Future EU
EU prepares Brexit war plan for weeks ahead as uncertainty grows
After 17 months of negotiations, with less than 140 days before the UK is officially set to exit the EU, Brussels and London reached an agreement late Wednesday (14 November) on the terms of their divorce. However, the work is far from complete. Below is an overview of the next steps leading to the UK's withdrawal.
Theresa May battles to save Brexit deal as ministers quit
Prime Minister Theresa May battled on Thursday (15 November) to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest at an agreement they say will trap Britain in the bloc's orbit for years.
Brexit draft deal brightens Barnier’s political prospects
The tentative Brexit deal grudgingly approved by the British cabinet on Wednesday (14 November) could yet fall apart, but for one man it is already a personal victory.
May wins narrow cabinet backing for Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly won the support of her cabinet for a draft divorce deal with the EU on Wednesday night (14 November), making yet another unexpected breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations.
Right ideas matter, not parties, S&D chief tells Greek socialists angry at Tsipras ‘flirt’
For the future of Greece and the EU, it’s the right ideas that matter rather than party labels, S&D chief Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV.com, dismissing complaints from Greek socialists about the collaboration between EU socialists and leftist Greek premier Alexis Tsipras.
ECR puts forward Czech MEP as their Spitzenkandidat nominee
Czech MEP Jan Zahradil will be the lead candidate of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) to run for the presidency of the next European Commission, party chief Syed Kamall announced on Tuesday (13 October).
In Strasbourg, Merkel brings European army one step further
In an eagerly awaited speech on the future of Europe before what she called 'the biggest democratic parliament of the world', German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday (13 November) for a "real, true European army" and a common asylum framework.
Time to take stock of EU citizen consultations
The European Council will consider in December the outcomes of the citizen consultations. However, some MEPs are already calling for the EU not to stop at this experiment. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission lauds Bulgaria, castigates Romania on judicial reform
The European Commission published on Tuesday (13 November) reports on Bulgaria and Romania under the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), commending Bulgaria for progress made and lambasting Romania for backtracking. Both countries, however, were warned to uphold media freedom.
Benoît Hamon denounces egocentric Mélenchon, dogmatic Macron
Jean-Luc Mélenchon likes the Left only if he can be at the centre of its attention but his strategy entails the risk of France’s exit from the EU, which is contrary to the leftist political mindset based on internationalism, French politician Benoît Hamon told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Spitzenkandidat picks: Manfred Weber, EPP
With no real debating at the big debate, the EPP's Helsinki Congress picked their Spitzenkandidat contender for the European elections. EURACTIV takes a closer look at the party's new old face, Manfred Weber.
EU progressives sow seeds to ‘save’ Europe
EU social democrats, leftist politicians and ecologists urge the need for a common strategy to halt the rise of far-right populism in Europe, before and after the 2019 EU elections. EURACTIV.com reports from Bilbao.
Poland holds centenary parade alongside far-right march
Leaders of Poland's right-wing government marked the nation's centenary with a military parade Sunday (11 November), which took place at the same time and along the same route as an annual independence day march organised by marginal far-right groups.
Romanian Europe minister resigns on cusp of EU stint
Romania's Minister for foreign affairs Victor Negrescu has resigned just weeks before the country takes on the EU's six-month rotating presidency in January, media reported Saturday (10 November).
Bulgarian president sees democracy ‘under threat’
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev issued a stinging critique of the government's record on corruption and press freedom Friday (9 November), saying "the foundations of democracy are being threatened to a critical degree".
Zimmer urges leftist parties to escape from ‘self-isolation’, seek majorities
The president of leftist group GUE/NGL in the European Parliament urged left-wing parties across Europe on Friday (9 November) to be open-minded and respect mutual differences in order to come up with a joint strategy for achieving majorities in the next EU House and fighting "neoliberalism and racism". EURACTIV.com reports from Bilbao.
Electrifying Europe to win over populists
Some years ago, Europhobes were a few solitary but loud people who said they wanted to wipe out the European Union. Things have changed: now they are many more and became more ambiguous about their wishes, writes Beatriz Becerra.
The Brief, powered by EFPIA – Remembering 1918
World leaders will gather in Paris on Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of 11 November Armistice that ended World War One. We may not realise it, but we are possibly still experiencing the aftershocks of 'The Great War'.
Syriza in quest to unite progressive forces ahead of EU elections
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his close ally, senior Syriza MEP Dimitris Papadimoulis, are launching a number of initiatives to build bridges among Europe's fragmented progressive political forces and create a broad alliance ahead of the EU elections.
Tensions mount ahead of Poland’s centenary march
Poland's president and prime minister on Wednesday (7 November) called a march in Warsaw to mark the country's independence day centenary this weekend, hours after the capital's mayor banned one planned by far-right groups for the occasion.
The Brief – Back to the future
Taking Germany and Europe by surprise, Angela Merkel’s decision to retire from politics after the end of her chancellorship sparked an array of often antinomic political analysis and speculations, all surrounded with an ‘end of an era’ emanation. But what does it mean on a day-to-day life basis in Germany?
Czech PM wants to leave global migration pact
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Thursday (1 November) he wanted to pull the Czech Republic out of a United Nations migration deal and would discuss this with his governing coalition partner, news website idnes.cz reported.
Macron warns Europe of a return to 1930s
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Europe of a return to the 1930s because of the spread of a nationalist "leprosy" across the continent, in an interview published Thursday (1 November).