EU institutions
European NATO allies harden China stance but cracks remain
European NATO members will commit to a tougher stance towards China, but scepticism over the Anglo-Saxon push to put Beijing in the alliance’s crosshairs remains. NATO members last year took a more moderate approach, toning down the need to focus too...
Gas drilling projects resurrected around Europe
Besides diversification, saving energy, or pushing for renewables, some countries have opted to expand existing gas drilling sites or exploit unused reserves as the EU prepares to end its dependency on Russian gas. While the European Commission has shared three...
Czech presidency to allow treaty change if there is ‘strong will,’ says minister
The Czech Presidency will not prevent a call for a Convention to open the treaties if there is a strong will, EU affairs minister Mikuláš Bek said in a press conference on Monday. The Czech government will take over the...
EU still split over China’s ‘threat or challenge’
While Americans and Europeans are still split on whether to treat China as a security ‘threat’ or ‘challenge’, the gap is closing as allies try to agree on NATO’s new long-term strategic document, set for the first time to mention...
Liberal Renew opposes a no-confidence vote against von der Leyen
More than two-thirds of European lawmakers from the liberal Renew Europe group do not support the proposed vote of no-confidence against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sources close to parliamentary group leadership told EURACTIV France. Three figures from...
European Parliament closes doors on Russian lobbyists
Representatives of Russian companies, many with ties to the Kremlin, are no longer allowed to enter European Parliament premises according to a decision taken by President Roberta Metsola on Thursday. The decision was made public via Metsola’s Twitter account. “We...
New EPP chief irks Madrid, contradicts von der Leyen
The new leader of Europe’s conservative political camp (EPP), Bavarian Manfred Weber, has triggered a strong reaction from EU socialists after he accused them of “carelessly spending money” and urged the European Commission to show the “red card” to Socialist...
Navy ships escorting civilian tankers?
The fact that Russia blocks Ukraine grain exports in the Black Sea and Iran seizes Greek tankers transferring oil in the Persian Gulf may bolster arguments to have navy ships escorting civilian tankers, according to analyst Cornelius Adebahr. The EU...
Who wants Ukraine to be granted EU candidate status?
**This article has been updated with clarifications to better reflect member state positions. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the request from Kyiv to join the European Union has reverberated through the blocs’ capitals. The question of whether to grant the country...
Scholz splits with EU Parliament socialists over ex-chancellor Schröder
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposes a European Parliament resolution calling for former Social Democrat Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to be put on the EU sanctions list due to his ties to the Kremlin, drawing the line at the measures already taken...
EU Parliament joins media freedom problematic club
In a surprising move, the European Parliament deleted a post from its website and social media referring to a recent report by Reporters without Borders (RSF) indicating that Greece is the worst EU country regarding media freedom. Contacted by EURACTIV,...
EU diplomat: ‘We are reaching our limits with sanctions against Russia’
“If there was such a mess with Russia’s oil, imagine what would happen with a proposal to ban gas”, an EU diplomat told EURACTIV after the end of the EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday. “The 7th package of sanctions...
EU source: Ukraine just sped up EU’s will to cut off Russian gas
Ukraine’s decision to suspend the gas flow through a transit point that it said delivers almost a third of the fuel piped from Russia to Europe through Ukraine is a “logical consequence” of Russia’s atrocities, an EU source told EURACTIV.com. ...
Banning EU ships transferring Russian oil?
If this proposal ultimately goes through during the talks of EU ambassadors today, then it would deal a severe blow to Europe’s shipping industry considering that many EU tankers transfer Russian oil to China.
Greece, Cyprus and Malta block sanctions against Russia-owned ships
The governments of Athens, Nicosia and Valetta have blocked sanctions aiming to ban Russian ships or those with Russian interests from EU ports, EURACTIV Greece has learned. Particularly, the European Commission had proposed banning all ships with a Russian flag...
Where is the cash for Europe’s dash for gas?
The European Commission may have focused only on €4 billion worth of coal in the latest sanctions package proposed on Tuesday but a total EU energy embargo covering Russian oil and gas has become inevitable. Germany and Austria are among...
Brussels says it is not after a regime change in Russia
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has kept his distance from US President’s comment that Putin cannot remain in power. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Borrell said: “I have not heard directly what he...
Calls to grant Ukraine EU candidate status
Political and civil society figures from various EU member states call for Ukraine to be recognised as an EU candidate country, following Russia’s invasion on Thursday. Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy made a passionate plea in an exchange with EU leaders on...
Vaccines, security and climate discussed at Indo-Pacific ministerial forum
The Indo-Pacific Ministerial Cooperation Forum was held in Paris on Tuesday during the French EU Council presidency. According to France’s foreign ministry, this was an opportunity for EU countries to “demonstrate the strength of the ties that exist between the...
Musical chairs for EU top jobs leaves countries in the lurch
The geographical imbalance of EU Commission jobs is on everyone's radar. Most EU member states are frustrated with the current situation, and the EU executive's current plans are unlikely to satisfy them, EURACTIV has learnt.
EU members question fourth dose, except most vulnerable
Governments and health agencies across Europe are questioning whether it is necessary for citizens to take a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, some countries like France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Poland, and Hungary, recommended it for certain at-risk categories....
EU socialists throw temporary lifeline to centre-right
As the once-powerful centre-right sees its support at the ballot box collapsing across the EU, socialists appear to have decided to give them a second chance to stay on the pro-EU course by backing their candidate for the new European...
EU defence ministers to talk Ukraine, Strategic Compass
Meeting in the western French seaside town of Brest, EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell underlined that the EU must define concrete steps in its response to Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s border. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Borrell said...