Georgi Gotev
Finnish presidency commits to linking rule of law with EU funding
Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne told the European Parliament on Wednesday (17 July) that his country’s presidency of the Council of the EU would continue negotiations on how to link more closely the disbursement of EU funds with respect for the rule of law in member states.
Selmayr’s departure: Just in time for von der Leyen’s election?
European Commission Secretary-General Martin Selmayr, whose sudden promotion angered MEPs last year and earned a rebuke from the European Ombudsman, will step down from his post next week, a spokeswoman for the EU executive said on Tuesday (16 July).
Suspense: Will EU Commission nominee survive Parliament vote?
This is the question on everyone's lips as EU Commission President nominee Ursula von der Leyen faces a confirmation vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday (16 July). While some political groups are openly against her, others are divided, for different reasons.
Georgian government dismisses pro-Russia bias claims
A leading opposition politician has accused the Georgian government of pro-Russian bias, tacitly condoned by the EU, but representatives of the ruling party, as well as diplomats, insist there is a consensus on big geopolitical matters and the entire country is pro-Western.
Germany tells the East: Speed up reform or you will lose your population
Germany’s minister of state for Europe delivered a blunt message to a gathering of the Eastern Partnership, organised in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi on Thursday (11 July): unless reforms in Eastern Europe speed up, its young people will leave to find a better life in Western Europe.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.
Tusk hopes for ‘higher level’ of EU-Azerbaijan ties
On a visit to Baku on Tuesday (9 July), Council President Donald Tusk said the EU and Azerbaijan were “coming closer to each other every year”, and expressed the Union’s readiness to further deepen our cooperation with Azerbaijan, including in fields such as human rights.
Juncker will need to accept replacement Commissioners from Romania, Estonia
Faced with opposition from the member states, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was unable to block the replacement of the Romanian and Estonian commissioners, who were elected as MEPs and already took their MEP seats.
Chizhov: Washington chose to act unilaterally to abrogate nuclear arms treaty
In a wide-ranging interview, Russia's Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov, speaks about nuclear arms control, the EU elections and top jobs, the situation in Ukraine, including the MH17, and America's bid to challenge Russian gas.
Central Asia ministerial welcomes the EU’s new strategy for the region
Gathered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday (7 July), the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian countries welcomed the new EU Strategy on Central Asia recently adopted by the EU.
EU and Central Asia: A new strategy
On 17 June 2019, the Council adopted a new EU strategy on Central Asia, adapting the EU policy to new opportunities which have emerged in the region.
Ukraine hopes for a dedicated EU Commissioner from Europe’s East
In a wide-ranging interview, the Ukrainian ambassador to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi discussed the wide range of topics ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv on 8 July, and beyond.
EU summit suggests Stanishev to take over as European Parliament chief
Although it has not been committed to paper, EU leaders suggested that Bulgaria’s Sergei Stanishev, president of the Party of European Socialists, would be the president of the new European Parliament for the next 2.5 years, as part of a package agreed at the EU summit on Tuesday (2 July).
Locked in strife, EU leaders adjourn talks on top jobs for next morning
A summit of EU28 leaders was adjourned in acrimony on Monday (1 July) after almost 18 hours of talks failed to produce an agreement on how to carve out the bloc's top jobs, due to opposition from Eastern member states and divisions within the conservative European People's Party.
Juncker tries to block the replacement of Cretu, Ansip
Romania has requested the replacement of its Commissioner Corina Crețu, who was elected as MEP and has taken her seat. To avoid such a replacement, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has put forward a legislative proposal, EURACTIV has learned.
EU leaders entrenched over top jobs as EPP rebels against Merkel
As morning broke on 1 July, EU leaders were still unable to reach consensus over the distribution of top European jobs as conservatives from Central and Eastern Europe rejected a plan, endorsed by Angela Merkel, that would have installed Socialist Frans Timmermans at the helm of the new Commission.
Cyprus flags new migratory route facilitated by Turkey
Cyprus is seeing a major increase in the number of migrants from third countries arriving from Turkey, with the tacit approval of Ankara, Cypriot interior minister, Constantinos Petrides, told a group of Brussels journalists on Thursday (27 June).
Trump takes aim at Vestager: ‘She hates the US’
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (26 June) suggested the European Union was out of line in "suing" US technology companies like Facebook and Alphabet Inc's Google, saying legal action against those firms should be the purview of the United States.
The Brief – EUCO’s choice
Picking the new batch of EU leaders, and especially the Commission president, is much more difficult this time around. And it’s not really about the Spitzenkandidaten system, it’s not even about the political, gender or geographic balance. It’s about the...
Ukraine slams Russia’s reintegration into the Council of Europe
Ukraine on Tuesday (25 June) slammed as an “unacceptable concession to Russia” the decision of the Council of Europe to re-admit Russia, after the country was stripped of voting rights following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
20,000 migrants rescued from Sahara in three years: IOM
Nearly 20,000 migrants have been rescued from the Sahara desert in Niger over the past three years, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday (25 June).
Trump pulls back from launch of military strikes on Iran after initial approval
US President Donald Trump approved military strikes on Friday (20 June) against Iran in retaliation for the downing of an unmanned $130-million surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching the attacks, the New York Times said.
EU ‘in full solidarity’ with Cyprus over Turkey drilling
The EU in the night to Friday (20 June) stepped up its rhetoric over Turkey's "illegal" drilling for oil and gas off Cyprus, raising the threat of sanctions if Ankara refuses to back down.