Jorge Valero
Turkish instability threatens Europe from the Italian flank
Market pressure, financial exposure and a potential review of a key migration deal with Ankara has made Italy the most vulnerable country to the recent financial turmoil in Turkey.
EU will spend more on border and migration control than on Africa
The European Commission’s proposal to bolster Europe's borders would mean that for the first time the EU will spend more on migration control than on developing Africa, as the determination to ‘fortify’ the Continent prevails among national governments and institutions.
Sanchez loses key vote as junior allies revolt against minority government
Spain’s socialist government lost on Friday (27 July) a key vote on the revised fiscal path to balance the public accounts, as Pedro Sanchez’s allies abstained calling into question the survival of his fragile minority.
EU offers trade talks to Trump despite steel and olive tariffs
The EU and US will stick with trade talks even if Donald Trump decides to maintain tariffs on steel and aluminium after promising European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker a reassessment.
Soybeans bring appeasement to EU-US trade war
The EU's pledge to import more soybeans from US farmers was the ‘dealmaker’ in the agreement between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and US President Donald Trump to stop the dispute and open trade talks, EU sources told EURACTIV.
Commission acts against price fixing in online resales
The European Commission levied fines totalling €111 million against Asus, Philips, Pioneer and Denon & Marantz on Tuesday (24 July) for imposing fixed or minimum resale prices on online retailers.
EU tones down hopes of Mercosur deal by September
Despite EU and Mercosur countries remaining committed to reaching a trade agreement, the European Commission did not endorse the South American bloc’s target to reach an agreement by September, as substantial gaps remain between the two sides.
EU keeps Google on the hook following record fine of €4.34 billion
The European Commission slapped Google on Wednesday (18 July) with a record fine of €4.34 billion for abusing its dominant position and said it would continue to investigate as a “top priority” Google's other businesses for possible additional breaches of market rules. The company said it would appeal.
Juncker to meet Trump in Washington on 25 July
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on 25 July in an attempt to repair the strained relations between the transatlantic allies.
EU and US will ‘always be close friends’, insists Mogherini
Following US President Donald Trump’s latest charge against Europe, EU’s vice-president for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said on Monday (16 July) that the bloc will “always” consider the US as “close friends and partners”.
Trade war starts to dent European growth
The European Commission cut expected EU growth for this year by 0.2% compared to its forecast less than three months ago, as output was weaker than expected during the first semester and external risks, especially the trade war, are on the rise.
Commission rejects auditors’ call to tighten control of EU member states’ debt
The European Commission has rejected the European Court of Auditors’ recommendation to strengthen surveillance of EU member states with high levels of public debt.
‘All options’ are on the table to respond to Trump’s tariffs on black olives
The European Commission said on Wednesday (11 July) that “all possible options” are on the table to respond to the confirmation of the US tariffs on Spanish ripe olives, seen by the Europeans as ‘not justified’.
Germany poses ‘real problem’ when protecting bank savers with European guarantee, says official
A senior EU official said on Tuesday (10 July) that an agreement on a European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) to protect savers across the bloc would be “very hard” given Berlin’s opposition.
Draghi urges countries to complete banking union as risks fall
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi urged eurozone member states to complete the banking union with a European Deposit Insurance Scheme, noting the “substantial” reduction of risks in the banks’ balance sheets and the benefits of risk-sharing.
Success of EU-China summit in the air as trade differences remain
The EU and China are speeding up preparatory work for their bilateral summit in Beijing in mid-July. The two sides are trying to agree on a joint position despite differences on trade issues including subsidies and market access.
Kurz pledges to shield Schengen as border dispute unfolds
Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz prioritised the protection of the external borders during his country's EU Presidency stint, in order to safeguard the Schengen area, as a recent deal between Germany’s conservative parties could lead to a resurrection of the bloc's internal borders.
EU leaders postpone completion of banking union
Despite previous promises to achieve results on eurozone reforms in June, EU leaders postponed until December an agreement on the backstop to wind down failing banks and did not include any date for starting discussions on a European deposit guarantee scheme.
Summit conclusions detail reform plan for WTO to please Trump
The EU leaders agreed “in substance” on Thursday (28 June) on a set of proposals to improve the World Trade Organisation, which should pave the way for finding common ground with US President Donald Trump and de-escalating the ongoing trade dispute. But Italy blocked their formal adoption until the migration issue was fully addressed.
Vestager: ‘I’d like a Facebook that I pay, with full privacy’
In an exclusive interview, the EU's antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, told EURACTIV.com that the US social network Facebook is on her radar screen but not the e-commerce giant Amazon, which is also suspected of abusing its dominant position.
Asian investment bank: ‘We could invest in the EU’
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has recently decided to start looking abroad to invest its $100 billion in capital, including ports in the EU. His vice-president Joachim von Amsberg told EURACTIV there wouldn’t be any rivalry with EU institutions, but rather "collaboration".
Eurogroup reaches ‘historic’ deal on debt relief for Greece
In the early hours of Friday (22 June), the Eurogroup reached an “historic” deal on a debt relief for Greece, solving the last political hurdle to conclude its rescue programme after more than eight years.
Spain pledges to ‘square the circle’ on public finances in Eurogroup debut
Spain's new Socialist government said on Thursday (21 June) it had “no reasons” to believe that it would miss its deficit target, despite a planned increase to pensioners’ benefits being questioned by the EU institutions.