Politics
The Brief – Late-night MFF ennui
EU budget banter is all the rage it seems. One EU official posted a picture on Twitter of his shirt supply – four, if you’re asking – in anticipation of several hard days of summitry.
At EU summit, Bulgaria’s Borissov fends off accusations of money laundering
The Spanish newspaper elPeriodico published on Friday (21 February) an investigative report stating that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is being investigated by the Catalan police for alleged involvement in money laundering and organised crime. Borissov has denied any wrongdoing.
Germany’s minorities call for action after shisha bar shootings
German Kurds called on Thursday (20 February) for stronger government action against far-right radicalism and racism as they mourned the victims of a gun attack on two shisha lounges.
Lithuanian MPs seek EU sanctions against ‘Putin’s chef’
In today's edition of The Capitals, find out more about the reactions of German leaders to the attacks in Hanau, Hugnary's deputy whip of governing coalition party KDNP in parliament suggesting that there should be an 'ECHR-exit', and so much more.
Tweets of the Week: Brexit Slide Wars, Digital Strategy, Budget Council
Number 10 claims Barnier’s a real jerk, digital strategy raises a wry smirk and leaders work on multiannual financial framework.
Summit fails to narrow differences over EU’s seven-year budget
EU leaders broke off in the early hours of Friday (21 February) after failing to make significant progress on the bloc's expenditure for the next seven years. They will reconvene at 10 am this morning to try and make a breakthrough.
Gunman kills nine in Germany in overnight rampage
A suspected right-wing extremist shot nine people dead in two shisha bars in an overnight rampage through a German city on Wednesday night (19 February) before, police believe, returning home and killing himself.
Rightwing anti-migrant petition in Serbia sparks opposition unease
An anti-immigration campaign launched by a Serbian rightwing nationalist party has sparked unease within the disparate opposition coalition to which it belongs.
Sánchez to launch ‘direct’ dialogue with Catalans next week
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about who could step into the shoes of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as CDU chief, Hungary's pledge to ban single-use plastics, Portugal's 'euthanasia debate', and so much more.
UN agency calls for new safe harbour rules for migrants from Libya
The International Organization for Migration on Wednesday (19 February) called on the world community to devise a "safe disembarkation mechanism" for migrants fleeing Libya, the day after a port in the capital of the war-torn country was hit by a barrage of rocket fire.
Ireland’s Fianna Fáil to step up efforts to form a government
Ireland's Fianna Fáil will step up efforts to form a government by starting formal engagement with other parties, except Sinn Féin, after marginally winning the most seats at an inconclusive 8 February election.
Google confirms plans to move UK users’ accounts outside EU jurisdiction
Google is planning to move its British users' accounts out of the control of European Union privacy regulators, placing them under US jurisdiction instead, the company confirmed late on Wednesday (19 February).Editor's picks
Hamburg elections, pose (another) crash test for Germany’s mainstream parties
Voters in the city state of Hamburg will elect their new parliament on 23 February, the first elections to take place after the Thuringian political turmoil broke out earlier this month. This is yet another test for Germany’s traditional parties that could seal the end of the country's traditional political landscape.
Parliament ready to flex its muscles over EU budget in wake of Brexit
Ahead of an EU27 summit on Thursday, the European Parliament is mounting pressure on the member states to agree on an ambitious budget for the bloc, demanding a bigger say in decision-making in the aftermath of Brexit and threatening to reject the bloc's key financial instrument.
UK sets out steep barriers for EU migrants from 2021
EU nationals without a well-paid job offer and sufficient qualifications will be unable to work in the UK in the future, according to a tough new ‘points-based’ immigration system that will come into force when it leaves the EU's Single Market at the end of 2020.
Brussels bristles at ‘dishonest’ UK government tweet
The EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Wednesday (19 February) expressed irritation at a combative tweet from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office claiming that Brussels is shifting objectives in upcoming trade talks.
EU budget: First post-Brexit test seems to be tough for Europe
In today's edition of The Capitals, find out more about how the EU member states reacted to European Council President Charles Michel's more 'flexible' EU budget proposal.
Carbon levy, plastic tax hailed as potential game-changers for EU budget
Proposals to allocate 20% of revenues from carbon trading to the EU budget, combined with a new tax on plastic waste, could help plug the hole left by Britain’s departure from the European Union, as leaders meet tomorrow to agree on the bloc's first post-Brexit budget.
Pressure mounts on EU leaders to reach MFF deal within days
The tight calendar, the urgent priorities awaiting the EU and the risk of post-Brexit talks affecting the negotiations are adding pressure on EU leaders to reach an agreement within days on the bloc’s long-term budget. Otherwise, a senior EU official warned, Europe risks facing a “horror scenario” in January next year.
EPP coup: Orbán sends angry memo to party leadership
Viktor Orbán, Hungary's strongman and prime minister, called for an “internal debate on the future mission of the EPP" in a memorandum sent to the leadership of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), whose dominance has receded following the May European elections.
A brief history of graft in Orbán’s Hungary
Corruption is deeply embedded in Hungary, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shielded by a cluster of wealthy bosses with close personal and political ties to the leader, writes Szabolcs Panyi.
The Brief – Eurocrats are people too
The EU is ostensibly on a green crusade at the moment, with grand proclamations and plans aimed at burnishing our environmental credentials. But it requires a huge human resources effort, which may prove more testing than the climate challenge.
Johnson’s touch of Frost spoils for Brexit battle
Boris Johnson’s government is anxious to make sure that EU leaders understand that the days of compromise under Theresa May are over. On Monday night (17 February), his EU adviser David Frost delivered that message without fear or favour.