Future EU
Ahead of EU polls, Poland’s Kaczynski urges crossparty anti-euro stance
The leader of Poland’s ruling conservatives on Wednesday (17 April) urged opposition leaders to back its view that the country should not join the euro until its economy is on a par with that of western neighbours. When Poland joined...
Flagship study exposes decline of press freedom in Europe
Reporters Without Borders published their flagship annual ‘World Press Freedom Index’ on Thursday (18 April), revealing that worldwide, authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media, while in Europe, decline of press freedom goes hand in hand with...
Le Pen’s Rassemblement National revises stance towards EU and the euro
Le Pen's party is no longer making calls to exit the EU or abandon the euro. Instead, the party is attempting to renew itself with a nationalist but locally anchored narrative. EURACTIV France reports.
Behind the EU summit curtains: How Macron missed his De Gaulle moment
The ‘De Gaulle moment’ that many had speculated about before Wednesday night’s Brexit summit (10-11 April) did not come, but President Emmanuel Macron still lived up to the spirit of the post-war French leader by throwing his weight around the...
EU27 is now free to hold summits without the UK
The EU27 will be free to hold official Council meetings and make decisions without the UK despite the country still being a member of the Union, in a move seen as a success for France’s President Macron, who led calls for the restrictions.
‘Neoliberal monster’: Germans urge EU to shake off its bad image
As many as 78% of Germans say economic inequality between EU member states damages Germany. And two-thirds consider a need for EU reform, with a greater focus on social issues, according to a new survey. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Vestager campaigns on hostile French territory
Danish Commissioner Vestager, centrist figurehead and part of French Macronists' future family in the European Parliament, does not have support from the French government for fear she will stand in the way of French candidate Michel Barnier. EURACTIV France reports.
Joining forces for Europe’s public sphere
The EU’s tropism towards business and technology comes at the price of neglecting its most precious realm: Europe’s public sphere, the precondition of its very existence, write Pieter Boeder, Christiane Lötsch and Péter Techet.
Weakened principles, weakened voice, Swedish PM tells MEPs
The EU can only be a strong voice for democracy in the world if all 28 member states stand up for the principles of democracy at home, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said on Wednesday (3 April) in front of EU...
Timmermans invites EU members to ‘bite the bullet’ on rule of law
The European Commission launched on Wednesday (3 April) a process of reflection about whether member states would agree to be supervised on possible breaches of rule of law. The Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said it is now up to the capitals to decide if they want to “bite the bullet”.
Vestager woos Altmaier with industry pitch
European Commission candidate Margrethe Vestager found a lot of common ground with German economy minister Peter Altmaier on Monday (1 April), as the Dane’s campaign appeared to gain momentum.
Hollande warns of ‘a Europe that stops moving forward’
France's former president, François Hollande, has given his two centimes on Europe during a discussion with high school students. An interview from our partner, Ouest-France.
EU on track for 50% emission cuts by 2030, study says
While Germany and Eastern European countries continue to oppose raising the EU’s 40% emission reduction target for 2030, a new analysis insists the bloc will actually manage at least 50% cuts under a business-as-usual scenario taking into account the latest coal phase-out pledges.
Citizens’ expectations for Europe focus on climate and social issues
The common expectations of Europeans are actually far from the divisions fuelled by politicians. This was highlighted by the WeEuropeans initiative, which managed to mobilise 2 million people and generate 30,000 proposals. EURACTIV France reports.
Discrete launch of cooperation between French and German parliament members
This Franco-German project, criticised by the French extreme right, was launched in Paris on Monday (25 March). The new chamber aims to facilitate exchange, not political decision-making. EURACTIV France reports.
Bullmann: May should put the Brexit question back to the people
UK Prime Minister Theresa May should stop wasting time and start working with the Labour Party for a closer EU-UK relationship, or put the question back to the British people, socialist chief Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
France targeting Commission presidency over top ECB job
France will push for the presidency of the European Commission rather than the European Central Bank when top EU jobs come up for negotiations later this year, three sources briefed on discussions over the matter said.
The Brief – A Roman comedy of errors
Today marks the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957 by the six founding member countries, which laid the groundwork for what was to become the EU. Five years ago, EURACTIV disclosed a veritable comedy of errors related to the signing of the foundational Treaty.
Europe is not a project!
The perspective that the Union is a project is holding us back. The Union simply needs to be pragmatic, writes Žiga Turk.
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.
French jailbirds to vote in EU elections for first time
For the first time, a prison in northern France will make sure inmates are able to vote at the EU elections in May. Almost all of France's 80,000 prisoners have the right to cast a ballot but few have managed to exercise it until now. EURACTIV France reports.
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.
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.