EURACTIV.com with AFP and Reuters
COVID-19 cases in Spain overtake Britain, EU urges action to curb virus resurgence
Spain's government defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday (10 August) after official data showed the country had overtaken Britain to register the highest total number of cases in Western Europe.
Malaysia vows WTO lawsuit against EU over palm oil
Malaysia will file a lawsuit at the World Trade Organisation over the European Union's plans to end the use of palm oil-based biofuels, a minister said Wednesday (2 July).
Merkel kicks off EU presidency with Brexit warning
The European Union must prepare for the possibility that talks with Britain on their post-Brexit relationship could fail, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Wednesday (1 July) as Germany took the helm of the bloc's rotating presidency.
China passes feared Hong Kong security law, enters tit-for-tat with US
China passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday (30 June), a historic move that critics and many western governments fear will smother the finance hub’s freedoms and hollow out its autonomy. The legislation was unanimously approved...
Polish President to face liberal rival in tight election run-off
Poland's nationalist incumbent Andrzej Duda won the first round of a presidential election on Sunday (28 June) but will have to face the centrist mayor of Warsaw in a run-off on July 12, in a race that could transform the nation's ties with the European Union.
EU leaders launch talks on €750 billion virus recovery plan
EU leaders launch fraught negotiations Friday (19 June) on a multi-billion recovery fund to revive a European economy ravaged by the coronavirus outbreak, deeply divided on the way forward.
Visegrad leaders call for ‘fair’ EU recovery fund
Four central European prime ministers called for a "fair" distribution of the EU's massive recovery fund on Thursday (11 June), at what has been dubbed the bloc's first major face-to-face political meeting since the coronavirus lockdown.
Borrell: US ending nuclear waivers means harder to check Iran
The European Union's foreign policy chief on Thursday (28 May) condemned Washington's move to end sanction waivers for countries remaining in the Iran nuclear accord, warning it would make it harder to keep Tehran in check.
EU recovery fund should hit €1.5 trillion, Gentiloni says
The European Union's proposed coronavirus recovery fund to help repair the massive economic damage caused should total around €1.5 trillion, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Wednesday (29 April).
Activists concerned over increase in waste smuggling in Romania
Peacocks may not be the first thing visitors expect to see at a cement plant. But a factory in the Romanian town of Fieni has built a spacious aviary for the birds in a bid to convince the public of its environmental credentials.
Iran says European INSTEX barter system ‘good omen’ but insufficient
Iran on Monday (6 April) welcomed the launch of a European barter system to bypass US sanctions as a "good omen" but said it was insufficient in light of the Europeans' commitments.
Hungary seeks to clamp down on transgender rights, sparking EU protests
A draft Hungarian law to bar citizens from legally changing their gender sparked protest on Thursday (2 April) with EU lawmakers and the Council of Europe warning of greater discrimination if it passes.
Trump suspends travel from Schengen area to US in coronavirus crisis
President Donald Trump on Wednesday (11 March) suspended travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days in an "aggressive" effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has sparked a run on the stock market and is rapidly multiplying.
EU to unveil trillion-euro ‘Green Deal’ financial plan
The European Commission will propose on Tuesday (14 January) how the EU can pay for shifting the region's economy to net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 while protecting coal-dependent regions from taking the brunt of changes aimed at fighting climate change.
Iranian protesters demand that leaders quit over airline disaster ‘lies’
Protests erupted across Iran for a second day on Sunday (12 January), increasing pressure on the Islamic Republic’s leadership after it admitted its military shot down a Ukrainian airliner by accident, despite days of denials that Iranian forces were to blame.
Former leftist Prime Minister wins Croatia presidential poll
Leftist former prime minister Zoran Milanovic, who has pledged to make Croatia a tolerant country turning the page on its wartime past, won Sunday’s presidential run-off vote, defeating the incumbent conservative leader. Milanovic took 52.7% of the vote while President...
Trump threatens to hit 52 Iranian targets, Borrell urges ‘de-escalation’
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday (4 January) stressed the "need for de-escalation" after the US assassination of a top Iranian in Baghdad, while US President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.
Moscow fumes at Ankara over meddling in Libyan crisis
Russia has condemned Turkey’s intention to send troops to Libya to support Fayez al-Sarraj, prime minister of the UN-backed Government of National Accord of Libya against the head of the Libyan National Army, General Khalifa Haftar.
Don’t cede too much to Putin, Ukrainians tell Zelenskiy ahead of Paris summit
Thousands of people gathered in the center of Kyiv on Sunday (8 December) to send a message to Ukraine’s president, who meets his Russian counterpart on Monday, that Ukrainians will not accept a peace deal at the cost of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Honda speeds up plans to electrify car models in Europe
Japanese carmaker Honda has brought forward a goal to only sell electric and hybrid cars in Europe by three years to 2022, a leading company executive said on Wednesday (23 October).
Macron, Merkel call for end to Turkish invasion in Syria
The leaders of France and Germany called Sunday (13 October) for an end to Turkey's offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, warning of dire humanitarian consequences and a boost for the Islamic State group.
EU hints at Huawei risk in 5G security assessment
The European Union hinted strongly it viewed Chinese tech group Huawei as a security risk to its roll-out of 5G networks in a report released Wednesday (9 October).
EU urges Turkey to halt Syria invasion, will not pay for ‘safe zone’
The EU on Wednesday (9 October) demanded Turkey halt its military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, telling Ankara the bloc would not pay for any so-called "safe zone" that might be created.