Turkish opposition steps up referendum campaign

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:16 +0000

Turkey's main opposition party CHP has detailed its hostility to the constitutional amendments proposed by the ruling AK party, which will be voted upon in a referendum on 12 September.

Bosnians hope to travel visa-free to EU by autumn

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:59:32 +0000

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3.8 million Muslim citizens moved a step closer to gaining visa-free travel to the Schengen zone after its parliament extended the mandate of the head of an anti-corruption agency on Wednesday (1 September).

US told EU to hide ACTA from public

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:52:57 +0000

The United States is behind the wall of secrecy surrounding global trade talks to combat counterfeiting, say EU policy sources, who claim that American officials are refusing to let their European counterparts publish the draft agreement online.

France laments EU absence from Israel-Palestine talks

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:45:01 +0000

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has deplored the absence of the European Union from direct talks between Israel and Palestine, which are due to start today (2 September) in Washington.

EU late payments review edging close to deal

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:35:49 +0000

Public bodies and private companies will be obliged to stick to deadlines in paying their creditors to avoid high interest rates on their debt, according to a draft deal between the EU institutions on the recast of the Late Payments Directive.

EU-China trade row looming over potatoes

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:22:37 +0000

A potentially damaging trade row has flared up between EU and Chinese trade authorities as China claims Europe has been unfairly subsidising potato starch exports.

France seeks own employment solutions

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:21:09 +0000

Despite the EU's clearly-defined employment policies and 2020 job target, France will seek its own ways of responding to its citizens' main concerns – access to the job market and job security. EurActiv France reports.

Poland pushes for 'solidarity' in EU budget review

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:20:18 +0000

On his first visit to Brussels, Polish President Bronisław Komorowski stressed his continued backing for European assistance to poorer regions and farmers ahead of EU budget talks later this year.

Working shorter hours 'protects climate, job market'

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:29:24 +0000

Working shorter hours could reduce the burden our lifestyles impose on the environment while offering solutions to the mass unemployment caused by the economic crisis, according to new research.

Obama ends Iraq war amid low-key atmosphere

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:18:02 +0000

No public festivities in the US and no statements from the EU – so far. The announcement by the White House of the end of the Iraq war, which took the lives of more than 4,700 coalition troops - including many Europeans - came amid a muted atmosphere.

Bundesbank member shocks with racial theories

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:59:46 +0000

Thilo Sarrazin, a Social Democrat politician and board member of the German Federal Bank, published his latest book on Monday (30 August), triggering a storm of disapproval over his racial and minority integration theories. He is now being threatened with dismissal both from his party and the Bundesbank.

MEPs call for 'better' EU-US security after Dutch arrests

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:34:05 +0000

Flaws in the US anti-terror system exposed by the recent arrest in Amsterdam of two suspected terrorists flying from Chicago pushed MEPs from the two main parties in the European Parliament to ask for "better" rather than "more" security checks ahead of a crucial new round of negotiations between the EU and the US over Passenger Name Records (PNRs).

Energy efficiency: The EU's new action plan

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:05:16 +0000

The European Union is drafting a new energy efficiency action plan to make good on its pledge to combat climate change and reduce its dependency on imported oil and gas.

Parliament and governments block EU patent

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:03:22 +0000

Seven EU countries and the European Parliament have told the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that the European Commission's plans for a single patent court are unacceptable, EurActiv has learned. The move leaves Europe deeply divided on an issue that goes to the heart of efforts to boost innovation and competitiveness.

France accuses Romania of dumping its Roma

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:58:14 +0000

Romania should not interpret freedom of movement in the EU as a right to get rid of its Roma at the expense of other countries, Pierre Lellouche, the French state secretary for European affairs, told the press yesterday (31 August) in Brussels, triggering a strong reaction from Bucharest.

Chinese tomato imports make Italian producers fear for EU food quality

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:32:27 +0000

Growing imports of Chinese tomatoes in Italy are making it impossible for local producers to maintain quality and could lead to the disappearance of the Italian tomato, said industry representatives, who are considering switching to more lucrative crops.

France to crack down on commodity derivatives

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:21:56 +0000

France warned European commissioners yesterday (31 August) that it will crack down on financial bets made in commodities markets to prevent speculative price movements.

EU eyes single ticket for multi-transport journey

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:17:04 +0000

Travellers could plan their trips in a one-stop shop, buying just one ticket for a journey with multiple means of transport instead of going through different long and complex ticketing procedures, if plans from the European Commission go ahead.

Make EU cross-border programmes more specific, says report

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:14:57 +0000

A recent European Commission report pinpoints a number of weaknesses in one of the European regional funding programmes and calls for priorities to be more specific in future. EurActiv France reports.

EU tells Serbia to give up Kosovo 'last battle'

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:10:10 +0000

Serbia has tabled an initiative to push through a resolution in the UN General Assembly declaring unilateral secession by Kosovo as "unacceptable". But major EU countries warned Belgrade that it should seek solutions to its problems in Brussels, not New York. Beta agency, EurActiv's partner in Serbia, reports.