Elections
MEP Kathleen Van Brempt ‘dares’ to challenge Udo Bullman to lead S&D group
With the slogan "Dare to change", Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt has submitted her candidacy to lead the group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, a year before the EU elections.
Czech minister: Government to hold series of public debates on EU future
The Czech government has responded to the challenge laid down by French President Emmanuel Macron and is going to start a series of public discussions on what shape the EU should take in the future, Aleš Chmelař, Czech State Secretary for EU affairs, told Aktuálně.cz.
Russia’s EU ambassador: ‘Donbass is part of Ukraine’
In a wide-ranging interview on Monday (5 March), Russia’s ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov discussed Syria and eastern Ukraine, the current tensions between Gazprom and Naftogaz, as well as the Italian election.
+Europa candidate: Italy risks departing from basic EU values
The stakes are high for Italy ahead of the vote on 4 March, as it runs the risk of becoming yet another EU country that departs from basic European values such as the rule of law, candidate Alberto Alemanno told EURACTIV.
Dan Barna: Save Romania Union similar to Macron’s En Marche
Dan Barna, President of Save Romania Union (USR), told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview that his force, which largely represents educated urban voters, could join the European political family of Emmanuel Macron’s La République En Marche! party.
German analyst: ‘The coalition agreement has more of Juncker than Macron’
In the draft of the German coalition agreement presented on Wednesday by the CDU/CSU and the SPD, the parties want to pursue a “departure for Europe” in the next four years. EURACTIV Germany spoke to Matthias Kullas about the European policy aspects of the draft text.
Alain Lamassoure: Transnational lists – a crazy idea
The European conservatives are opposed to the project of transnational lists for the European elections, but risk losing during the vote on the matter on 6 February
Sacked Catalan councillor: We want to pursue a negotiated independence
EXCLUSIVE / Antoni Comín is one of the four councillors of the sacked Catalan government that fled to Brussels with Carles Puigdemont following the unilateral declaration of independence on 27 October.
McAllister: Brexit is a historic mistake
It is not clear whether the Council will be able to state in December that sufficient progress in Brexit talks has been made, David McAllister, who chairs the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, told EURACTIV.
Swoboda: ‘Borissov? We have had many strange guys leading governments’
The former long-serving leader of the S&D group in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda provided insight ahead of the visit to Brussels on Wednesday (8 November) of the Bulgarian government in preparation for the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Andrej Babiš: Who is the new Czech prime minister?
Czech President Miloš Zeman instructed Andrej Babiš to form a new government. With 99% of the votes counted, his party ANO, collected 29.76% of popular support.
S&D chief works for a progressive alliance away from ‘Orbánising’ EPP
There should be a clear distinction between the right and the left in European politics and the EU socialists should open the door to other anti-austerity progressive forces as well as to those who do not want to follow the “Orbánisation” of the centre-right, S&D leader Gianni Pittella told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Czech MEP: ‘We cannot blame Brussels for our own failures’
We have to stop the “us” and “them” rhetoric in which we blame the European institutions, says Martina Dlabajová, a Czech liberal MEP and member of the ANO movement which is heading for victory in the upcoming Czech parliamentary elections.
Catalonia’s chief communicator: We will be independent and an EU member
EXCLUSIVE / The EU may be reluctant now but it will inevitably accept to mediate in the separation of Catalonia from Spain and the presence of the new Catalan state within the EU, Joan Maria Piqué told EURACTIV in an interview.
European Parliament VP: ‘We must use the window of opportunity’ to deepen EU integration
Current conditions are ideal to push the EU towards becoming a European federal state, according to one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland. EURACTIV Germany reports.
What does the German vote mean for Europe?
German voters chose to hand Angela Merkel a fourth term in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday (24 September). What consequences will this vote have for Europe? EURACTIV’s partner Ouest-France interviews Charles de Marcilly.
Schulz: ‘I’m glad’ Macron proposed eurozone reforms
Two weeks from the legislative elections, Social Democrat (SPD) candidate Martin Schulz wants to close the gap on Chancellor Angela Merkel, focusing on Europe and the digital sector, which have been largely absent from the campaign so far. He spoke with EURACTIV’s partner Ouest-France.
Transparency International: German criticism of ECB ‘a tad dishonest’
As Germany prepares for general elections in September, Leo Hoffmann-Axthelm reminds about Berlin’s responsibility in the politicisation of the European Central Bank (ECB), saying it is largely due to German inaction during the Eurozone crisis.
Rodrigues: ‘This European Parliament can’t be led by a right-wing majority’
The European Parliament on Wednesday (5 July) failed to agree a common position on the Commission Work Programme for 2018. In an interview with EURACTIV.com, Maria João Rodrigues welcomed this as a sign that the conservative domination of the legislature is coming to an end.
Cédric Villani: ‘Germany is aware of how much it owes Macron’
Emmanuel Macron’s election victory has allayed German fears of Frexit. This should help to oil the wheels of cooperation between the EU’s power couple, Cédric Villani said in an interview with EURACTIV France.
Jadot: ‘Macron and Le Pen are like Clinton and Trump’
Green presidential candidate Yannick Jadot has called for his supporters to back Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the French election this Sunday (7 May). But the former banker's "technocratic" vision of Europe is unconvincing, Jadot told EURACTIV France.
Goulard: Macron’s election will change Europe
If Emmanuel Macron wins the second round of the French election on 7 May, labour market reform, security and the migration crisis will become priority issues for the European Union.
Watson: There can only be ‘losers’ from Brexit
The upcoming UK elections are unlikely to deliver enough certainty about what life will look like post-Brexit, said the former MEP and ALDE leader in an interview with EURACTIV.com, adding that no winners will emerge from the process.