European Union

EU humanitarian budget for 2020 to help people in over 80 countries

The European Commission has adopted its initial annual humanitarian budget for 2020 worth €900 million. The EU is the leading global humanitarian aid donor and helps people in over 80…

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EU to use revamped ‘Operation Sophia’ to enforce Libyan arms embargo

EU foreign minister decided this week to revive a maritime surveillance mission in the Mediterranean to enforce a potential cease-fire in Libya and a UN arms embargo against the country’s…

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Von der Leyen stresses Europe needs ‘credible military capabilities’

In order to respond to crises, the EU needs "credible military capabilities," the leader of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos…

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Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio says new EU migrant pact in the offing

The European Union will soon forge a new pact on migrants, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Tuesday. Speaking after meeting European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Commissioner for…

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DiscoverEU: 20,000 more young people will explore Europe in 2020

Around 20,000 18-year-olds are set to receive a travel pass under the fourth and latest round of DiscoverEU, which attracted some 75,000 applications from across Europe. These young Europeans, selected…

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Photo Story: Eurogroup President Centeno in Brussels

European Council President Charles Michel (L) welcomes Eurogroup President Mario Centeno before their meeting at the Europa building in Brussels, Belgium 20 January 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/FRANCISCO SECO / POOL

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EU must consider ways to support ceasefire in Libya: Borrell

Reuters reports that the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Monday that the European Union will discuss all ways to uphold a formal ceasefire in Libya if one is…

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Brussels alarmed by UK’s vow to diverge from EU rules

The UK’s pledge to diverge from EU rules after Brexit has provoked alarm in Brussels, with officials warning of an economically damaging split at the end of this year. European…

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EU denies reports of further Turkey aid cuts

An EU spokesman on Sunday denied media reports from the previous day that claimed the bloc had agreed to massive new cuts to pre-accession aid to Turkey. Germany's Funke Media Group…

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EU cuts pre-accession aid to Turkey by 75%

The EU has cut pre-accession aid to Turkey by 75%, according to a letter sent to the European Parliament by EU foreign affairs commissioner Josep Borrell and seen by the…

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Drought in southern Africa: EU releases over €22 million in humanitarian aid

The European Commission is mobilising a humanitarian aid package of €22.8 million to help address emergency food needs and support vulnerable people in Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The…

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Illegal migration into EU in 2019 down 92% from 2015-Frontex

Although the eastern Mediterranean and Balkan area registered growing migratory pressure, the number of irregular border crossings detected on the European Union's external borders in 2019 fell to the lowest…

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Parliament picks Verhofstadt for new president role

Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt will become president of the “Conference on the Future of Europe,” an exercise to consider how the EU should be reshaped, according to a deal between…

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Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable

Apple could be forced to abandon its Lightning connector cable if European lawmakers get their way. The cable is used to charge and sync many Apple devices, such as the…

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Angela Merkel warns EU: ‘Brexit is a wake-up call’

In an exclusive FT interview, Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union must be more competitive. In this rare interview, she said Brexit is a “wake-up call” for the…

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Former top German EU diplomat suspected of spying

German prosecutors are investigating a former senior EU diplomat who works for a lobbying firm on suspicion of spying for China, Der Spiegel reported on Wednesday. Two employees of another lobbying firm…

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British MEPs say goodbye to the European Parliament

With the U.K. all but certain to leave the European Union on January 31, this week was the last plenary session in Strasbourg for the 72 British MEPs. They spent…

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Croatian Presidency priorities discussed in the European Parliament

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković presented the priorities of the Croatian presidency to the European Parliament and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Under the motto “A Strong Europe in a…

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King of Jordan warns Libya could be the new Syria

A war between the US and Iran would wreak "untold chaos" on the world, Jordan's King Abdullah II warned Wednesday, in a speech to European lawmakers on the tensions boiling…

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Around 7% of children in the EU live in different country to their nationality

EU figures estimate that 6.9 million children in Europe reside in a country different from the one on their passport. Around two-thirds of these hail from outside the bloc. The…

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EU launches ‘fair minimum wage’ initiative

The EU Commission has started talks with businesses and trade unions to ensure a fair minimum wage for all EU workers. However, the body said that they are not aiming…

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EU confirms there will be border checks inside UK under Brexit deal

There will be border checks on trade inside the UK under the Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson, the EU’s chief negotiator has said. Michel Barnier confirmed there would be…

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European Commission ramps up legal pressure against Poland

The European Commission on Tuesday turned to the Court of Justice of the EU to rein in Poland's judicial changes, asking it to order Warsaw to suspend the functioning of…

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New criticism for Von der Leyen over second phone

Ursula von der Leyen is facing fresh criticism over the wiping of a second mobile phone that could have been used as evidence in a parliamentary inquiry. The inquiry is…

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European Commission announces the Green Deal’s ‘Just Transition Mechanism’ towards a climate-neutral economy

Ursula Von der Leyen announced that the mobilisation of at least €1 trillion, will show the direction and unleash a great investment wave. “People are at the core of the…

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Less than half of EU travellers are aware of EU Passenger Rights

The European Commission today released the results of a Eurobarometer survey on passenger rights in the European Union (EU). According to the survey, 43% of EU citizens who have travelled…

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China and EU may hold summit in Beijing at end of March

China and the EU are expected to hold their annual summit at the end of March, two weeks before Beijing hosts a high-profile meeting with the leaders of Central and…

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European Commission steps up protection of European intellectual property in global markets

The European Commission has just published the latest report on protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in third countries. While developments have taken place since the publication of the…

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EU to host international donors’ conference for Albania to help with reconstruction after earthquake

The European Union will organise an international donors' conference on 17 February in Brussels to support the reconstruction efforts in Albania after the earthquake that struck the country at the…

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Irish foreign minister says EU will not be rushed in post-Brexit negotiations

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said on Sunday the European Union would not be rushed in negotiations with Britain to thrash out their post-Brexit relationship. “The European Union will approach…

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Judges from across Europe march to defend Polish peers

Judges from across Europe, many of them dressed in their judicial robes, marched silently in Warsaw on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Polish peers who are protesting a…

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UNHCR issues recommendations for EU to make 2020 year of change for refugee protection

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is calling on the European Union (EU) to make 2020 “the year of change for robust refugee protection”. On Thursday, the agency issued a set…

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Swiss unions call for ‘social agenda’ in EU relations

Switzerland’s largest trade union group has repeated its warning that any framework deal reached with the European Union must respect measures to protect wages from cross-border competition. At the annual…

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Von der Leyen: EU must keep promises to Albania and North Macedonia on accession

The 'door is open' for Albania and North Macedonia to join the European Union under current rules, Ursula von der Leyen insisted on Friday at the launch of Croatia's presidency.…

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European ministers meet to salvage Iran nuclear deal

European foreign ministers are expected to discuss the Iran crisis at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday after US President Donald Trump urged allies to “break away” from the…

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Lisbon European Green Capital 2020

The Lisbon European Green Capital 2020 initiatives will officially kick off on 10 January, and the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the sea and the planting of 20,000 trees…

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EU’s official: No-deal is more harmful for Britain than EU

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator said Thursday that if Britain wants as much access as possible to the bloc's market after it leaves, it won't have unfettered freedom to…

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Irregular migration to EU at lowest level since 2013

Irregular migration into the European Union has fallen to its lowest annual level since 2013, the European border and coast guard agency has said, despite a significant increase in the…

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Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Brussels

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj (L), European Council President Charles Michel (R) and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (C) at the…

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EU chief says future UK relationship ‘will not be the same as before’

EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU and UK will still be the "best of friends and partners" on 1 February - the day after the current…

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Von der Leyen issued an appeal for the U.S. and Iran for end to Middle East violence

"The use of weapons must stop now to give space for dialogue," the European Commission president said in a brief statement following a special meeting of her College of Commissioners…

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UPDATED: Libya calls for postponement of EU mission, EU clarifies no mission was scheduled

"We have not announced any" European mission in Libya but "we emphasize that on this front too, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy", Josep Borrell, "is very involved and…

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Germany seeks crisis meeting of EU foreign ministers

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on Sunday for a crisis meeting of his European Union counterparts this week to discuss escalating tension in the Middle East following the killing…

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Cleaner Air in 2020: 0.5% sulphur cap for ships enters into force worldwide

From 1 January 2020, the maximum sulphur content of marine fuels is reduced to 0.5% (down from 3.5%) globally – reducing air pollution and protecting health and the environment. Sulphur…

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Ursula von der Leyen to meet Boris Johnson

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet on Wednesday at 10 Downing Street, the European Commission said Friday. Downing Street confirmed the…

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European capitals of culture 2020: Galway and Rijeka prepare for a year of festivities

Rijeka in Croatia and Galway in Ireland are gearing up to take up their mantles in 2020 as European Capitals of Culture. Galway, Ireland and Rijeka, Croatia will host…

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Croatia takes over EU presidency

Croatia first-ever presidency of the European Union will start from 1 January 2020, for a six month period. Joining in 2013, Croatia is the most recent EU member state.…

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Falling populations pose ‘existential’ risk, Croatia warns EU

The EU must confront an “existential” problem of population decline faced by a swath of its member states, Croatia’s prime minister has warned. Andrej Plenkovic, the country’s centre-right prime minister,…

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Croatians believe that the fight against corruption must be the priority of Croatia’s EU Presidency

CROSOL – the Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity, in collaboration with Ipsos Puls, has published the results of a public opinion poll on Croatia’s presidency of the EU Council…

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Motorcycles and scooters to adopt European emissions standard Euro 5

From January 1 2020, new powered two-wheelers will have to comply with the requirements of European emissions standard Euro 5 that entails a reduction of about a third in emitted…

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EU urges Libya’s warring factions to ‘cease all military actions’

The EU has called on forces allied to rival Libyan governments to return to the negotiating table and end the conflict by political means. But the entry of Russia and…

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Immigration and climate change remain main concerns at EU level

According to the results of a new Eurobarometer survey released today, overall trust in the EU remains stable (at 43%), although slightly less than in spring (-1 percentage point). Trust…

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EU to evaluate the Chinese offer for European investors

This week the EU and China held the 25th round of negotiations for the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. This round saw the second exchange of market access offers…

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Frontex gears up for big expansion

As part of a beefed-up mandate that came into effect this month, Frontex, the Warsaw-based EU border agency, is expanding to set up a 10,000-strong corps of border and…

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Council of the EU and European Parliament reach preliminary agreement on rules for crowdfunding

The EU will have harmonised rules that make it easier for crowdfunding platforms to provide their services cross-border. The aim is to diversify opportunities for businesses to raise funding, expand…

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Africa-Europe Alliance: EU boosts pan-African Internet connectivity with €30 million

The EU has announced additional €30 million for the project “AfricaConnect”, that will provide affordable, high-capacity Internet for research and education networks across Africa. Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta…

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Photo Story: Ursula von der Leyen at the EP in Strasbourg, warns Brexit will harm UK more than EU

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with David McAllister, Member of Parliament from the EPP Group, before a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 18 December…

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