EURACTIV.com with EFE
MEPs rejected boost to search and rescue operations in Mediterranean by two votes
On Thursday (24 October), the European Parliament voted by a thin majority against a resolution calling on the EU to step up its search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean, exposing a certain degree of political volatility in the hemicycle.
France, Spain condemn Venezuela’s expulsion of EU fact-finding team
The foreign ministers of France and Spain condemned on Monday (18 February) the Venezuelan government's decision to expel a group of EU lawmakers who had travelled there on a fact-finding mission and wanted to meet with the self-appointed but widely recognised interim president. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain joins Poland in opposing EU posted workers law
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his Polish counterpart, Beata Szydło, last week reaffirmed their commitment to the European project but reiterated their concerns about the EU’s posted workers directive. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Columbian president: Thankful for ‘heaven-sent’ Nobel Prize, hopeful of new FARC peace deal
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hopes that a new peace deal with the FARC guerrilla group could be possible by the end of November and did not dismiss the possibility of organising another referendum, in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV’s partner EFE.
EU asked to recognise Palestine and boycott illegal Israeli products
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah yesterday (4 April) called upon the European Union to recognise the State of Palestine and to boycott Israeli products “produced in illegal Israeli settlements”.
New Orleans looks to EU and TTIP to rebuild fortunes
A decade after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of New Orleans, the city is still in the process of rebuilding and is now setting its sights on foreign trade and foreign investment, especially when it comes to the European Union and TTIP.
MEPs back cheaper services in EU ports
MEPs on Tuesday (8 March) backed a proposal to increase efficiency and lower the cost of services provided in European Union ports.
Former coca plantations given new purpose by EU funding
EU-funded agricultural projects in Colombia that make use of former coca plantations could be expanded if a fragile peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces guerrilla movement (FARC) survives.
Mogherini plans Cuba visit as accord nears
The European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is set to visit Cuba next week for talks that could finalize an agreement on normalizing relations, Havana said on Thursday (3 March).
Spanish fishermen go on pilgrimage to protest law change
Thousands of people braved the Spanish rain to protest in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela over the regional government's alleged betrayal of its all-important fishing industry.
Georgia lauded as ‘most advanced’ in the Eastern Partnership
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García concluded a visit to Georgia by praising the Caucasian republic's rapid implementation of its EU association agreement and highlighted Madrid and Tbilisi’s ‘close links’.
Peruvians all set for visa-free Schengen travel
Peru's migration authority has started issuing its first biometric passports that will allow its citizens to undertake short-term visa-free travel within the Schengen area.
Mercosur makes EU free trade offer before French visit
South American bloc Mercosur is offering to open up 93% of its trade to competition from the European Union to seal a long-sought free-trade deal, Uruguay's president said yesterday (22 February).
Josep Borrell: Spain’s influence on EU is ‘negligible’
Former President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell has criticised Spain’s role in European politics over the last decade and Mariano Rajoy’s role in forwarding Spanish interests.
EU seeks closer anti-terrorism cooperation with Algeria
The European Union wants to strengthen its ties with Algeria in order to step up the fight against terrorism.
US, Cuba look to boost trade ties, despite embargo
US and Cuban government officials met again yesterday (17 February) to strengthen trade ties amid growing interest by the American business community and Cuban calls for Washington to further reduce restrictions.
Spain in favour of redistributing unused fishing quotas
Spain's Minister for Agriculture, Isabel García Tejerina, called for unused fishing quotas to be "redistributed" to other countries, during a Council of Ministers meeting on Monday (15 February).
EU signs transparency agreement with Andorra
Andorra has signed a fiscal-transparency agreement with the European Union with the aim of making it more difficult for European citizens to hide undeclared money in the country.
Luxembourg seeks deep impact in asteroid mining
Luxembourg has announced its intention to become a "European reference" within the field of exploiting and utilising off-planet resources, such as minerals mined from asteroids.
EIB opens its first Latin American offices in Panama
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will open its first office in Latin America, a decision made as a result of its "growing" activity in the region.
Basque president calls upon EU to counter dumping
President of the Basque Country Íñigo Urkullu today (27 January) called upon the European institutions to put a stop to market dumping and "unfair competition" by Asian economies, particularly in regard to China and the steel sector.
Mogherini: UN mission in Colombia is ‘great opportunity’
Federica Mogherini said on Tuesday (26 January) that the UN's political mission in monitoring the ceasefire between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a step toward securing peace for the country.
EU to lift Argentine import restrictions
Argentina's Minister for Agriculture confirmed yesterday (20 January) that the European Union will lift its restrictions on animal product exports from the north of the South American country.