European Union

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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Major trade partners seek compensation from UK and EU over Brexit

Leading trade partners are seeking compensation from the U.K. and EU over Brexit uncertainty that has disrupted pre-Christmas trade. Some 15 countries — including heavyweights such as Australia and the…

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EU-Singapore agreement to enter into force on 21 November 2019

EU Member States endorsed the trade agreement between the EU and Singapore. This means the agreement will enter into force as soon as 21 November. President of the European Commission…

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EU should drop oil, gas and coal funding, say ministers

The European Union should halt funding of oil, gas and coal projects, EU finance ministers said, potentially cutting €2bn of yearly investments. The finance ministers called upon the European Investment…

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EU heavyweight states push for joint supervisor against money laundering

The European Union’s largest states are pushing for the establishment of a new supervisory authority that would take over from states the oversight of money laundering at financial firms, after…

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EU creates permanent force to help manage borders

The EU on Friday formally established its first standalone border force, boosting the Frontex service with a new permanent corps that will number 10,000 officers by 2027. The adoption by…

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Von der Leyen: ‘Europe must learn the language of power’

The European Union needs to take a more active role in global politics if it wants to protect its interests, incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on…

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DiscoverEU: 20,000 travel passes available for 18-year-olds to explore Europe next summer

The Commission is launching a new application round for DiscoverEU travel passes, which allows participants to travel across Europe, learn about its cultural heritage, whilst developing their own knowledge and…

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EU to pay Turkey millions to boost its coast guard

The European Union is preparing to pay Turkey tens of millions to help bolster its coast guard, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as increasing numbers of migrants and refugees…

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Maltese heroes in EU-wide Campaign

Six people from Malta have been selected as ‘local heroes’ in an ongoing campaign by the EU Commission. The EU Protects campaign features 274 individuals from the 28 EU states…

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Erasmus+: EU will invest over €3 billion in young Europeans to study or train abroad in 2020

The European Commission published its 2020 call for proposals for the Erasmus+ programme. 2020 is the last year of the current European Union programme for mobility and cooperation in education, training,…

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EU-China agreement protects 26 Italian products

The European Commission said Wednesday that it has reached a landmark agreement with Beijing to protect 100 European Geographical Indication (GI) products, including 26 Italian ones, in China and 100…

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UK, US could take part in EU military projects under draft plan

A post-Brexit U.K. and the United States could take part in projects under the EU's new military pact while leaving China — and possibly Turkey — on the outside, according to a…

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EU countries should admit that the euro was a strategic error – Hungary’s National Bank governor

European Union member states, both in and outside the euro zone, should admit that the euro has been a "strategic error", the Governor of the National Bank of Hungary (NBH) Gyorgy…

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EU weighs new anti-money laundering body in wake of scandals

The EU is to explore the creation of a central authority to crack down on money laundering activity after a series of high-profile scandals have underlined Europe’s weaknesses in preventing…

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EU has agreed Brexit delay until January 2020

EU Council President Donald Tusk says the bloc has agreed to delay the Brexit deadline until 31 January 2020 at the latest. The decision will now be "formalised through a…

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EU ready to sign off Brexit extension to 31 January 2020

The EU is ready to sign off on a Brexit extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified, according…

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EU ‘very unlikely’ to decide on Brexit extension before Tuesday

Sky News quotes a senior EU official saying the EU is "very unlikely" to decide on an extension to Brexit negotiations before Tuesday. EU leaders are deciding whether to opt…

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Additional €2 million in humanitarian aid from the EU for refugees and migrants in Bosnia

With winter approaching and thousands of migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina living outside of adequate facilities, the European Commission has today announced an additional €2 million in humanitarian…

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EU ambassadors meet in Brussels over Brexit delay talks

European Union ambassadors are meeting in Brussels Friday to discuss what kind of extension to the Brexit deadline they could propose to Britain. There is a large consensus among the…

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Discrimination falls, but wide differences remain across EU

Support for LGBTI relationships has grown in Europe, but it varies considerably between EU member states, according to a new Eurobarometer survey on discrimination in Europe. Also, the report highlighted…

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European Commission paves way for new scheme enabling European artists to work abroad

The Commission has successfully tested a new scheme to promote the mobility of artists and cultural professionals. i-Portunus, a pilot funded through the EU's Creative Europe programme, is a concrete…

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EU calls for runoff vote in Bolivia

The EU, Colombia, United States and others have urged Bolivia to hold a second election round amid protests and delays in reporting results. Official results put President Evo Morales…

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EU’s decision on whether to grant Brexit extension will depend on how MPs will vote tonight – Tusk

The EU will grant a further Brexit extension on the basis of how MPs will vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, the European Council president Donald Tusk…

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Brussels insists business as usual amid Brexit delay request from UK

As he emerged from a "short and normal" meeting with EU Ambassadors in Brussels this morning, the EU's Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier joked with waiting reporters saying, "you are very…

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North Macedonia calls snap election after EU talks setback

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has called snap elections following a decision by EU leaders to postpone opening membership talks with his country and neighbouring Albania. French President Emanuel…

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European Labour Authority starts its work

The European Labour Authority this week started its activities with an inaugural ceremony and the first meeting of its Management Board. The launch took place two years after European Commission…

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