Elections
Scots to map out independence plans after UK election success
The Scottish National Party (SNP) will next week unveil a "detailed democratic case for the transfer of power" that may enable a second Scottish independence referendum to take place in the near future, the leader of the party Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday (13 December).
Corbyn to step down after crushing election defeat
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Friday (13 December) he would stand down as his party faced its worst electoral defeat in 84 years, but he did not set a date for his departure and added he would remain in charge during a period of reflection.
Spain’s king taps Socialist Sanchez to form government
Spain's King Felipe VI has tasked acting Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to form a government after the country's second inconclusive election in less than seven months, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
‘Soros orchestra’: The next chapter in Hungary’s Article 7 odyssey
The General Affairs Council held a thematic hearing on Tuesday (10 December) on the ongoing Article 7 procedure against Hungary, tackling the alleged breaches of judicial independence, academic freedom and freedom of expression, particularly media freedom.
Czech PM must quit, say 50,000 protesters
Tens of thousands of Czechs rallied in central Prague on Tuesday (10 December) demanding the resignation of populist billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš over fraud allegations.
Final push in Britain’s election: anti-Brexiteers still hope to stop Johnson
Britain's political leaders were to criss-cross the country on Wednesday's (11 December) final day of general election campaigning as a key poll showed the outcome could be hanging in the balance.
Irish government stumbles as post-Brexit election looms
As political chaos reigned across the sea in Britain, Ireland's two main parties have been working together to limit the damage of Brexit -- but not for much longer.
Austrian Greens likely to join government coalition, shape priorities
Austria's Green party is expected to join the government for the first time, with negotiations already underway. After Sebastian Kurz's ÖVP party governed alongside the Eurosceptic far-right group FPÖ from 2017-2019, this could now prompt a change in Austria's foreign and EU policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Brexit? New referendum? What’s at stake in UK vote
Britain votes on Thursday (12 December) in a crucial general election that will determine whether the country leaves the European Union next month or sets out a path to potentially reverse Brexit.
UK investigating whether leaked trade papers were hacked
British cyber security officials are investigating whether classified UK-U.S. trade documents that were shared online ahead of Thursday’s election (December 12) were acquired by hacking or were leaked, two sources told Reuters.
Slovak President asks court to quash Europe’s longest pre-election poll blackout
Slovakia's president asked the Constitutional Court on Thursday (5 December) to strike down a lengthy ban on publishing opinion polls ahead of elections in February, a restriction seen by most opposition parties as an attempt to sideline political newcomers.
Middleman tells Malta court of plot to kill Daphne Caruana
The self-confessed middleman in the murder of a journalist told a court on Wednesday (4 December) a wealthy Maltese businessman was the brains behind the killing but also implicated people tied to government in the growing scandal.
Press watchdogs call for EU to act over Hungary media curbs
Hungary has stifled its independent media and imposed a level of control over journalists that is unprecedented in an EU country, according to a joint report from six international press watchdogs that calls on EU leaders to take action.
Czech taxpayers should return EU subsidies due to PM’s business conflict
The European Commission has determined that the Czech Republic must return hundreds of millions of crowns in EU subsidies as Prime Minister Andrej Babiš did not sufficiently separate himself from holdings that received the funds, Czech news websites reported.
Caruana Galizia’s family wants Malta police to probe PM
The family of murdered investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia called Monday (2 December) for police to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as a European Parliament delegation was set to arrive in Malta on a fact-finding mission.
Malta PM to resign amid journalist murder probe protests
Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, under fire over his handling of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, said Sunday (1 December) he would step down after his replacement is chosen in January.
Merkel’s future in balance as SPD picks new leaders
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's political future hangs in the balance as her floundering coalition partners, the SPD, elect new leaders on Saturday.
Pro-European Iohannis re-elected as Romanian president
Incumbent Klaus Iohannis won re-election as Romanian president on Sunday (24 November), confirming the pro-European trajectory of the eastern EU member state.
Orban says Hungary to increase its EU influence with the enlargement portfolio
Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed Friday (22 November) the confirmation of Budapest's nominee as a key EU commissioner as the country's "biggest diplomatic success" in a decade.
MEPs shut out of Hungary Council hearing as rule of law situation worsens
MEPs are reeling after being shut out of a Council hearing under the Article 7 procedure against Hungary for systemic breaches to the rule of law, as the situation in the country further deteriorates.
Police investigating murder of Malta journalist arrest local businessman
Malta police arrested one of the country’s most prominent businessmen on Wednesday (20 November) as part of an investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Merkel’s conservatives brace for stormy party congress
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU braces for a tumultuous two-day party congress in Leipzig from Friday (22 November), with members smarting from recent local election drubbings and bickering over her successor.
Babis voices regret for Czech communist past at Velvet Revolution anniversary
The Czech Republic's billionaire prime minister expressed regret over his communist past on Sunday (17 November) while Slovakia's liberal president hailed the sacrifices communist-era dissidents made for democracy as their nations celebrated 30 years since the Velvet Revolution toppled communism in then-Czechoslovakia.