Politics
Polish president vetoes controversial court reforms
Poland's president on Monday (24 July) vetoed controversial judicial reforms that had prompted huge street protests and threats of unprecedented EU sanctions.
Britain launches fund to boost electric battery technology
Britain launched a £246 million fund on Monday (24 July) to boost the development and manufacturing of electric batteries, a major growth area for the car and energy sectors.
The Brief: No surprises please, we’re European
As eurocrats, diplomats, journalists and other inhabitants of the EU bubble pack their swimwear for sunnier destinations, a sense of relief hangs in the air.
Weber: Turkish EU membership ‘makes no sense’
European Peoples’ Party group leader Manfred Weber told EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel that hard-hitting action must be taken against the Turkish government, while reiterating his call for EU membership talks to be scrapped.
Czech government insists migration controls should precede relocation demands
It makes no sense to share a burden over which we have no control, the Czech government said in response to the criticism of its failure to comply with EU migrant relocation quotas. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
EU sounds alarm, urges US to coordinate on Russia sanctions
The European Union sounded the alarm on Saturday (22 July) about moves in the US Congress to step up sanctions on Russia, urging Washington to keep coordinating with its G7 partners and warning of unintended consequences.
Italy hits back over migration security
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has warned Rome will not accept either "lessons" or "threats" from neighbours on border security amid tension over Europe's migrant crisis.
Candlelight protest against changes to Poland’s judiciary
Thousands of demonstrators bearing candles marched on the Polish Supreme Court on Sunday (23 July) in protest against controversial proposed judicial reforms.
Schulz warned against a re-run of the refugee crisis, urged Merkel to take action
Germany needs to take action now to prevent a re-run of 2015, when some 890,000 migrants arrived in the country, said former European Parliament president and challenger of Chancellor Angela Merkel, for a September election in an interview on Sunday (23 July).
Tweets of the Week: Brexit negotiations, rule of law, and Belgian fries
Brexit talks are underway, rule of law goes astray, but Belgian fries are here to stay.
Polish parliament approves controversial Supreme Court bill
Tens of thousands of Poles protested on Thursday (20 July) against a new law that allows parliament to appoint Supreme Court judges, defying a European Union warning that the move undermines democracy and the rule of law.
No solution in sight for Brexit’s controversial issues
During a second sitting around the negotiating table, the EU and the UK stuck to their guns on the financial obligations London should pay and what court would guarantee EU citizen rights in a post-Brexit world.
Poland: Fierce reactions to Article 7 threat
On Wednesday (19 July), Frans Timmermans criticised Polish efforts to reform the judiciary, considered threatening to the separation of powers, eroding democracy and rule of law. EURACTIV Poland reports.
It’s time to face reality over terrorism in the Gulf
Federica Mogherini must push the Gulf states to clean up on terrorism and work towards an end to the standoff with Qatar, writes Stefano Stefanini.
European human rights court to rule on extremist online videos
Europe's top human rights court will rule on Thursday (19 July) whether online videos considered by a Belgian court to be Islamist hate speech should be allowed under free speech provisions.
Germany says EU aid to Turkey could be halted over arrests
Germany raised the possibility on Wednesday (19 July) of suspending European Union aid payments to Turkey after summoning Ankara's ambassador to Berlin to protest over the arrest of six human rights activists including a German citizen.
Visegrad leaders say EU must show more support for Israel
The EU should better appreciate Israel’s key role in Middle Eastern stability, leaders of the Visegrad Four nations said yesterday (19 July) in a joint attack with Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Brussels’ current policy towards the Jewish state.
Save our fries! Belgians say EU spares national dish
Belgium's national dish, the deep fried potato sticks that much of the English-speaking world gallingly calls "French fries", has been saved.
Estonian ambassador: Trump is right, Europe should pay for own defence
Estonian Ambassador to Poland Harri Tiido explained the priorities of his country’s EU Presidency and talked about the current challenges facing Europe, in an interview with EURACTIV.pl.
UK challenges obligations to every EU programme
British negotiators rejected the EU's demand that they come up with a specific proposal on the bill London would have to pay as part of its exit from the bloc. The UK is questioning its obligations in regards to every line in the EU’s trillion euro multiannual budget, sources familiar with the talks explained.
Slovakia threatens unilateral action over food quality crisis
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has set an ultimatum for the European Commission to take action over lower quality food products being sold in Eastern member states. EURACTIV.sk reports.
Timmermans: ‘Journalists should not be intimidated at doing their jobs’
Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans called on Wednesday (19 July) for an end to the intimidation of journalists who are doing their job and asking critical questions. "I call on everyone to stop already the intimidation of journalists," he said.
Timmermans dangles Article 7, makes appeal to the Poles
The Commission is likely to call for the triggering of Article 7 next Wednesday (26 July) with respect to Poland, often referred to as “the nuclear option” to punish an EU member state, it emerged following the weekly meeting of the EU executive today (19 July).
Poland’s cherry picking of EU energy rules makes no sense
When it comes to EU energy policy, Warsaw does not always adhere to the letter and the spirit of EU law and tends to select rules a la carte, adapting them to Poland's narrowly-defined interests, writes Danila Bochkarev.