European Union

Haggling begins as EU prepares to set 2020 fishing quotas

Haggling over EU fishing quotas for next year has begun in Brussels, and fisheries ministers from member states look likely to ignore scientific advice and argue for higher quotas for…

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Over 10 persons arrested for buying counterfeit euros on the Darknet

Between 9 and 11 December 2019 Europol coordinated joint raids against the sale of counterfeit euro banknotes on illegal platforms on the Darknet. Law enforcement authorities from seven EU Member…

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Consumers and businesses set to save money thanks to new EU cross-border payments rules

As of Monday, consumers and businesses in non-eurozone Member States will enjoy cheaper cross-border payments in euro. New EU rules will ensure that all cross-border payments in euro in non-eurozone…

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European Commission approves maritime transport support schemes in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Sweden

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules five schemes to support maritime transport in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Sweden. The schemes encourage ship registration in…

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European Commission examining EU curbs on state-backed foreign companies

Brussels’ competition chief is examining ways of curbing unfair competition from foreign state-owned enterprises, as EU member states urge closer scrutiny of Chinese investment on the continent. Margrethe Vestager,…

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European Commission reinforces tools to ensure Europe’s interests in international trade

The European Commission unveiled a proposal that will allow the European Union to protect its trade interests despite the paralysis of the multilateral dispute settlement system in the World Trade…

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‘Bad news for Europe’: EU reacts to Johnson’s big Brexit win

European Union leaders have welcomed Boris Johnson's election triumph and called for a quick Brexit vote in the British parliament, even as the Czech prime minister warned it was "bad…

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Greece seeks EU protection against Turkish activities

Greece seeks wider European support against Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and hopes EU leaders will condemn Ankara in the two-day summit in Brussels, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said.…

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EU ‘ready’ for trade talks with UK

The EU is "ready for the next steps" on Brexit following the U.K. general election result, said European Council President Charles Michel. Speaking at an EU leaders' summit in Brussels shortly…

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EU leaders agree to 2050 carbon neutrality deal without Poland

After marathon talks in Brussels, the leaders of European Union member states — bar Poland — agreed early Friday to commit to going carbon neutral by 2050. "We have reached an…

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Pressure mounts to grill Malta’s PM at EU summit, Dutch PM Rutte warns Muscat

Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat's presence at the EU summit in Brussels is sharpening demands that other leaders discuss the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. "I hope that he…

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Protecting human rights tops EU citizens’ list of values

A Eurobarometer survey, published this week, asked citizens, among several topics, which political issue the Parliament should deal with as a matter of priority. Parliament’s autumn Eurobarometer survey traditionally asks…

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How safe is the food you eat?

An EU investigation uncovered a case of food fraud in Georgia, where a producer was found to be adding lesser-quality ingredients to products exported to EU countries. Authorities were alerted…

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Photo Story: Greenpeace action on European Council building in Brussels

Greenpeace environmental activists hang a giant placard reading "Climate Emergency" and light flares on the European Council Europa building ahead of a European summit in Brussels, Belgium, 12 December 2019.…

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EU leaders offer money to reluctant east to push 2050 climate neutrality

European Union leaders on Thursday will push to agree to make their bloc climate neutral by 2050, luring reluctant eastern member states with promises of extra money for their heavily…

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International coalition of media and transparency groups have called on EU leaders to ‘put pressure on Malta’s PM to quit immediately’

Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, is facing renewed pressure to quit immediately as EU leaders are urged to take a stand on the “desperate” situation in the country at a…

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EU Commission presents the European Green Deal

The European Commission presented the European Green Deal that sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy, improving people's health and quality of…

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Charles Michel to represent UK at EU summit

Charles Michel will be part-British — at least for this week’s European Council summit. Michel, the Council president, will represent the U.K. in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s absence, a senior…

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EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey: €6 billion to support refugees and local communities in need fully mobilised

The European Union has fully mobilised the €6 billion operational budget of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, in line with its commitment to the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement.…

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President von der Leyen on the roadmap for a European Green Deal

Do we, humans, want to continue living well and safely on this planet? Humanity faces an existential threat – the whole world is beginning to see. Forests burn from America…

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Dutch MEP Sophie in ’t Veld states Malta’s political scandal is a rule-of-law emergency for all the EU

Sophie in ’t Veld, a Dutch MEP from the Democraten 66 party, who was head of the European Parliament's ad hoc mission to Malta earlier this month, wrote an opinion…

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MEPs push for high ambitions at the COP25 in Madrid

A delegation from the European Parliament is in Madrid to participate in the COP25, where they will meet with key stakeholders in the negotiations. An official delegation from the European…

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European Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List

The European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational…

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Most Italians against leaving EU – CENSIS report

Most Italians are not in favour of following Britain's lead and leaving the European Union, with 62% saying it would not be a good idea, according to a report released…

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Major European investors urge EU to enshrine climate goal in law

European investors representing over six trillion euros in assets are calling on European Union governments to speed up efforts to enshrine the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal in law. In…

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Scientists warn Europe to do more to protect its rivers and lakes

More than 5,500 scientists have signed an open letter saying that Europe is facing a severe threat to its freshwater biodiversity and must do more to protect its rivers and…

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The EU adopted €297 million in concrete actions for refugees and local communities in Jordan and Lebanon

The European Union adopted a new €297 million assistance package to support refugees and host communities in Jordan and Lebanon via the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the…

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MEPs call for a reduction in pesticides to protect bees

Further reducing use of pesticides, more funds for research and better monitoring are urgently needed to save the EU’s bees, says the Environment Committee. The Environment, Public Health and Food…

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New Frontex regulation enters into force

Today, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is gaining new responsibilities and tools to more effectively support EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries in managing their external…

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Photo Story: First weekly college meeting of the new European Commission

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen (C) pose with new EU Commissioners for the official picture during the first weekly college meeting of the new European Commission in Brussels,…

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EU court upholds tightened firearms ban

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Tuesday dismissed the Czech Republic's legal challenge against the ban on semi-automatic rifles for private use introduced after terrorist attacks in 2015. The…

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Putin speaks by phone with von der Leyen

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday and congratulated her on her new position, according to the Kremlin. The two leaders also…

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Europeans show record support for the euro, majority want to remove 1 and 2 cent coin

More than three in four citizens think that the single currency is good for the European Union, according to the latest Eurobarometer results. This is the highest support since surveys…

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Warsaw wins 2020 Access City Award for making the city more accessible to citizens with disabilities

The 2020 Access City Award goes to the city of Warsaw, in Poland. By involving people with disabilities and accessibility needs in its endeavour to make the city more accessible,…

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Survey reveals more than half of EU consumers have environmental impact in mind when shopping

The European Commission released its 2019 edition of the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard. It shows that the overall gap in consumer conditions is narrowing between the different regions of the EU;…

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Jean-Claude Juncker gives his last news briefing

Jean-Claude Juncker gave one last news briefing before he hands over power to Ursula von der Leyen. The Commission handover was delayed a month after parliament rejected three commissioner-candidates from…

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Charles Michel replaces Donald Tusk as EU Council President

Donald Tusk's five years as Head of the European Council ended as he's replaced by the former Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel. The other major change will see Jean Claude…

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EU risks splits over Brexit trade talks

The EU is ready for the next phase of Brexit but risks greater internal divisions over trade talks with the UK, one of its incoming leaders has said. In…

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Malta and eleven other EU countries reject move to expose companies’ tax avoidance

Twelve EU countries, including Malta, have blocked a proposed new rule that would have forced multinational companies to reveal how much profit they make and how little tax they pay…

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Recruitment of foreign doctors is new flashpoint in Europe’s health debates

Politico reports that outgoing Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis waded into the increasingly heated EU debate over the recruitment of foreign health care professionals, criticizing the U.K. for its plan…

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Benin orders EU ambassador to leave

Benin ordered EU ambassador Oliver Nette to leave the country on Wednesday, diplomatic sources told AFP news agency. The Beninese government accused the ambassador of the European Union mission of interfering in…

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Africa-Europe Alliance: Denmark provides €10 million for sustainable development under the EU External Investment Plan

The European Commission and Denmark signed a transfer agreement for a voluntary contribution of around €10 million (DKK 75 million) to the EU External Investment Plan. The European Investment Plan…

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2018 Sakharov laureate Oleg Sentsov receives his award

The 2018 Sakharov Prize winner, Ukrainian film director and human rights activist Oleg Sentsov, received his award in Strasbourg on 26 November. He was able to receive the 2018 prize…

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Photo Story: Family photo for new European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) poses with new members of EU Commission, after the vote of Members of the EU Parliament on her college of commissioners, in…

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Berlin and Paris outline plan for EU makeover

Germany and France have drawn up a blueprint for a two-year "Conference on the Future of Europe" aimed at overhauling nearly all aspects of how the EU functions, including possible…

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MEPs set to approve new EU executive to take office on December 1

MEPs are expected on Wednesday to finally approve a new executive European Commission under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen after delays and disagreements. Von der Leyen needs a…

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Euro zone urged to strengthen domestic demand

The euro zone needs to strengthen domestic demand, including via greater public investment, if it is to withstand weakness abroad, the European Central Bank’s new President Christine Lagarde said on…

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EU ambassadors pave the way for new Commission to start work in December

EU ambassadors on Friday gave their approval to a document that would allow the next European Commission to start work in December without a U.K. commissioner, according to three diplomats…

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Commerzbank CEO calls on EU to stick to principles in face of U.S. policy

Commerzbank’s chief executive criticized the U.S. administration for unilateral dealmaking on Friday and called for Germany and Europe to “stick to our principles”. Martin Zielke’s comments come as Europe debates…

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ACP-EU : Agreement on climate change, migration and post-Cotonou

MEPs and African, Caribbean and Pacific MPs agreed on climate change, migration, sustainable growth and the post-Cotonou agreement. Carlos Zorrinho (S&D, PT) Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly said:…

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EU-China landmark agreement against imitations and counterfeiting

The European Union (EU) and China have concluded negotiations on a bilateral agreement to protect 100 European Geographical Indications (GI) in China and 100 Chinese GI in the EU against…

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EU Parliament will vote on new Commission next week

The European Parliament will vote on Ursula von der Leyen's top team next Wednesday, paving the way for the new Commission to start work on December 1, Parliament President David…

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EU reinforces humanitarian support to Afghanistan with €40 million as crisis worsens

The European Commission has allocated an additional €40 million in emergency assistance for those affected by the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as well as for Afghan refugees in neighbouring…

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More than half a million asylum applications lodged in the EU so far in 2019

Some 515,000 asylum applications were registered in EU countries in the first nine months of 2019, according to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), a 10 per cent increase from…

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EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) comes into effect

The flag of the European Union (C) is seen flying in Singapore, 20 November 2019. The European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) will come into effect on 21 November and…

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EU on World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day is celebrated annually on 20th November. The goal of the day is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness…

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Six countries write to Juncker to support EU enlargement reform

Six EU member countries have responded to French proposals to overhaul the EU accession process, expressing qualified support for Paris' position. The letter follows the decision at last month's European Council…

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