Politics
Polish judges call for solution without EU sanctions
Reunited in Paris, Polish judges opposing the justice reforms started by Warsaw ask for a solution to the crisis without Europe’s intervention. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission hails Greek-Bulgarian railway project as ‘positive development’
The European Commission is satisfied with the recent cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria on a regional railway project and is ready to look into possible financial support, an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV. Earlier this month (6 September) Greece and Bulgaria signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a high-speed railway linking six ports, largely …
Elections: What should German EU policy look like?
The outcome of the German elections will also shape the future of the EU. What do German associations, unions and civil society organisations demand from the future government with regards to EU financial, social and trade policies? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Czech analyst: Eastern Europeans have lost faith in the EU
When countries in Central and Eastern Europe joined the EU, their expectations were high. Above all, they thought that they would quickly reach a Western standard living, Irah Kučerová told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Violence against girls is corrosive to society
More than a half of the world’s women and girls experience some kind of physical or sexual violence in their early years. This miserable tide of suffering is ruining millions of girls’ childhoods and undermining their chances of becoming healthy adults, warn Kevin J. Jenkins and Susan Bissell.
EU still divided over curbing power subsidies with CO2 cap
A European Commission proposal to put an emissions limit on what power plants can be subsidised continues to divide the member states but the EU executive and the European Parliament stand united in supporting the CO2 cap.
Mogherini: No need to renegotiate Iran nuclear deal
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday (20 September) that there was no need to renegotiate the Iranian nuclear deal, insisting it was "delivering" despite US demands to re-open the agreement.
May, Macron, Gentiloni push for quick removal of extremist online content
Leaders of France, Italy and the United Kingdom urged social media companies on Wednesday to more swiftly remove "terrorist content" from the internet, with the aim of stopping it from being uploaded in the first place.
‘It’s not over yet,’ Merkel warns supporters before vote
Returning to her birthplace, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged supporters to mobilise undecided voters before Sunday's election, telling them not to take her conservatives' solid lead in opinion polls for granted.
Who is behind the EPP’s latest attempt to tighten rules for NGOs?
On 14 September, MEPs voted against amendments to tighten controls on EU-funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that act "against EU interests". A search for the proponents of these measures points to a pro-Israeli pressure group and a Glyphosate supporter.
Merkel’s EU-policies: Paris can wait
Merkel keeps a low profile in the election campaign regarding European issues, trying not to alienate voters as well as potential coalition partners.
Tusk to meet May next week to discuss Brexit
European Council President Donald Tusk will discuss Brexit with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London next Tuesday (26 September), only days after she is due to make a key speech on how she sees the UK's future ties with the EU.
Hungary set for another ‘national consultation’ targeting Soros
Hungary is set to launch another "national consultation" about US financier and philanthropist George Soros, the government said on Tuesday (19 September), paving the way for fresh attacks on the man portrayed as the public enemy before next year's elections.
No EU money for Eurosceptics!
“We should not be filling the coffers of anti-European extremists,” said Jean-Claude Juncker. It was the first time European political parties were mentioned in the European Commission President’s annual address and it did not go unnoticed, writes Wouter Wolfs.
Van Rompuy: Juncker’s single EU president idea ‘cannot deliver’
A week after the landmark State of the Union speech by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the first president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy told EURACTIV.com that merging the two functions at the EU helm could run into legal and political obstacles.
At UN, Erdogan demands Iraqi Kurds call off referendum, warns of ‘consequences’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday (19 September) demanded that Iraqi Kurds call off a referendum on independence, hinting at consequences if they go ahead.
Emissions Trading System failures sour energy policy efforts
Doubts about the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) resurfaced on Tuesday (19 September) at an energy conference in Estonia, as a low carbon price continues to stymie energy market efforts.
Migration and Europe: The view from Turkey
European governments seem to be treating Turkey like a game on a football pitch, pushing the ball of inclusion around, but never really having the intention of allowing it to become an equal player on their field, writes Egemen Bağış.
Britain to offer €20 billion for Brexit divorce bill
British Prime Minister Theresa May will promise to pay a Brexit divorce bill of at least €20 billion, $24 billion), according to officials cited by the Financial Times.
Post-election Germany: An iron chancellor with a liberal sidekick?
If the liberal FDP enters a coalition with the conservative CDU in Berlin, Merkel and Schäuble will have to adapt their plans for the future of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). EURACTIV Germany's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Budapest in ire as EU inspectors call at Orbán’s village
With an extravagant football stadium and an EU-funded narrow-gauge train famed for its lack of passengers, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's home village of Felcsut makes for an offbeat tourist destination.
Catalonia: Vote and let vote
On 11 September, a crowd of one million people gathered again in the streets of Barcelona, calling for independence for Catalonia. And once again it was all conducted in a peaceful and civil manner, writes Jordi Solé, an MEP from Catalonia who supports the planned independence referendum.
UK fishermen see Brexit bonanza, but there’s a catch
What Brexit gives with one hand, it can also take away. European fishermen want Brussels to use its trump card - continued access to the essential EU market - in negotiations on how to divvy up the seas.
Build batteries or lose jobs, auto bosses tell Europe
Europe shouldn’t rush to abandon the combustion engine and must build up its own production of electric car batteries to compete with China, auto suppliers and manufacturers said at the Frankfurt motor show.