European Union

EU Duties on US goods come into force

BBC The European Union (EU) has introduced retaliatory tariffs on US goods as a top official launched a fresh attack on President Donald Trump's trade policy. The duties on €2.8bn…

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Brexit talks must intensify over summer

RTE: Brexit talks must intensify over the summer, particularly on the issue of the Irish border, or Britain risks being unable to withdraw smoothly from the European Union, Ireland's foreign minister…

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EU launches legal proceedings in WTO against China

The EU has launched legal proceedings in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against Chinese legislation that undermines the intellectual property rights of European companies. Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: "Technological innovation…

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Former Chair of Vote Leave campaign applies for ‘carte de sejour’ in France

Nigel Lawson, has denied accusations of Brexit hypocrisy after it emerged he was in the process of applying for a French residency card. The Tory former chancellor who chaired the Vote…

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BREXIT: “Stop playing hide and seek” – Michel Barnier to UK Government

European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier urged the British Government 'to stop playing hide and seek' over the country's aims for trade ties and went on warning that delays…

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Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin meet

Germany has a strategic interest in good relations with Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this following meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meetings focused on Syria, the conflict…

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EU proposes upgrade for Visa Information System

The European Commission proposed to upgrade the Visa Information System (VIS), the database containing information on persons applying for Schengen visas, in order to better respond to evolving security and…

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European Agenda on Migration: Still fragile situation gives no cause for complacency

While joint EU efforts have continued to show results, the situation remains fragile due to ongoing migratory pressure, as evidenced by newly increased arrivals along the Eastern and the Western…

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Juncker to meet Polish Prime Minister amid rule-of-law dispute between Poland and the EU

Poland’s prime minister and the European Commission chief will meet for talks on Wednesday amid a protracted rule-of-law dispute between Warsaw and Brussels, according to reports. Radio Poland, reports that the…

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‘Constructive meeting’ between Iran and and the EU

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has hailed as "very good and constructive" the meeting he had in Brussels with the European Union's foreign-policy chief, Federica Mogherini. Zarif was in…

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WTO rules against the European Union in landmark Airbus, Boeing judgement

The World Trade Organisation ruled on Tuesday the European Union had ignored requests to halt all subsidies to plane maker Airbus, prompting the United States to threaten sanctions against European…

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Iran Nuclear Deal – US doesn’t exclude sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran

The US administration is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran following his withdrawal of the US from the international nuclear deal. Trump’s most senior foreign policy aides…

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“Europe and solidarity go together. Solidarity is part of Europe’s founding pact” – Juncker

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned against populism in his address at the State of the Union conference in Florence on Friday. "Populists and nationalist have had material to feed…

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European Commission launches online public consultation

On Europe Day, the European Commission launched an online public consultation addressed to all Europeans, asking them what direction they want the European Union to take in the future. This…

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The EU takes an active role to try to salvage the Nuclear Deal

The Guardian reports that "The European Union is scrambling to arrange a crisis meeting with Iran after Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement, as the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said…

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Europe Day

Today is Europe Day. Observed on May 9 each year, this day marks the presentation of the Schuman Declaration in 1950, which proposed and eventually led to the creation of a…

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Proposals at EU level to deal with unfair competition rules in the airline industry

Watered-down proposals to tackle unfair competition from foreign airlines seem to be accepted by European diplomats. Countries, such as France and Germany, and the European Parliament, have pushed for airlines’…

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Malta and Estonia register highest increase in CO2 emissions – Eurostat

Eurostat estimates that in 2017 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 1.8% in the European Union (EU), compared with the previous year. CO2 emissions are a…

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DiscoverEU – 15,000 teenagers to benefit from free Interrail pass

The European Commission took its first steps towards implementing a scheme that will give 15,000 teenagers a free Interrail pass once they turn 18 at the start of 2018. This…

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Karl Marx isn’t responsible for all the atrocity his alleged heirs have to answer for – Jean Claude Juncker

Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission defended Karl Marx’s record as a philosopher, arguing that he is not “responsible” for mistakes and atrocities committed in his name…

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EU Spring 2018 Economic Forecast: Expansion to continue amid new risks

"The economic expansion in Europe is set to continue at a solid pace this year and next, supporting further job creation. However, we also see increased risks on the horizon.…

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European Commission proposed its post Brexit Budget – It proposes a new mechanism to protect the EU budget from financial risks linked to generalised deficiencies regarding the rule of law

The European Commission today unveiled its proposed budget for 2021-2027 describing it as a a pragmatic and modern. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Today is an important moment for our Union.…

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Malta fl-Ewropa – 14-il sena wara. Riflessjonijiet

Erbatax-il sena ilu, Malta saret membru sħiħ tal-Unjoni Ewropeja. Kien mument storiku li għext mill-viċin u kellu tifsira kbira għal pajjiżi u għalija. Tul dawn l-erbatax-il sena pajjiżi inbidel u…

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BREXIT- The Lords deal another blow to May

The House of Lords has voted for an amendment to the Brexit withdrawal bill which gives the Parliament the final say on what the UK government should do if the deal…

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EU Commission proposes new rules to facilitate free movement of companies, safeguarding against unfair treatment of employees and tax evasion

The European Commission has proposed new rules aimed at facilitating the free movement of companies within the Union. This proposal seeks to harmonise rules on moving, merging and dividing companies…

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EU member states approve ban on the use of three pesticides harmful to bees

EU member States on Friday approved a proposal from the European Commission to ban the use in the open of three pesticides found to be harmful to bees. The use…

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EU proposes measures to tackle online disinformation

The European Commission is proposing measures to tackle disinformation online, including an EU-wide Code of Practice on Disinformation, support for an independent network of fact-checkers, and a series of actions…

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Macron’s evolution towards becoming a global leader

There was a lot of anticipation for the visit of the French President to the United States. A lot of column inches and words have been said on what was…

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Brexit makes no sense at all – Jurgen Klopp

On the eve of an important UEFA Champions League Semi Final match against Roma (to be played today), Liverpool's coach Jurgen Klopp made an important statement in relation to BREXIT.…

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EU Commission sets new, EU-wide rules for the protection of whistleblowers

Recent scandals such as Dieselgate, Luxleaks, the Panama Papers or the ongoing Cambridge Analytica revelations show that whistleblowers can play an important role in uncovering unlawful activities that damage the…

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New Poll shows Europeans think life is generally fair

New poll shows most Europeans think life is generally fair, but have concerns over justice, political decisions and income inequality. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made fairness in the EU the cornerstone…

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Northern Ireland’s Border remains an issue in BREXIT talks

The U.K.’s two post-Brexit customs proposals to solve the Northern Ireland border issue have been rejected by the EU. Earlier this week, a report on The Telegraph, indicated that the…

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Europe Explained – EU Enlargement Process Update

While it is generally known that the European Union is on a continuing path to further enlargement, few are those that know which process precedes a country becoming effectively a…

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15 years ago – The EU Big Enlargement Signed and Delivered

The 16 of April 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the accession treaties of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia,…

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First Citizens’ Dialogue in Gozo discussing the future of the Cohesion Policy for Malta and Gozo

In the first Citizens' Dialogue ever to be held on Gozo, the European Commission Representation in Malta will be discussing the future of the EU's Cohesion Policy with two EU…

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Europe’s vicious circle of misery

You feel World War III is fast approaching when you are in a room in Brussels, during a technical working group meeting, discussing money. Who gets to pay -…

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18% increase in number of people who acquired EU citizenship

Eurostat data on those who acquired European Citizenship show that in 2016, 994 800 people obtained citizenship of an EU-28 Member State, a increase of 18 % compared with 2015. This increase occurred after…

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Hungary – Reactions to Orban’s Victory

Winning a two-thirds majority for the third time straight time in Sunday’s election, gives Victor Orban the power to change constitutional laws - potentially paving the way for further friction…

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The election in Hungary

Hungary’s right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is the second-longest-serving government leader after Germany's Angela Merkel, seeks a third consecutive term in parliamentary elections on Sunday. Opinion polls show…

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Politico – Guy Verhofstadt on BREXIT

POLITICO: If there’s one member of the European Parliament who is thriving on the Brexit process (rather than mourning it, or popping Champagne bottles) it’s Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal…

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Euro area annual inflation up to 1.4%

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.4% in March 2018, up from 1.1% in February, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European…

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Cheap euro transfers everywhere in the Union and fairer currency conversions

The European Commission is proposing to make cross-border payments in euro cheaper across the entire EU. Under current rules, there is no difference for euro area residents or businesses if…

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February 2018 Euro area unemployment at 8.5% EU28 at 7.1% – Malta (with Germany) registers second lowest unemployment rate

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in February 2018, down from 8.6% in January 2018 and from 9.5% in February 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded…

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Does cheese equal instability? What does cheese got to do with it?

Charles de Gaulle was right. The former president articulated the despair of French officials throughout history when he said, “How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?”…

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