European Union

Former Portuguese PM ‘optimistic’ as EU Council top job decision nears

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, a front-runner to become the next president of the European Council, said he was optimistic ahead of the bloc's summit this week during which…

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Ukraine inches closer to EU dream

The European Union will formally begin Ukrainian accession talks today, rejecting Russia's attempts to force its former Soviet neighbour not to join Western alliances. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to give…

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EU targets Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ in new round of sanctions against Moscow

The EU has agreed a new package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. Among the measures is the targeting of Moscow’s shadow fleet of tankers moving liquefied…

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China wants EU tariffs on EVs gone by July 4 as talks resume

Beijing wants the European Union to scrap its preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by July 4, China's state-controlled Global Times reported, after an agreement by both sides to hold…

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UPDATED: Metsola officially becomes EPP nominee for European Parliament President; Weber re-elected to lead EPP

The President of the European Parliament and PN MEP Roberta Metsola has been officially nominated as EPP Group’s candidate for President of the European Parliament. The nomination was confirmed after…

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EU countries approve landmark nature law after delays

European Union countries approved a flagship policy to restore damaged nature on Monday, after months of delay, making it the first green law to pass since European Parliament elections this…

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EU agrees on start of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

European Union ambassadors agreed to formally to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the Belgian EU presidency said, adding this would take place at intergovernmental conferences on June 25.…

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EU leaders to discuss top jobs with line-up seemingly set

European Union leaders will debate policy goals for the next five years from defence to the economy, and who to place in top EU jobs, when they convene in Brussels…

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Estonia Confirms Stance on EU Top Posts

The Estonian government has formalized its position on filling top European Union roles, a process that continues in the latter half of this year following the recent elections. Estonia's primary…

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Eight EU countries call for restricting Russian diplomats’ movement

Eight European Union foreign ministers called on the EU to ban Russian diplomats from moving freely around the bloc and restrict them to countries where they are accredited, in a…

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UPDATED: EU court orders Hungary to pay 200 mln euros fine over immigration policies

Hungary must pay a 200-million-euro ($216 million) fine for not implementing changes to its policy of handling migrants and asylum seekers at its border, the European Union's top court said…

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European dairy, pork producers wary of Chinese retaliation for EV tariffs

Global food companies from dairy producers to pork exporters are on high alert for potential retaliatory tariffs from China following the European Union's decision on Wednesday to impose anti-subsidy duties…

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EU threatens higher tariffs on Chinese electric cars

The European Commission on Wednesday said it would impose provisional duties of up to 38.1% on imports of Chinese electric vehicles after an investigation into subsidies. However, Brussels said there…

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European banks to provide over €600M in recovery funds for Ukraine

Ukraine is set to receive hundreds of millions of euros from European banks to bolster its economy and eventually rebuild its infrastructure, according to several agreements signed in Berlin on…

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EU top jobs field narrows, von der Leyen set for second term

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appears on course for a second five-year term and Estonia's prime minister and Portugual's former premier are also in line for top jobs,…

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Russian politicians revel in EU election defeats for Macron, Scholz

Russian politicians gloated on Monday over heavy defeats for the parties of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in European Parliament elections, and the Kremlin said right-wing…

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Economy, migration, war top voters’ concerns in EU election – survey

The economy, migration and international conflicts were the top concerns for voters in the European Union election, data from the bloc's biggest member countries suggested on Monday. Provisional results in…

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Netherlands to kick off four days of EU elections across 27 nations

The Netherlands is the only EU country to start its polling so early, followed by Ireland on Friday. The rest of the EU nations hold their elections over the weekend,…

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EU struggles to counter Russian election disinformation

The European Union's disinformation-busting team last month debunked a Russian-language video on YouTube that said citizens were fleeing dictatorship in EU member Poland and seeking refuge in Belarus, a close…

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Belgian EU presidency urges governments to move toward muzzling Hungary

Belgium, current holder of the rotating Council of the EU presidency, is taking the extraordinary step of urging EU governments to consider moving ahead with the procedure to deprive Hungary…

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Once ostracised, Italy’s Meloni is now centre stage in Europe

When Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took power in 2022, far-right parties across Europe hailed her victory, expecting the fiery new leader in Rome to pursue a nationalist agenda and…

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Venezuela disinvites EU observers from upcoming election

Venezuela rescinded an invitation to European Union observers to monitor the presidential vote in July. The country's electoral authority cited EU sanctions against Venezuela for their decision on Tuesday. "They…

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EU debates training troops in Ukraine, no common view yet

European Union defence ministers on Tuesday debated the idea of training Ukrainian forces inside the country but did not reach a common position on the sensitive issue, EU foreign policy…

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EU’s Charles Michel backs recognition of Palestinian statehood

While European governments remain split over when — or whether — to recognize Palestinian statehood, European Council President Charles Michel said he would support the move. “I am in favor…

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EU’s Borrell asserts Ukraine’s right to strike Russia

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday urged countries to balance fear of escalation against Ukraine's need to defend itself, saying Kyiv had the right to use Western arms…

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Lithuania raps Hungary over hold-ups in EU military aid to Ukraine

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis lashed out at Hungary on Monday for blocking European Union decisions on foreign affairs, including military aid for Ukraine, and said the bloc had to…

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Twelve Moldovan parties clinch pro-Europe pact, but not all back president

Twelve parties in Moldova clinched a pact committing them to act in favour of European Union membership for the ex-Soviet state as the campaign for an October referendum on European…

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EU considers possible Rafah border mission

Talks on deploying a European Union mission at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza are at a preliminary stage and the deployment will not happen without an end to the…

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Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war identity

Richard Youngs, University of Warwick Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to…

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France’s Macron wants EU top job for Draghi

French President Emmanuel Macron wants a top job in Brussels for Italy's former Prime Minister Mario Draghi — it's just a matter of figuring out the right role. One of…

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Russia says EU will feel ‘full measure’ of retaliation over frozen assets plan

The European Union will feel the "full measure" of Russian retaliation over its plan to use income from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova…

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EU gives Hungary two months to address concerns over ‘sovereignty’ law

The European Commission said on Thursday it had given Hungary two months to alleviate concerns over a law that imposes jail terms for groups that accept foreign funds for political…

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Kremlin criticises EU plan to use revenue from frozen assets

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, said today that Russia would regard the seizure of revenue from its frozen assets in the EU as a violation of all norms of the…

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Moldova signs security and defense pact with EU

Moldova signed a security and defense partnership with the European Union on Tuesday — the first non-EU country to form such an agreement. The partnership will "enhance the country's resilience”…

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Ukraine and EU push to start membership talks in June

Brussels officials are pushing to begin formal negotiations over Ukraine joining the European Union as early as next month, according to people familiar with the matter. Behind the scenes, diplomats…

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Commissioner’s offering of EU ‘solidarity’ with Iran creates storm

EU commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič has insisted he was not offering “political support” to the Iranian regime after ending a post confirming the provision of satellite assistance to…

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Greek PM urges EU to tackle high prices ahead of elections

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged the European Union to bring down prices as soon as possible, which he labelled a crucial political challenge ahead of European parliamentary elections.…

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EU urges Georgia to withdraw ‘foreign agent’ bill

The European Union urged Georgia on Wednesday to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" law and warned that the measure would set back the country's ambitions to join the bloc. "The…

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French, Dutch seek EU sanctions on financial institutions helping Russia military

France and the Netherlands are seeking European Union sanctions on any financial institution in the world that helps Russia's military pay for goods or technology for making weapons, according to…

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Countries make late bid to salvage EU’s nature law

A group of 11 countries, led by Ireland, has made a last-ditch attempt to approve the EU's flagship policy to restore damaged nature, amid concerns the law could be shelved…

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EU agrees on a new migration pact

European Union nations endorsed sweeping reforms to the bloc’s failed asylum system on Tuesday as campaigning for Europe-wide elections next month gathers pace, with migration expected to be an important…

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EU draws up long-term security commitments to Ukraine

The European Union has drawn up pledges of long-term security support for Ukraine, assuring Kyiv of more weapons, military training and other aid for years to come, according to a…

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European election 2024: When it is and key issues you need to know

European Union citizens will vote on June 6-9 in elections to choose 720 new members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the next five years. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT The…

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Europe Day: celebrating solidarity, democracy and diversity

Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May, marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration which was presented in 1950. This founding document of the European Union laid the groundwork for…

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EU envoys agree to use profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Ambassadors from European Union countries agreed on Wednesday to use windfall profits from Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU for Ukraine's defence, the Belgian government said. Ministers still…

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EU adopts first law tackling violence against women

European Union (EU) countries on Tuesday gave the green light to the bloc's first law devoted to combatting violence against women. The sweeping new legislation aims to protect women in the…

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Europe must increase defence capabilities to be safe, says Poland’s Tusk

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that in order for Europe to avoid conflicts and be safe it must increase its defence capabilities, and he repeated his call for the…

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EU announces deal with Andorra and San Marino

European microstates Andorra and San Marino are to get expanded access to the EU's single market — but their important financial sectors are to be excluded for now. Once ratified,…

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Belgian ship joins EU Aspides mission in Red Sea

The Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has joined the European operation Aspides in the Red Sea. The Louise-Marie will participate in the Aspides mission for “just over five weeks” before moving onto…

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EU ends rule of law proceedings against Poland

The European Union Commission is to end six years of rule of law proceedings against Poland, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, marking the opening of a…

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EU’s Charles Michel: We must respond to current geopolitical chaos with further expansion

The European Union needs to respond to current geopolitical chaos with further expansion, European Council chief Charles Michel told Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. In an exclusive interview, he said he believes…

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EU condemns Russian ‘malicious cyber campaign’

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement on behalf of the bloc that “the European Union and its Member States, together with international partners, strongly condemn…

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EU offers 1 bln euros in economic, security support to Lebanon

The European Union has offered Lebanon a financial package of 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) to support its faltering economy and its security forces, European Commission President Ursula von der…

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Croatian president hits out at prospect of EU TikTok ban

Croatia’s president pushed back on a suggestion by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the EU could ban TikTok, saying Wednesday that member countries should be able to…

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Dombrovskis emphasizes that the EU must not neglect its newer members

Expanding the EU’s ranks has been an “overall” success — but an economic chasm between member countries persists, the bloc’s trade and economics chief said. Twenty years after 10 Central…

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Britain starts physical checks on fresh food imports from the EU

Britain launched physical checks on fresh food products imported from the European Union on Tuesday some three years after it left the bloc's single market and eight years after it…

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Von der Leyen says TikTok ban in EU is ‘not excluded’

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that banning TikTok in the European Union is an option, during a debate this evening in Maastricht, featuring parties' lead candidates for the…

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