EURACTIV.com with Reuters
Italy PM declares state of emergency after bridge collapse killed 39
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared on Wednesday (15 August) a state of emergency covering the region around Genoa after a bridge collapse killed 39 people and severed the port city's mainland corridor with southern France.
Humanitarian ship seeks European port for rescued migrants
Human rights groups called on European governments on Sunday to tell a charity ship where it can dock and let more than 140 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean disembark in safety.
EU-Swiss treaty ‘dead as doornail’ as labour boycotts talks
Switzerland's plan to forge a new treaty cementing ties with the European Union has hit the rocks after the normally pro-Europe centre left joined the far right in resisting a deal that Swiss labour unions say might undermine wages and working conditions.
UK voters should make final Brexit decision if talks with EU collapse -poll
If Brexit talks break down without a deal, half of Britons believe the final decision over whether to leave the European Union should be taken by the public in a referendum, according to a survey.
Straw prices soar, piling pressure on northern Europe livestock farmers
Livestock and dairy farmers across northern Europe are paying soaring prices for straw used in food and bedding for cattle, as hot, dry weather across the region reduces crops.
More Western sanctions will be seen as ‘economic war’, Moscow warns
If the United States decides to impose more sanctions on the banking sector or on specific currencies, then Russia will regard it as an “open declaration of economic war,” Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has warned.
US imposes sanctions on Russia for nerve agent attack in UK
Washington said on Wednesday (8 August) it would impose fresh sanctions on Russia by the end of August after it determined that Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian agent and his daughter in Britain.
EU’s top court backs copyright holder in landmark ruling
Users who publish content freely available on the internet should get consent from the person behind it, Europe's top court ruled on Tuesday (7 August) in a boost to the bloc's creative industries.
UK government review backs subsidies for mini nuclear plants
Britain should offer developers of mini nuclear plants subsidies similar to those made available to the offshore wind industry, an independent review commissioned by the government said on Tuesday (7 August).
World risks entering irreversible ‘hothouse’ state
The world is at risk of entering “hothouse” conditions where global average temperatures will be 4-5 degrees Celsius higher even if emissions reduction targets under a global climate deal are met, scientists said in a study published on Monday (6 August).
May to meet Scotland’s Sturgeon after Brexit standoff
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon accused the British government of "talking-up" a no-deal Brexit, making it more likely the UK will just drop out of the European Union at great cost to the economy.
EU regulators to study need for action on common mobile phone charger
EU regulators plan to study whether there is a need for action in the push for a common mobile phone charger following a lack of progress by phone makers towards this goal, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.
Friendship no more: How Russian gas is a problem for Germany
For decades, the Friendship pipeline has delivered oil from Russia to Europe, heating German homes even in the darkest days of the Cold War. But the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline is becoming a problem for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Act on anti-Semitism or face ‘eternal shame’, insists Corbyn deputy
Tom Watson, the deputy leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party increased pressure on its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, over anti-Semitism on Sunday (5 August), saying the party could "disappear into a vortex of eternal shame" unless he tackled a growing crisis.
Renewed Italian government tensions fuel bond selloff
Short-dated Italian government bonds sold off on Friday (3 August) for the second straight day on signs of deepening tension within the Italian government that is raising the prospect of new elections.
Ukraine goes back to the future as IMF programme stutters
Ukraine's backsliding on reforms continues a national tradition: a Reuters study of data since 1994 shows it has drawn less than half the IMF funds it could have received, with commitment to change often weakening when economic indicators improve.
Trump bets on new European LNG terminals but EU funds meagre
US President Donald Trump expects the European Union to fund 9 to 11 liquefied natural gas (LNG) ports to absorb “vastly” more shipments from the United States but current EU investment in new projects will only help open small markets.
Tajikistan attack reminds of Islamist terror threat in Central Asia
Islamic State sought to bolster its claim of responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan, releasing a video on Tuesday (31 August) purportedly showing attackers pledging allegiance to the militant group.
BMW to build €1 billion car factory in Hungary
BMW will invest 1 billion euros ($1.17 bln) to build a new plant in Hungary at a time when a rise in protectionism is forcing carmakers to curb inter-continental exports and to refocus production networks to serve regional trading blocs.
Greek opposition hits at Tsipras over wildfires: ‘How do you sleep?’
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused the opposition today (31 July) of exploiting one of the country’s worst ever natural disasters for saying ministers should resign over the deaths of at least 91 people in a fire.
Hard Brexit not an option, Britain’s car industry warns
A no-deal Brexit is not an option for Britain’s car industry, given the costs and disruption that carmakers and consumers would suffer, the head of the country’s automobile industry group said today (31 July). Mike Hawes, chief executive of the...
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.
Orbán compares Juncker Commission to dead frog
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said today (27 July) that a new European Commission is needed with a new approach to migration policy, adding that the days of the current EU executive are “numbered” with its mandate expiring next May.