EURACTIV.com with Reuters
Germany expects tough EU talks on energy taxes to counter climate change
Germany expects tough negotiations on the introduction of new energy taxes in the European Union, a senior official said on Thursday (19 September), as the bloc considers higher prices for carbon emissions as a way to achieve its climate protection targets.
Washington sees ‘many options short of war’ with Iran after attacks on Saudis
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (18 September) there were many options short of war with Iran after US ally Saudi Arabia displayed remnants of drones and missiles it said were used in a crippling attack on its oil sites that was "unquestionably sponsored" by Tehran.
Northern Ireland’s DUP calls for Brexit ‘refit’ of Good Friday Agreement
Northern Ireland's largest party, the Democratic Unionist Party, on Wednesday called for a "refit" of the British province's 1998 peace accord "to take account of any new Brexit deal."
Slovak PM Pellegrini seen surviving no-confidence vote
Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini should easily defeat a no-confidence vote on Tuesday (17 September), but his government is being increasingly damaged by revelations about the reach of the main suspect in the 2018 murder of a journalist into state offices.
Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities
US President Donald Trump said on Monday (16 September) it looked like Iran was behind attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia but stressed he did not want to go to war, as the attacks sent oil prices soaring and raised fears of a new Middle East conflict.
Le Pen hails EU ‘way of life’ job as victory on path to Élysée
French far-right opposition leader Marine Le Pen waded into controversy over the appointment of an EU Commissioner for "protecting the European way of life", endorsing a move that has stoked concern about rising populism across the continent.
Trump says US ‘locked and loaded’ for potential response to Saudi oil attack
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (15 September) that the United States was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, after a senior official in his administration said Iran was to blame.
Prague to remove statue of Soviet World War II marshal
A district assembly in Prague voted on Thursday (12 September) to remove a statue of a Soviet World War Two marshal and replace it with a more general memorial following a row that has drawn in the Czech president and Russian authorities.
Northern Irish party drops some EU objections, opening door to Brexit deal
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has agreed to accept Northern Ireland abiding by some EU rules after Brexit as part of a deal to replace the Irish backstop, potentially opening the door to a withdrawal agreement, The Times newspaper reported on Friday (13 September).
Orban hopeful on ties with von der Leyen’s Commission
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Thursday (12 September) he was optimistic that the new European Commission would improve ties with the EU's eastern members, long strained by disagreements over migration and multi-culturalism.
Catalan separatists march for independence amid splits on tactics
Tens of thousands of Catalans waving pro-independence flags and chanting "Independence now!" gathered in Barcelona on Wednesday (11 September) to call for a break from Spain, but turnout was far less than at past such rallies amid divisions among separatist parties.
UK’s worst-case no-deal Brexit plan warns of food shortages, public disorder
The "Operation Yellowhammer" worst-case assumptions published on Wednesday (11 September) look like a heavy blow for Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has been pushing for a hard Brexit.
Trump fires foreign policy hawk Bolton, citing strong disagreements
US President Donald Trump abruptly fired his national security adviser John Bolton amid disagreements with his hard-line aide over how to handle foreign policy challenges such as North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia.
EU eyes end of energy tax waivers for air and sea transport sectors
The European Union is studying a reform of energy taxes to align them with climate targets, an EU document showed, listing as possible measures higher minimum tax rates, fossil fuel levies and the end of waivers for the air and sea transport sectors.
Russia’s ruling party loses a third of seats in Moscow election after protests
Russia’s ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, has lost one third of its seats in the Moscow city assembly, final polling data cited by Russian news agencies showed on Monday (9 September), in an awkward setback for the Kremlin.
Johnson tells parliament: You can tie my hands, but I will not delay Brexit
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday (10 September) he would not request an extension to Brexit, hours after a law came into force demanding that he delay Britain's departure from the European Union until 2020 unless he can strike a divorce deal.
EU stresses support for Cuba even as US hikes sanctions
The European Union is committed to helping Cuba develop its economy, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday (10 September), during a three-day trip to Havana, even as the United States hikes sanctions on the Communist-run island.
US will sanction whoever purchases Iran’s oil, official says
The United States will continue to impose sanctions on whoever purchases Iran's oil or conducts business with Iran's Revolutionary Guards and no oil waivers will be re-issued, a US official said on Sunday (8 September).
Poland’s foreign ministry condemns attack on Israeli students
Poland's foreign ministry on Sunday (8 September) condemned violence against a group of Israeli students beaten at a Warsaw nightclub early on Saturday, following criticism that Polish leaders are not doing enough to denounce antisemitism.
Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners in first sign of thawing relations
Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners on Saturday (7 September) in a carefully-negotiated rapprochement that brought Western praise and could thaw a freeze in relations since Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region in 2014.
New Italian coalition sworn in, promises ‘not to quarrel with Brussels’
Italy's new government, combining the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and centre-left Democratic Party (PD), was sworn into office on Thursday (5 September), promising to reset Rome's often fraught relations with Brussels.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy blamed for the release of key MH17 suspect
A Ukrainian court on Thursday (5 September) released on bail a man suspected of involvement in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in 2014 that killed 298 people.
‘Brexiles’ protest in Dublin at prospect of UK leaving with no deal
Despairing at a country she believed was becoming more insular the more its Brexit debate raged, Briton Jess Worsdale decided this year that it was time to move to Ireland for good. On Tuesday (3 September), she was among about...