EURACTIV.com with Reuters
US Senate unanimously condemns Putin as war criminal
The US Senate on Tuesday (15 March) unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal, a rare show of unity in the deeply divided Congress.
Russia threatens jail for ‘fake’ news about Ukraine conflict
Russia's parliament on Friday (4 March) passed a law imposing a jail term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally "fake" news about the military, stepping up the information war over the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian gas flows via Yamal pipeline to Germany decline sharply
Russian westbound gas flows via the Yamal-Europe pipeline to Germany from Poland have declined sharply on Thursday (3 March), data from the Gascade pipeline operator showed.
EU moves to halt air travel from southern Africa over COVID variant
The European Union aims to halt air travel from the southern African region amid rising concern about a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday (26 November).
US and allies would ‘take action’ if Taiwan attacked, says Blinken
The United States and its allies would take unspecified "action" if China were to use force to alter the status quo over Taiwan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (10 November).
Outgoing Bosnia peace envoy imposes jail terms for genocide denial
Bosnia's outgoing international peace overseer decreed amendments to its criminal code on Friday (23 July) to allow jail terms for the denial of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, a frequently expressed view among nationalist Serbs.
EU summons Russian envoy over travel bans on Brussels officials
The European Union summoned Russia's ambassador to the bloc on Monday to condemn Moscow's decision to bar eight officials from entering the country, which the Kremlin said was in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU.
EU hopes to produce up to 3 bn vaccine doses a year by end of 2021
The European Union aims to increase the region's COVID-19 vaccine production capacity to 2-3 billion doses per year by the end of 2021, Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton was quoted as saying on Wednesday (3 March).
Slovakia buying 2 million Sputnik vaccines from Russia
Slovakia is buying 2 million Sputnik V vaccines from Russia and expects half to arrive this month and next as it looks to step up vaccinations amid a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, the prime minister said on Monday.
Turkey’s Erdogan, at Nagorno-Karabakh parade, says Armenia needs new leaders
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday (10 December) renewed a call for a change of leadership in Armenia, as he reviewed a military parade marking that country’s defeat by Azerbaijan in a war in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
EU trade chief Hogan says he will not seek to head WTO
European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Monday (29 June) he would not seek to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, despite having previously stated he was looking into the possibility.
Poor countries need more than debt suspension, says Merkel
Rich countries should help the world's poorest survive the coronavirus pandemic by keeping up development aid and mulling relief measures that go beyond a moratorium on debt payments, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday (20 May).
Barnier: Britain not automatically entitled to any trade benefits
The European Union's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said on Wednesday (20 May) that Britain was not automatically entitled to any benefits that the bloc had previously granted to other partners on trade.
Protests in breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia
Around 200 demonstrators contesting a local election broke into the authorities' headquarters in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia Thursday evening (9 January) and demanded the resignation of its president. Protests continue today (10 January) with demonstrators setting up camp in front of administration building, local media reports.
Serbian Orthodox Church up in arms ahead of vote on religious law in Montenegro
Hundreds of backers of Montenegro's pro-Serb opposition took to the streets of the capital Podgorica on Thursday (26 December), rallying against a law they say would strip the Serbian Orthodox Church there of its property.
Von der Leyen to start with climate summit, Africa trip
The new head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend a climate summit in Madrid and travel to Africa in her first week in the job, highlighting two of the key priorities for the EU executive over the next five years.
EU’s Juncker says Britain will be responsible if no Brexit deal
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said he and the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier were doing all they could to get a Brexit deal, and if they failed it would be Britain's responsibility.
Outgoing German spy chief sacked for branding SPD as ‘radical left’
Germany's outgoing domestic intelligence chief was sacked on Monday (5 November) over a speech given behind closed doors condemning "naive and leftist" government policies and hinting that he was considering entering politics.
Europe’s top banks in EU stress test spotlight
Europe's top banks will learn on Friday (2 November) how they have fared in their latest stress test, which could require some to raise capital or shed assets, with Italian lenders expected to come under close scrutiny.
Barrier – Brexit deal may be ‘within reach’ next week
European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday an agreement with Britain could be "within reach" next week, calling for decisive progress in the talks in time for a summit of all 28 EU leaders.
ECB fines France’s Credit Agricole over capital reserves
The European Central Bank announced on Monday (20 August) that it had fined French lender Credit Agricole a total of €4.8 million over past irregularities in the way it declared its capital reserves, Reuters reports.
Italy allows docking of ship with migrants, ends standoff with Malta
Italy will let its coast guard ship carrying 177 migrants rescued on the Mediterranean Sea five days ago dock in Sicily, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Monday, ending a standoff with Malta over where the ship should disembark.
Italian minister calls for sanctions on Malta over migrants
Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli on Sunday (19 August) called for sanctions against Malta, accusing it of not rescuing migrant boats in the Mediterranean and leaving the burden to Italy, in the latest row between the two countries over the issue.