European Union

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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Finland offers Artificial Intelligence course as ‘Christmas gift’ to all EU citizens

Finland is offering a hi-tech Christmas gift to all European Union citizens - a free-of-charge online course in artificial intelligence, in their own language, officials said on Tuesday. The tech-savvy…

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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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