires next year, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Friday. “I think the…

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Breaking News: EU leaders reach migration deal after night long discussions (Continuously Updated)

The 'Mother of All Summits' gave birth to an agreement on Immigration. The agreement reached before dawn included approval of the full set of Council conclusions, along with the migration…

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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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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, History repeats itself as a second vessel is rejected from docking – just days after the Aquarius was stranded for a week. This issue is the dominant story…

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“We expect that the timetable will be adhered to” according to Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany believes the timetable for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union can be kept to, a government spokeswoman said on Friday, adding that while some issues still…

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European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger calls for helping out southern EU states

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - All European Union countries need to help southern neighbors, where most migrants are arriving, European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told reporters ahead of a mini-summit on migration in…

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Corporate Dispatch Morning Briefing – Thursday 21st June 2018

Good morning, A rather eventful 24 hours which were dominated by the issue of immigration around the globe. We try to to summarise the eventful day in our Morning Brief. …

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Juncker convenes informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues

The European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker announced that he will be convening an informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues in Brussels on Sunday, in order to…

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Macron to push for eurozone reform

Euronews: Emmanuel Macron is expected to push eurozone reform back on the European agenda when he meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today. Reforming the management of Europe's single…

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Asylum seeking applications in Europe down by 44% compared to 2016. Approximately 15% of asylum seekers come from Syria – EASO

The total number of asylum applications throughout all of the EU, plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, last year, was 728,470, or some 44 percent less when compared to 2016,…

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