Beatriz Rios
Do you speak cohesion?
In the first edition of “Do you speak cohesion?” we are breaking down the elements of the cohesion policy or regional development funds, providing a better understanding over the European Union’s support mechanism. We will be explaining what is...
Parliament insists on revisiting budget cuts despite Michel, von der Leyen charm offensive
European Council and Commission presidents tried to gain the European Parliament support on Thursday (23 July) for the recovery plan backed earlier this week by the EU27 but lawmakers insist on negotiating budget cuts.
MINDSET – Moving the Ideas of Non-Discrimination: Supporting an Equality Transformation
EURACTIV joins forces with EURACTIV Romania, Jeunes Européens Fédéralistes and the Migration Policy Group to raise awareness on racial and ethnic discrimination thanks to MINDSET, a project financed by the European Commission.
Parliament threatens to withhold consent on budget cuts, potentially delaying recovery plans
The European Parliament will adopt a critical stance against the European Council's recovery plans on Thursday (23 July), opposing cuts to EU-funded programmes in the bloc's long-term budget while also hitting out at the alleged 'weak' nature of rule of law conditionality.
Council brokers historic stimulus pact as budget cuts, rule of law retreat plague deal
Leaders of the 27 EU countries finally compromised on a €1,074 billion long-term budget and recovery fund instrument early on Tuesday (21 July) morning, but it took one of the longest-lasting summits in European Council history and the final deal cut funding for some of the bloc's key priorities.
Leaders edge closer to deal as EU recovery fund talks enter fourth day
EU leaders have edged closer to a compromise on a new long-term budget and a multi-billion euro coronavirus recovery fund and will reconvene on Monday (20 July) afternoon for a fourth day of negotiations.
Leaders hit summit stalemate on EU recovery fund
EU leaders hit a dead end during the first round of the European Council meeting on Friday night (17 July) after The Netherlands clashed with Italy and Spain over the governance of the planned €750 billion EU recovery fund.
EU leaders pressed to overcome differences and agree on historic stimulus
Pressure is mounting on EU leaders to get over their differences as they meet on Friday (17 July) in person for the first time since the start of the coronavirus outbreak to close a deal on an unprecedented stimulus package to tackle the socio-economic fallout of the crisis.
Cities at the forefront: cooperation as an opportunity for towns to internationalise
Cities across the world have chosen to go beyond fulfilling their citizens’ needs and contribute to development by engaging in international cooperation. EURACTIV has looked into local and regional leaders’ motivation to do so.
EU to face difficulties without a deal on recovery plan, Budget Commissioner warns
If EU leaders fail to reach an agreement on a pandemic recovery package next week, “we will enter into difficulties,” the EU Commissioner for Budget, Johannes Hahn, warned during an event in Brussels on Tuesday (7 July).
Regional leader: Without cohesion, Europe cannot stand
As the EU faces the deepest recession in its history, the bloc's long-contested Cohesion Policy – its regional development instrument – has now become central to the recovery plan. EURACTIV spoke about it with the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Von der Leyen calls mini-summit to push for a deal on recovery plan
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen called on Thursday (2 July) a mini-summit for next week with her counterparts at the Council, Parliament and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to work towards a deal on the EU recovery package.
From Brussels to Malaga: traveling in times of pandemic
As the summer kicks in and EU countries have been easing travel restriction, I decided to experience what it is like to travel during a pandemic by flying from Brussels to Malaga (Spain).
Commission pledges almost half of recovery fund for 2021
The European Commission presented on Wednesday (24 June) its €166.7 billion budget draft for 2021 to be topped up with around €344 billion which accounts for almost half of the EU recovery fund.
No consent to ‘historic’ recovery plan without new revenues, MEPs warn
The European Parliament will only give its consent to a new EU long-term budget if the basket of own resources is increased to pay for the recovery fund, the main political groups warned in a letter addressed to EU leaders ahead of Friday's (19 June) summit.
Commissioner Schmit: The future of Europe is not low wages, insecure jobs
The EU is facing the worst recession in history as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. To ensure that the crisis does not turn into a social emergency, the bloc must address issues like job security, minimum wages, or youth opportunities, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Commissioner Ferreira: ‘A crisis of this dimension cannot be addressed with a 1% GNI budget’
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the worst recession in the history of the EU, which the European Commission aims to tackle with an unprecedented stimulus package. The Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, explained the ambitious plan in an exclusive interview.
Beyond the US: Police brutality, structural racism are a problem in Europe too
Thousands of people have taken to Europe's streets not only to protest the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the US but to denounce police brutality and structural racism, which is an issue on this side of the Atlantic as well.
Decentralised cooperation: boosting citizens participation from Barcelona to Marrakesh
The Government of the province of Barcelona (Spain) and six municipalities in Marrakesh (Morocco) have been working together to strengthen participatory democracy and upholding women’s rights in the region through decentralised cooperation for three years.
Changes in education as a result of COVID-19 crisis are here to stay, experts say
As lockdown measures are relaxed and schools reopen across Europe, EURACTIV has interviewed experts on whether the pandemic could have a long-lasting impact on education systems in Europe, and they said changes are here to stay.
Commission continues with EU minimum wage push, using coronavirus momentum
The European Commission insists that minimum wages ensuring workers across the EU earn a decent living are crucial to the coronavirus recovery and on Wednesday (3 June) launched a new round of consultations with social partners.
Worker participation in management can be stabilising factor, expert argues
Worker participation in the management can be a stabilisation factor in times of crisis, according to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Codetermination and Corporate Governance. EURACTIV has interviewed the co-author and political adviser on the matter, Sebastian Campagna.
Cohesion becomes central to EU recovery package
Through the new REACT-EU emergency instrument, cohesion policy will be one of the key elements in the European Commission's proposal for a recovery package, which takes into account that the impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been uneven across the EU.