Warm words but no Brexit concessions, as May leaves Brussels empty-handed
EU leaders took turns to praise Theresa May on Thursday night (13 December) but the UK Prime Minister left Brussels empty-handed after promising her divided Conservative party that she would secure new concessions from EU leaders.
Borissov takes pride in crushing Bulgaria’s passport-for-bribes scam
The passports-for-bribes scam may look like an embarrassment for Bulgaria, but Prime Minister Boyko Borissov turned it around on Thursday (13 December), saying he had received compliments for the way Bulgarian law enforcement had put an end to the practice.
ECB chief Draghi downgrades economic forecast as risks persist
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi presented on Thursday (13 December) the bank's downgraded economic forecast for the eurozone for this year and next, as uncertainties and risks remain prominent in the region.
Huawei $2 billion security pledge followed walkout by British official: sources
Huawei’s relations with British authorities hit a low last month when a top official walked out of a meeting with the Chinese company over its perceived failure to fix security holes in its products, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters.
The Brief – Games without frontiers
Contrary to what we may believe, European political parties are no different than the ones we have at home. They are just as prone to tactical games, diversions, manipulation and pointing the finger at someone else.
US ethanol producers: We are oil’s biggest competitor, cleaner too
Increasing ethanol use will help countries around the world meet their Paris Agreement climate goals in a cheaper way, US producers told EURACTIV.com, staking their claim to a higher role for the fuel, alongside electricity, in decarbonising transport.
No new sanctions on Russia at EU summit over Azov Sea
European Union leaders will offer Ukraine help for its regions affected by Russia's actions in the Azov Sea when they meet on Thursday (13 December), but no new sanctions on Russia will be imposed.
COP24 diary – day #11
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: climate ambition at last, UN Secretary-General pounding on the table, Portugal getting carbon neutral, 630 brackets, and more.
Pentagon warns Turkey against unilateral military action in Syria
The Pentagon said on Wednesday (12 December) that unilateral military action into northeast Syria by any party would be "unacceptable," after Turkey said it would launch a new military operation in the region within days to target Kurdish militia fighters.
Digital Tax: Parties in last-ditch attempt to raise rates and narrow scope
The centre-right EPP have made a last-ditch attempt to narrow the scope of the EU’s proposed Digital Services Tax, in a move that would see streaming services such as Netflix excluded from the proposals.
Mussels, health, and Baltic tourism. What do they have in common?
Initiatives like the Baltic Sea Region combine the unusual and predictable in developing people’s sense of shared responsibility for the development of their home regions, writes Jerzy Kwieciński.
Spanish PM hardens Catalonia stance with eye on election
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday (12 December) he would stand firm against what he called "inflammatory" Catalan separatist rhetoric, hardening his stance towards the region and upping the stakes in a broader political game.OpinionPromoted content
EU citizens: Are you ready to vote?
With the European Parliament set to end its term on April 8 2019, EU citizens will be called to the ballot boxes to take part in European Parliamentary votes between 23-26 May 2019, in which 705 MEPs will stand for seats in the EU's legislative chamber.
Polish PM wins confidence vote ahead of 2019 election
Theresa May will not be the only Prime Minister coming to the two-day summit starting on Thursday (13 December) after having won a confidence vote the previous day.
World’s first zero-emission cement plant takes shape in Norway
Norway is getting closer to building the world’s first carbon-free cement plant, a move that could reverberate across the globe as 197 countries meet for the UN's annual climate conference in Katowice, Poland.
Chaos as Hungarian MPs pass ‘slave law’ and government-controlled court
Rare scenes of chaos gripped the Hungarian parliament Wednesday (12 December) as it passed a controversial judicial reform, as well as labour legislation that critics call a "slave law".
Of funds and values: Conditionality in EU cohesion policy
As the EU's multi-annual budget is being negotiated, the amounts and efficiency of spending matter but also priorities and European values when disbursing programmes. Smarter conditionality is needed, triggering less political backlash, and, where needed, direct payment to beneficiaries, argue Benedek Jávor and Laszlo Andor.
MEPs clear EU-Japan trade deal for early 2019 start
After almost five years of negotiations, the European Parliament ratified the EU-Japan trade deal on Wednesday (12 December), sealing the biggest ever trade agreement negotiated by the European Union.
End of an era as ECB shelves quantitative easing program
A chapter of eurozone history will come to a close Thursday (13 December), with the European Central Bank widely expected to withdraw a key element of support for the economy while reassuring observers fearful of the growing risks.
Doomed May wins confidence vote but at heavy cost
Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote on Tuesday night (12 December) but it came at a heavy price, as she lost the support of nearly 40% of her Conservative MPs and the opposition hinted it may soon mount its own challenge against her.
Europe speeds up plans for no-deal scenario as Brexit chaos grows
EU leaders will discuss late on Thursday (13 December) how to address the UK's concerns about its withdrawal agreement from the EU, but discussions on contingency plans are gathering pace as the chances of an orderly divorce continue to wane.
European Parliament brings ‘social Europe’ a step forward
EU social security coordination will make it easier for EU citizens looking for work to seek employment in another member state. EURACTIV France reports.
The Brief – The show must go on
The first reports of the Strasbourg shooting attack arrived on smartphones just as EU staff were heading to dinners and pre-Christmas parties. The European Parliament immediately triggered its emergency containment procedure and turned into a bunker, grids lowered, doors locked.