EURACTIV with Reuters
EU to Poland: protect human lives, allow Frontex to Belarus border
The EU executive asked Warsaw on Friday to allow Frontex staff on the Polish-Belarusian border where four migrants died while trying to cross into Europe amid an increase in irregular immigration the bloc blames on Minsk for orchestrating.
EU must respond to UK’s demand on Brexit deal urgently, minister says
The European Union must respond urgently to Britain's demands for changes to the deal overseeing problematic post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland, British Brexit Minister David Frost said on Thursday.
Irish data privacy watchdog fines WhatsApp 225 million euros
Ireland hit Facebook's WhatsApp with a record 225 million euro ($266 million) fine on Thursday following an inquiry into the messaging app's transparency around sharing personal data with other Facebook companies.
EU agency examines Roche arthritis drug as possible COVID-19 treatment
Europe's drugs regulator said on Monday (16 August) that it was evaluating the use of Roche's arthritis drug, Actemra, in hospitalised adults with severe COVID-19, in its latest review of a potential coronavirus treatment.
EU border agency trials high tech controls as Afghan fighting spreads
The EU's border agency is trialling new high-tech surveillance equipment to detect migrant boats, just as rapid gains by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have raised the prospect of a surge in people fleeing to Europe.
In about-turn, Dutch, Germany announce freeze on deportations to Afghanistan
The Netherlands and Germany on Wednesday abruptly reversed course and said they would not for the time being deport Afghan citizens who are seeking asylum, given the rapidly escalating conflict in their homeland.
Spain gets green light to test homegrown COVID vaccine on humans, PM says
Spain's medicines agency has authorized the first round of clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Spanish company Hipra, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday.
EU Commission says to analyse Poland’s dissolution of disciplinary chamber
The European Commission will analyse Poland's decision to scrap a disciplinary system for judges which critics say is a tool to pressure judges, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
Norway should reclaim energy regulation from EU, eurosceptic opposition says
Power and gas exporter Norway should seek to reclaim authority over energy regulation from the European Union as a first step towards renegotiating its wider ties with the bloc, the leader of the eurosceptic opposition Centre Party told Reuters.
Defiant Lukashenko says Belarusian Olympic defector was ‘manipulated’
President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday a Belarusian sprinter who defected at the Olympic Games in Tokyo had been "manipulated" by outside forces and would not have fled abroad otherwise.
EU extends deadline for decision on Facebook, Kustomer deal to Dec. 15
EU antitrust regulators have extended the deadline for a decision on Facebook's acquisition of U.S. customer service startup Kustomer by a week to Dec. 15, a European Commission filing showed on Monday.
Poland should not stay in EU at all costs, says minister
Poland should not remain a member of the European Union at all costs, the justice minister said in an interview published on Friday, as he railed against what he called "blackmail" from the bloc over Poland's judicial reforms.
Tourists caught short as Italy ushers in Covid ‘green pass’
"Do you have your green pass?" Visitors across Italy were being asked the question on Friday as new coronavirus rules for museums and indoor dining came into force -- with those answering 'no' left frustrated.
Top Polish judge orders partial freezing of disputed disciplinary chamber
The head of Poland's Supreme Court on Thursday partially froze a disciplinary chamber for judges at the heart of a deepening dispute with the European Union over judicial independence that could see Warsaw face fines or even an eventual loss of funding.
EU seals deal with Novavax for up to 200 million COVID-19 vaccines
The European Commission has approved a supply contract with U.S. firm Novavax for the purchase of up to 200 million COVID-19 vaccines, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian president orders review of protection measures for Belarusians after activist’s death
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday ordered a review of the risks to Belarusians in Ukraine following the death of an activist.
Ukraine vows to probe case of hanged Belarusian activist
Ukraine will do its best to investigate the death of Belarusian activist Vitaly Shishov who was found hanged in a Kyiv park, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday.
Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium get first tranches of EU recovery funds
Portugal, Luxembourg and Belgium on Tuesday received their first tranches of money from the 800 billion euro ($950.8 billion) EU recovery fund aimed at helping them rebound from the pandemic and make their economies greener and more digitalised.
EU extends tariffs on U.S. biodiesel for five years
The European Union will retain its tariffs on U.S. biodiesel for a further five years after concluding that removing them would likely lead to a surge of imports at artificially low prices.
Orbán announces referendum on controversial LGBTQI+ law provisions
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced plans on Wednesday (21 July) to call a referendum on child protection issues to combat pressure from the European Union over legislation which the bloc says discriminates against LGBTQI+ people.
EU wants reforms before approving Hungary’s recovery plan
The European Commission won't approve Hungary's recovery plan until it carries out judicial reform and guarantees that corruption cases are investigated, justice commissioner Didier Reynders said in an interview published on Tuesday.
France’s Macron targeted in project Pegasus spyware case
The phone of French President Emmanuel Macron was on a list of potential targets for potential surveillance on behalf of Morocco in the Pegasus spyware case, French daily Le Monde reported on Tuesday.
Orbán calls EU action on LGBT rights ‘legalised hooliganism’
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused the European Commission on Friday (16 July) of "legalised hooliganism" for launching an infringement action against measures taken by his government that the EU executive said discriminated against LGBT people.