European Union

EU countries complain to Cyprus over sham marriages

Romania and Portugal have complained to Cyprus over the apparently rampant phenomenon of sham marriages between EU citizens from other states and third-country nationals with the involvement of people traffickers,…

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EU to launch new plan to fight cancer

To mark World Cancer Day, the European Commission has announced it's to launch a new initiative to fight cancer in the EU by the end of the year. Cancer is…

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Boris Johnson says ‘no need’ for UK to follow EU rules on trade

Boris Johnson has set out his vision for a trade deal with the EU, saying there is "no need" for the UK to follow Brussels' rules. The PM called…

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EU to back Spain over Gibraltar claims

The EU will back Spain over its territorial claims to Gibraltar in the next phase of Brexit negotiations by giving Madrid the power to exclude the British overseas territory from…

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European Commission takes first step to launch negotiations with the United Kingdom

The European Commission has today issued a recommendation to the Council to open negotiations on a new partnership with the United Kingdom. This recommendation is based on the existing European…

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Tusk says Brussels ‘enthusiastic’ about Scotland re-joining the EU

Brussels “would be enthusiastic” if an independent Scotland sought to rejoin the EU, former European Council President Donald Tusk said Sunday. That prompted an immediate reaction from London, with U.K.…

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European Parliament wants binding rules on common chargers to be tabled by summer

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to put forward beefed-up rules on common chargers by July 2020 at the latest. There is an “urgent need for EU…

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Online shopping: European Commission and Consumer Protection authorities urge traders to bring information policy in line with EU law

The European Commission published the results of an EU-wide screening (“sweep”) of nearly 500 e-shops selling clothing and footwear, furniture and household items, and electric appliances. This sweep was carried…

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Johnson ‘infuriated’ with EU’s position on free trade deal

Boris Johnson’s government has said the UK will reject any trade deal with the EU that includes “high alignment” on rules with the bloc and any future role for the…

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Ambitious measures needed to ensure equal pay for women, say MEPs

MEPs urge the Commission to present an ambitious Gender Equality Strategy, including measures to reduce the gender pay gap. In the resolution adopted on Thursday by 493 votes in…

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Redistribution of seats in the European Parliament after Brexit

As of 1 February, the number and distribution of seats in the Parliament changes following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. From 1 February, the European Parliament will have 705…

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Boris Johnson plans to impose full customs and border checks on European goods

Boris Johnson is preparing to impose full customs and border checks on all European goods entering the UK after Brexit, in a ramping up of pressure on the coming EU-UK…

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A Photo Story: Celebration and regret as Britain leaves EU after 47 years

Almost four years on from the Leave vote in the 2016 referendum, the UK ceased to be a member of the bloc at midnight on Friday. The historic moment was…

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‘Strength does not lie in splintered isolation’: Von der Leyen says on Brexit Day

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council head Charles Michel and Parliament chief David Sassoli vowed "to find new ways of working together for our future as allies, partners and…

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EU to help tackle air pollution in Kosovo with €76.4 million

As part of his first visit to Kosovo, the European Union’s High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell will launch today a major EU-financed project to improve the environmental performance of the “Kosovo…

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Photo Story: ‘Brussels Calling’ Event in Brussels city centre

Buildings on Grand Place is lit with Union Jack flag colours in Brussels, Belgium, 30 January 2020. The city of Brussels is organizing the 'Brussels Calling' event to underline its…

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Brexit Day: Boris Johnson to hail ‘dawn of a new era’ on departure day

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hail the "dawn of a new era" on Friday, as the UK prepares to leave the European Union after 47 years. In a speech to…

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EU spells out rules for ‘high risk’ 5G suppliers

European cybersecurity officials agreed on a series of measures to downsize Huawei's presence in Europe due to concerns that it poses serious risks to the security of future 5G telecom…

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EU Presidents to discuss the EU’s future

The Presidents of the three main EU institutions will meet on Thursday in Bazoches to debate the future of the EU as well as current geopolitical challenges. European Parliament President…

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EU Civil Protection Mechanism activated for the repatriation of EU citizens from Wuhan

As the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus intensifies, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated following a request for assistance from France to provide consular support to EU citizens…

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UK delivers the instruments of ratification for Brexit

Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the European Union, Tim Barrow (L) on Wednesday delivered the instruments of ratification for Brexit, to European Council Secretary General Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen at…

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EU intends to withdraw 1 and 2 cents coins

The European Commission intends to withdraw all coins of 1 and 2 cents from circulation, in due course. The Commission’s 2020 work programme, which will be presented in its entirety…

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EU membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia should start in March -Merkel

Angela Merkel said on Monday she wants a deal on opening EU membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia in March, citing "geopolitical" necessity. "Anyone who looks at the map,…

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Summit with Western Balkans Parliament speakers on Tuesday in Brussels

Speakers from the Western Balkans parliaments will gather at the European Parliament, under President Sassoli's patronage, to discuss European prospects for their region. Parliamentary Speakers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,…

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Irish Prime Minister believes EU will have upper hand in trade talks with UK

The Irish prime minister has told BBC News he believes the EU will have the upper hand in the upcoming trade talks with the UK. Leo Varadkar compared the two…

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Photo Story: The new Geographical centre of the European Union

As the UK prepares to leave the European Union, the geographical centre of the grouping of countries has shifted. So far, the geographical center of European Union (EU) in Westerngrund…

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Only 189 migrants returned to Turkey despite EU refugee pact

Despite a 2016 refugee agreement between the European Union and Turkey, only 189 illegal migrants who crossed the Aegean Sea to Greece were returned to Turkey in 2019, according to new…

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EU and 16 WTO members agree to work together on an interim appeal arbitration arrangement

During the Davos meeting Switzerland, the EU and Ministers from 16 Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have agreed to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement that will allow the…

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Special summit on EU budget in February

European Council President Charles Michel on Saturday invited EU leaders to a special summit on February 20 to discuss the 2021-2027 EU budget. "The time has come to reach an…

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Shaping the Conference on the Future of Europe

The European Commission set out its ideas for shaping the Conference on the Future of Europe, which should be launched on Europe Day, 9 May 2020 and run for two…

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Artificial intelligence: EU must ensure a fair and safe use for consumers

MEPs want a strong set of rights to protect consumers in the context of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making. Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee approved on Thursday a…

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Turkey lashes out at EU over refugee deal

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday accused the European Union of failing to honour a refugee deal, strongly criticizing the bloc for failing to pay Turkey the amount it…

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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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