Politics
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Russia defends corruption in Bulgaria from US criticism
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No joke: COVID-vaccinated urged to eat tomatoes
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Dombrovskis: Continued suspension of EU Stability Pact will depend on spring assessment
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EU leaders struggle to solve AstraZeneca-UK equation
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Belarus’ radiation monitoring goes dark after alleged incident at nuclear plant
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Ireland nets 25% of EU’s fund to cover Brexit costs
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Portugal wins EU support for corporate tax transparency law
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Bulgarian PM calls on Russia to cease espionage activity
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MEPs grill Commission about growing expenditure in consultancy firms
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Estonian PM Ratas resigns awaiting corruption charges
Bulgaria mulls withdrawing AstraZeneca jab
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Greece reopening its high schools as it has recently started offering free home-testing kits to its population, Croatia's pensioners set to receive COVID-19 relief from the government, and so much more.
The age of permacrisis
Despite the fatigue with the pandemic and the longing for stability and predictability, Europe has entered the age of ‘permacrisis’, in which volatility, uncertainty, and a prolonged sense of emergency have become the new normal, argue Ricardo Borges de Castro, Fabian Zuleeg and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.
Von der Leyen, Michel seek way forward after ‘sofa-gate’ tensions
EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel held their first talks Monday (12 April) since a diplomatic gaffe in Turkey -- dubbed "sofa-gate" -- laid bare tensions between the bloc's major institutions.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Michel’s musical chairs
European Council President Charles Michel missed a few good chances in Ankara. But despite his apology tour, where he tried to frame the 'Sofagate' incident as a diplomatic snub rather than a sexist move towards a female leader, this musical chair mishap will mark his mandate, which is up for evaluation in less than a year.
Covid, cocaine take Europe to ‘breaking point’, says Europol
The coronavirus pandemic could fuel organised crime for years to come in Europe, a continent already at "breaking point" from an unprecedented flood of cocaine, the EU's policing agency warned Monday (12 April).
French politicians turn to Twitch in hope of connecting with youth
French Prime Minister Jean Castex and former president François Hollande are among a number of French politicians to broadcast live interviews on Twitch in recent months, with the video streaming platform being seen as a way to reconnect with disaffected youth. EURACTIV France reports.
Bulgarian PM: price of Pfizer vaccine jumps from €12 to €19,50
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Bulgarian PM Borissov revealing the cost of a Pfizer dose according to contracts between the Commission and Pfizer, Turkey suspending Italian contracts following Prime Minister Mario Draghi comments on Erdogan, and so much more.
Orban-friendly owner gets Hungary independent radio frequency
A Hungarian radio station critical of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that was forced off the air in February said Sunday (11 April) its former frequency had been handed to a station owned by a government-friendly group.
Germany’s far-right AfD firms up election strategy with EU exit and anti-lockdown campaign
Germany’s far-right AfD party vowed to campaign for an end to COVID-19 restrictions, a tougher line on migration and an exit from the EU as it finalised its manifesto for the September elections on Sunday (11 April), with the radical...
EU founding father Schuman moves closer to sainthood
Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union and a devout if discreet Catholic, will soon take the first step towards sainthood, a top Vatican official told AFP.
‘Uncertain’ Brexit deal could see UK bound by EU subsidies rules, lawmakers warn
The uncertain legal status of the Northern Ireland Protocol could lead to major confusion and the UK becoming de facto bound by EU subsidy rules, according to a report by UK lawmakers published on Friday (9 April).
Cypriot says business ‘stolen’ in Bulgaria, hopes EPPO will investigate
Stealing a successful business in Bulgaria is commonplace, although this mafia-like practice is little documented. A Cypriot businessman has told his story to EURACTIV, hoping that the Office of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) would investigate further.
Ireland: EU-Mercosur trade deal ‘unlikely’ during Portuguese presidency
Ireland considers it "unlikely" that the EU-Mercosur trade agreement will be concluded during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union and insists on guarantees that deforestation of the Amazon will be halted.
Tweets of the Week: Sofa-gate, Northern Ireland, Eurostar
In Ankara VDL is denied a chair, Northern Ireland violence is hard to bear and Eurostar's failing and the Brits don’t care.
Italy’s Draghi accuses ‘dictator’ Erdogan, Turkey condemns the ‘ugly’ remarks
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday (8 April) accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of humiliating European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week and said it is important to be frank with "dictators", drawing condemnation from Ankara.
Johnson urged to convene all-party talks following riots in Northern Ireland
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been urged to convene all-party talks on Northern Ireland after the sixth night of riots in the province on Wednesday (7 April) left more than 50 police officers injured.
Hungarian official denounces German ‘Nazi-style’ sacking of football coach
A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called into question Germany's democratic standards on Thursday (8 April) after a German football club sacked a Hungarian coach for expressing anti-immigrant and anti-LGBT views.
Romani inclusion requires binding EU legislation, says MEP
On the occasion of International Romani Day on 8 April, MEP Romeo Franz (Greens/EFA) spoke with EURACTIV about the continued challenges that Romani communities across Europe face and the importance of legally binding legislation.
Energy ministers urge for regulatory framework on hydrogen
European energy ministers on Wednesday highlighted the need to create a stable regulatory framework for hydrogen in the European Union, capable of attracting private investors into a competitive and predictable market.
UK PM Johnson says deeply concerned by Northern Ireland violence
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was deeply concerned by scenes of violence in Northern Ireland after crowds of youths in a pro-British area of Belfast set a hijacked bus on fire and attacked police with stones.
German Greens mull top candidate for landmark post-Merkel election
The German Greens will decide later this month which of their two co-leaders to put forward as their candidate to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel in September’s landmark election, the party said on Wednesday (7 April).
Bye Frexit, hello ecology: Why Le Pen’s party programme has a new agenda
With France's regional and presidential elections already looming on the horizon, Marine Le Pen's right-wing Rassemblement national (RN) seems to want to rework its roadmap. On the agenda: more ecology, but no more return to the franc.
Nordic countries set up Sámi reconciliation commissions to investigate indigenous injustices
Colonial era policies in northern Scandinavia continue to affect Sámi life, culture and land use. Meanwhile, truth commissions are being set up and aim to investigate injustices against Indigenous people carried out by the states. There are an estimated 100,000...