EURACTIV.com with Reuters
Russian military build-up near Ukraine numbers more than 150,000 troops, Borrell says
Russia has concentrated more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's border and in annexed Crimea, the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Monday (19 April) after EU foreign ministers were briefed by Ukraine's foreign minister.
Czechs say Russian retaliation stronger than expected, seeks EU solidarity
The Czech Republic said on Monday (19 April) Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government would consider further steps.
Putin to address Biden’s climate summit despite crisis in US-Russia ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech on Thursday (22 April) at an online climate change summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, the Kremlin said, despite a deep crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington.
Promising renewal, Baerbock to run as German Greens chancellor candidate
Germany's Greens have put forward their co-leader Annalena Baerbock as their candidate for federal elections in September in the party's first bid to win the chancellery since it was founded 40 years ago.
Italy risks missing Recovery Plan deadline ‘due to EU concerns’
Italy risks missing the deadline for submitting a final version of its Recovery Plan to the European Commission because Brussels is not satisfied with several aspects of the drafts presented so far, two sources close to the matter said.
Beijing huddles with autocratic friends, seeks to fracture US-led ‘clique’
China is shoring up ties with autocratic partners like Russia and Iran, as well as economically dependent regional countries, while using sanctions and threats to try to fracture the alliances the United States is building against it.
Romania approves bill to bar China, Huawei from 5G networks
Romania's centrist government on Thursday (April 15) approved a United States-backed bill that effectively bars China and Huawei from taking part in development of its 5G network, a member of the IT&C and National Security Committee told Reuters.
Navalny allies plead for EU to pressure Moscow over medical access
The European Union must pressure Moscow to allow Alexei Navalny to have access to his doctor, allies of the hunger-striking Kremlin critic wrote in a letter sent this week to EU foreign ministers.
LEAK: EU to table ‘climate taxonomy’, leaving gas and nuclear for later
The European Commission plans to delay a decision on whether to label nuclear and natural gas power plants as a sustainable investment under green finance rules due to be published next week, according to a leaked document seen by EURACTIV.
European Parliament gives initial backing to UK trade deal
The European Parliament’s committees on relations with Britain on Thursday (15 April) voted overwhelmingly in favour of the post-Brexit trade and cooperation agreement, clearing the path to its final ratification.
NATO allies to leave Afghanistan along with US
Foreign troops under NATO command will withdraw from Afghanistan in coordination with a US pull-out by 11 September, NATO allies agreed on Wednesday (14 April), pledging to mirror American plans to start removing troops on 1 May after two decades...
Biden proposes summit with Putin, Russia says it’s too early
US President Joe Biden called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (13 April) to reduce tensions stirred by a Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s border and proposed a summit of the estranged leaders to tackle a raft of disputes.
German regulator acts to halt ‘illegal’ WhatsApp data collection
Germany’s lead data protection regulator for Facebook said on Tuesday (13 April) that it was taking action against the social network to prevent the collection of personal data from users of its WhatsApp messaging app.
Deployment of EU electric vehicle charging stations too slow, auditors say
The European Union's deployment of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is not quick enough to meet the bloc's targets, EU auditors said on Tuesday (13 April).
Biden ready to announce US withdrawal, even as peace eludes Afghanistan
President Joe Biden’s planned announcement of a complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan by 11 September aims to close the book on America’s longest war, as critics warn that peace is anything but assured after two decades of fighting.
Czech lawmakers reject quotas on domestic goods in supermarkets to avert EU clash
Czech lawmakers rejected plans to require supermarkets to sell mainly domestically produced food on Tuesday (13 April), removing the measure from a bill on food quality to avoid clashes with the European Commission over EU single market rules.
EU worried by J&J vaccine ‘following AstaZeneca’s path’
The European Commission is seeking clarification from Johnson & Johnson about the company's "completely unexpected" announcement of delays in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the EU, an EU official told Reuters on Tuesday (13 April).
Italy to spend 60% more of EU funds on better broadband, sources say
Italy aims to spend almost 7 billion euros ($8.33 billion) in European recovery funds on ultra-fast networks, up 60% from a previous goal, as ministers lay out alternatives to a long-delayed single national broadband plan, sources told Reuters.
European CEOs, lawmakers urge US to hike climate target
European politicians, companies and trade unions on Tuesday (13 April) called on the United States to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% this decade, adding to mounting pressure on the Biden administration ahead of a climate summit next week.
EU chief adviser says credibility of green finance rules at risk
The head of the group advising the European Union on its green finance rules has urged Brussels to resist political pressure to weaken them, saying the credibility of the regulation is at stake.
Airlines could use new EU COVID pass this summer, Reynders tells MEPs
Airlines could check new European Union COVID certificates before allowing onboard passengers going on summer holidays, a senior official said on Tuesday (13 April) as the bloc seeks to restart a travel sector ravaged by the pandemic.
Ukraine says Putin snubs Russian troop build-up talks
Ukraine accused the Kremlin of ignoring its request for talks between the two countries’ presidents over a build-up of Russian troops near its border, but Moscow said its soldiers were on its own territory, unlike US forces in the region.
Pints, shopping and haircuts: English shops and pub gardens reopen as lockdown eases
People queued up outside retailers across England to release their pent-up shopping fever and some grabbed a midnight pint or even an early haircut as England’s shops, pubs, gyms and hairdressers reopened after three months of lockdown.