EURACTIV.com
S&D chief: Conservatives and liberals didn’t allow Greta to speak in EU Parliament
The European People’s Party (EPP) and the liberals (ALDE) have blocked climate change activist Greta Thunberg from speaking in the European Parliament because “kids belong in schools”, according to the chief of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Udo Bullmann. Speaking at...
France conditions support for opening US trade talks
France wants to secure enough guarantees in terms of environmental protection and access to public procurement markets, before moving forward into trade talks with the US, president Emmanuel Macron said during the European Council on Friday (22 March).
‘Don’t be naive with China’, EU leaders tell Italy
EU leaders displayed a united front toward China on Friday (22 March) and warned the Italian government of the consequences of signing a bilateral deal with Beijing to become part of the new ‘Silk Road’.
Macron slams the EPP compromise on Orbán’s Fidesz party
French President Macron spoke in very critical terms on Friday (22 March) about the compromise reached by the European People’s Party to suspend, but not exclude Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party from the European centre-right family.
The ball’s in your court on Brexit, leaders tell UK
EU leaders struck a reflective tone as they wrapped up a Spring summit in Brussels that was, again, dominated by Brexit.
The Brief – Brexit Oddity
A photo says more than 1,000 words. This one shows the so-called ‘sherpas’ on the first day of the EU summit on Thursday (21 March) as they are trying to work through the details of the Article 50 draft conclusions. It’s...
5G not part of Italy-China agreement, Di Maio says
Chinese investments into the development of 5G communications networks are not included in the agreement between China and Italy set to be signed tomorrow, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Thursday (22 March).
Italy and France reconcile after Macron’s harsh late-night comments
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte appeared to have found common ground on long-standing bilateral issues, overcoming the risk of another rift after Macron said Italy's attempts to discuss national problems on the sidelines of an EU summit were "a waste of time".
With Brexit imminent, EU celebrates ‘neighbourly cooperation’ with EEA
Only hours after intense Brexit negotiations on a delay to the UK's exit date, EU leaders on Friday (22 March) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement on joint legislation on movement of goods, services, persons and capital.
Polish bison staring down the barrel of cull
Poland’s endangered bison herds could be subject to a cull if environmental lawyers fail in their bid to overturn a decision by the country’s head of environmental protection.
EU institutions at loggerheads over online terrorist content
MEPs are seeking to "delay and time-out" the adoption of the regulation against online terrorist content, the EU's security chief Julian King said on Wednesday (21 March). His comments came as the Commission criticised online platforms for dragging their feet in removing graphic video footage following the Christchurch attacks. VideoPromoted content
The future of farming is sustainable and connected
Agriculture is a difficult business involving a lot of different aspects such as the quality of the food, the environment and the economic situation of the farmers.
Tweets of the Week: Bercow, Orban, and Vestager
Bercow’s bombshell is rather splendid, Orban’s not banned, but he is suspended, and Google and Vestager are definitely unfriended. This week we are supported by EPRA.
MEPs push to give EU prosecutor job to Kövesi on 27 March
Bucharest appears to be deliberately delaying the nomination of the EU's first-ever prosecutor general, fearing the Romanian candidate, Laura Codruta Kövesi, is well positioned to get the job, reports Dan Alexe, a blogger at EUelectionsRomania.com.
Macron, Merkel and Juncker to meet China’s Xi on Tuesday
French President Emmanuel Macron invited German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to join a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next Tuesday (26 March), in a bid to forge a united front in European efforts to rebalance relations with Beijing.
Big oil’s ‘double speak’ on climate exposed in new report
The world’s five largest listed oil and gas companies have spent more than $1 billion touting their climate credentials since the Paris Agreement was signed, whilst lobbying to protect and expand their fossil fuel operations, according to new analysis published on Friday (22 March).
Public health activists say eradicating tobacco must be a human right
Halting the spread of tobacco “epidemic” worldwide is a human right, which global leaders should recognise as such and take particular measures in this direction, public health activists told EURACTIV.com ahead of an anti-tobacco conference in Bucharest next week.
Tobacco control: What’s next?
Tobacco consumption is the most significant cause of premature death in the EU, according to the European Commission. It is responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year.
Back May’s Brexit deal and you get more time, EU leaders tell Westminster
EU leaders will grant the United Kingdom a possible eight-week delay to Brexit provided that the House of Commons passes the Withdrawal Agreement next week, according to conclusions agreed the European Council summit on late Thursday (21 March) night.
The Brief – Avoiding the cliff-edge
The Brexit cliff-edge is now in sight and fast approaching. Who, if anyone, is going to apply the brakes?
Summit leak reveals EU rift on climate change
Confidential documents prepared in advance of a two-day EU summit in Brussels have exposed an East-West divide in Europe on climate change, with Germany siding with Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic in their refusal to commit to climate neutrality by 2050.
How Britain’s EU party town soured on Brussels
In 1973, the sleepy English village of Ivybridge joyfully welcomed the UK joining what would go on to become the EU, with street parties and even a specially-written anthem. But 46 years later, local people are thinking about new festivities: to celebrate Brexit.
EU urges China to progress on demands to dispel ‘frustration’
The EU will give Chinese leaders a comprehensive list of demands next month to address the growing “frustration” among Europeans, and to improve bilateral cooperation as it reaches a critical junction, various senior EU officials explained on Wednesday (20 March).