European Union

Poland threatens to veto EU 2021-2027 budget over rule of law condition

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has sent a letter to European Union institutions threatening to veto its 2021-2027 budget if access to EU funds is made conditional on governments respecting…

Read More Here

EU condemns China’s latest move on Hong Kong

The European Union called on Beijing on Thursday to immediately reverse new rules to disqualify elected legislators, saying the decision was a "severe blow" to the former British colony's autonomy.…

Read More Here

European Commission takes first steps towards European Health Union

The European Commission is taking the first steps towards building the European Health Union announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address. The Commission is putting forward…

Read More Here

EP adopts Recovery and Resilience Facility in bid to help EU countries tackle effects of pandemic

The European Parliament has adopted the Recovery and Resilience Facility, an instrument designed to help EU countries tackling the effects and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Budgets and Economic…

Read More Here

Euro zone investor morale worsens in November but beats forecast

Investor morale in the euro zone fell for a second consecutive month in November but the drop was not as bad as feared because lockdowns imposed to curb the spread…

Read More Here

European leaders to discuss initiative against Islamist extremism: sources

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will take part in a phone call with other European leaders to discuss an initiative against Islamist extremism on Tuesday, two participants in a call with…

Read More Here

EU has great expectations of new US President

The European Union has "great expectations" of a new U.S. president and hopes the United States will re-engage in multilateral trade talks, EU officials said on Monday. EU ministers responsible…

Read More Here

EU edges towards agreement on multi-year budget

The European Union edged towards finalising its next 1.8 trillion euro ($2.12 trillion) budget and COVID recovery package on Thursday after an agreement that countries breaching rule of law commitments…

Read More Here

Britain sets up share trading clash with EU

Banks and asset managers in Britain can use exchanges from the European Union to trade shares from January, Britain's financial regulator said on Wednesday, creating a cross-border clash in securities…

Read More Here

European leaders react with caution as U.S. election scenario unfolds

European politicians have cautioned patience after Donald Trump falsely claimed victory in the US election in the early hours of Wednesday morning, warning that a drawn-out court battle over the…

Read More Here

Brexit talks go into another week as EU, UK push to salvage trade deal

EU and British Brexit negotiators will continue talks in Brussels on Monday and until around mid-week, sources on both sides said on Sunday, in a sign both sides are still…

Read More Here

EU antitrust chief does not see breakup of tech giants

Splitting up large tech companies such as Google and Facebook will not be necessary, Europe's antitrust chief was quoted as saying on Sunday. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is due…

Read More Here

Bulgaria says North Macedonia must address historical issues or face delay on EU path

Bulgaria has threatened to block North Macedonia’s path towards European Union membership and said it should recognise that both its national identity and language have Bulgarian roots, its foreign minister…

Read More Here

EU pushes for more transparency from WHO’s members on pandemics

The World Health Organization (WHO) should be given more powers to handle pandemics and its member states should share more information with the agency during health emergencies, European Union officials…

Read More Here

EU funds lessen pain for Cancer patients and avoid premature deaths

When cancer hits it needs immediate attention. There is no time to waste as a few days can literally make the difference between life and death. It is one of…

Read More Here

Women seen needing 60+ years to get equal with men in EU

European women are at least 60 years away from winning equality with men and the pandemic could further slow progress, according to a report released on Thursday that measures gender…

Read More Here

Restrictions needed to battle COVID-19 in Europe, EU says

European Union Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Friday that EU countries should be ready to impose restrictions on people's lives to battle the spread of the new coronavirus throughout…

Read More Here

EU set to deny gas power plants a green investment label

Power plants fuelled by natural gas will not be classed as a sustainable investment in Europe, unless they meet an emissions limit that none currently comply with, according to draft…

Read More Here

EU to discuss limiting non-essential travel to Europe

European Union health ministers will discuss limiting non-essential travel to Europe at a virtual meeting on Friday, German health minister Jens Spahn said. "The topic of the meeting is also…

Read More Here

Warning EU at risk of being overwhelmed by coronavirus

The European Union will finance the transfer of patients across borders within the bloc to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations spike in the continent. After…

Read More Here

EU says escalating Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ‘unacceptable’

The European Union said an escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was "unacceptable" and called for new peace talks as Armenia and Azerbaijan once more traded accusations of shelling in and…

Read More Here

EU Commission proposes rules for adequate minimum wage in EU

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday standards for setting adequate minimum wages across the 27-nation bloc to reduce wage inequality and in-work poverty, increase incentives to work and help sustain…

Read More Here

EU leaders seek common ground on COVID tests as virus spreads

EU leaders aim to make progress on common testing and vaccination strategies at a video conference on Thursday and step up coordination in fighting the fast-expanding COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.…

Read More Here

Supply of potential COVID-19 vaccines to start in earnest in April – EU’s von der Leyen

The delivery of potential COVID-19 vaccines to European Union countries could begin in earnest in April, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. "The…

Read More Here

UPDATED: European Council President Charles Michel says EU to have 3 or 4 vaccines by 2021

European Council President Charles Michel said on Wednesday that "three or four" safe and effective vaccines against coronavirus are likely to be approved by the end of the year or…

Read More Here

Pope Francis expresses dream of a Europe of solidarity and respect for all peoples

Pope Francis, in a letter to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, shares his visions of a Europe of the future, marked with solidarity, friendship and unity, and true…

Read More Here

Belgium becomes EU nation with highest rate of COVID-19 infections

The Belgian government will convene on Friday to decide on a potential new national lockdown with the country now suffering the highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100,000 citizens, according…

Read More Here

Trust in EU remains stable during pandemic

Trust in the European Union has remained stable since autumn 2019 at 43%, despite variations of public perceptions during the pandemic. Trust in national governments and parliaments has increased (40%, +6 percentage…

Read More Here

Domestic tourism recovers faster than foreign tourism – Eurostat

During the early part of 2020, the tourism industry suffered as a result of travel restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourist numbers dropped sharply during March and…

Read More Here

EU cuts Canada, Georgia and Tunisia from safe traveller list

The European Union is set to cut Canada, Georgia and Tunisia from a “white list” of countries from which travellers can visit the bloc without COVID-related restrictions such as quarantines…

Read More Here

EU leaders to hold COVID-19 video-conference Oct.29

European Union leaders will hold a video-conference next week to discuss how to better cooperate against the COVID-19 pandemic as infections rise, European Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter,…

Read More Here

UK unveils new rules to bar entry to EU criminals

Britain said it would introduce new rules from January to bar entry to people from the European Union with a criminal record, meaning those from the bloc would be treated…

Read More Here

Roberta Metsola nominated as European Parliament Vice President

The centre-right European Popular Party has formally announced the nomination of PN MEP Roberta Metsola to serve as Vice President of the European Parliament. She will replace the Irish Mairead McGuinness…

Read More Here

EU signs supply deal with J&J on potential COVID-19 vaccine

The European Commission said on Wednesday it had signed a contract on behalf of EU states with U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson for the supply of 400 million doses of…

Read More Here

EU countries back binding green farming schemes

European Union agriculture ministers agreed on Wednesday to set aside part of the bloc's massive farming policy budget for programmes that protect the environment. The EU is nearing the end…

Read More Here

Global powers push to end Nagorno-Karabakh fighting

Armenia's president headed to Brussels for talks with the European Union and NATO military alliance on Wednesday in a renewed drive to end the heaviest fighting since the 1990s over…

Read More Here

UPDATED: EU’s Barnier says trade deal with UK “within reach”

The European Union's Brexit negotiator said on Wednesday that a new trade deal with Britain was "within reach" if both sides work hard to overcome the sticking points in the…

Read More Here

EU ready to approve new measures for economies if necessary – Dombrovskis

The European Union will be ready to approve new measures to support its member states should the economies suffer further after a new surge in COVID-19 cases, its Vice President…

Read More Here

Brussels opts for English for COVID vaccines in the EU

COVID-19 vaccines should have labels and packages with information only in English, European Union regulators have agreed, loosening multilingual requirements that could slow the roll-out of shots in the continent.…

Read More Here

EU reacts to Turkish Cypriot Community leader’s Ersin Tatar’s election

The Turkish Cypriot community selected Mr. Ersin Tatar as its new leader. "It is important now to see a constructive engagement with a view to reaching a comprehensive settlement and…

Read More Here

EU needs long-term plan to tackle 5G fake news, 15 EU countries say in joint call

The European Union needs to come up with a strategy to counter disinformation about 5G technology or risk false claims derailing its economic recovery and digital goals, a group of…

Read More Here

EU leaders to hold almost weekly video-conferences on COVID-19 pandemic

European Union leaders have agreed to hold video conferences almost on a weekly basis to coordinate national measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, as the continent battles a spike in infections.…

Read More Here

EU leaders aim for deal in December on climate change target

European Union countries edged closer to agreement on a new climate target at a summit on Thursday but deferred a deal on the emissions-cutting goal to a meeting in December.…

Read More Here

Some movement on Brexit, Merkel says after EU summit talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reported "some movement" on Thursday in talks between European Union leaders about an agreement with the United Kingdom on their post-Brexit relations. "In some places there…

Read More Here

UK expresses disappointment at EU Summit Conclusions

U.K. chief negotiator David Frost has expressed disappointment in his first reactions after the conclusions of the European Council on Brexit. In a tweet this afternoon, Frost said that he…

Read More Here

European Union agrees to help Mozambique tackle insurgency

The European Union has granted Mozambique’s request for assistance in tackling a wave of attacks in the country’s north by rebels with links to Islamic State, the EU delegation in…

Read More Here

EU imposes sanctions on 6 individuals over poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny

The EU imposed sanctions on Thursday on six individuals and one entity it believes was involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The individuals are some of…

Read More Here

New Swiss chief negotiator seeks “good will” to resolve EU impasse

Switzerland swapped out its chief negotiator with the European Union on Wednesday, aiming for what Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called "new elan" in talks over a stalled bilateral treaty with…

Read More Here

Russia’s economic ties with EU need to be preserved despite strained relations, foreign minister says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow's ties with the European Union did not look very optimistic, but that economic interests needed to be preserved. European Union…

Read More Here

Europe plans greener buildings to cut emissions, fight poverty

The European Union set out plans on Wednesday to launch a wave of green building renovations across Europe to cut greenhouse gas emissions and help people struggling to pay energy…

Read More Here

EU countries adopt common travel guidelines amid pandemic

European Union countries on Tuesday approved a series of guidelines including a “traffic-light” system aimed at facilitating free movement across the bloc and avoiding further travel disruption during the coronavirus…

Read More Here

EU plans 9 billion euros investment for Balkans

The European Union's enlargement commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, said on Thursday that the bloc has designed a 9 billion-euro ($10.6 billion) investment plan to aid the economic recovery of the six…

Read More Here

European Parliament wont accept “little MFF” – rapporteur

MEPs have maintained their hard positions on refusing any reductions from the proposed EU's multi-annual budgetary framework, after breaking off talks yesterday with the Council, lamenting that long-term EU priorities…

Read More Here

EU must wean itself off Asia for key drug ingredients to avoid shortages

European drugmakers will struggle to bring production back to the region, but the industry needs to diversify supplies to avoid shortages, a top EU official said on Wednesday, as worries…

Read More Here

Lithuania blocks millions of euros of EU funding to Belarus

Lithuania has blocked 5.8 million euros ($6.83 million) in payments to Belarus for an EU-funded cross-border development programme, fearing the money could be misused, the Lithuanian government revealed. The European…

Read More Here

UPDATED: EU seals supply deal with Johnson & Johnson on COVID-19 vaccine

The European Commission said on Thursday it had sealed a supply deal with Johnson & Johnson for the supply of its potential COVID-19 vaccine for up to 400 million people.…

Read More Here

France, Germany push for EU sanctions on Russians over Navalny poisoning

France and Germany said they would propose European Union sanctions against Russian individuals after receiving no credible answers from Moscow over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with a…

Read More Here