Politics

EU to Poland: protect human lives, allow Frontex to Belarus border

The EU executive asked Warsaw on Friday to allow Frontex staff on the Polish-Belarusian border where four migrants died while trying to cross into Europe amid an increase in irregular immigration the bloc blames on Minsk for orchestrating.

Fifth migrant dies on Poland-Belarus border

An Iraqi migrant has died in Poland after being found near the border with Belarus, bringing to five the death toll this week on this eastern EU frontier.

New York, London keep top spots in global financial centres index

New York easily kept the top spot in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), while London held on to second place as Chinese cities slipped, according to the ranking published on Friday.

Catalan separatist MEP Puigdemont arrested in Italy

Exiled former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Italy on Thursday (23 September), his lawyer and an aide said, four years after fleeing following an independence referendum that Madrid ruled unconstitutional.

Tweets of the Week: AUKUS, Budapest Demographic Summit, Common Charger

Ditching French submarines leads to a brawl, turns out Viktor Orban isn’t that tall, and European Commission proposes a single digital charger for all.

EU must respond to UK’s demand on Brexit deal urgently, minister says

The European Union must respond urgently to Britain's demands for changes to the deal overseeing problematic post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland, British Brexit Minister David Frost said on Thursday.

Differences remain over alternative fuels infrastructure in EU

EU transport ministers discussed infrastructure for alternative fuels in Slovenia on Thursday (23 September), with the country's Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec noting that quite a few differences remained between EU countries on the matter.

EU says US tech talks going ahead despite French anger

The European Union said on Thursday that trade and tech talks with the United States would go ahead as planned next week, despite France's submarine spat with Washington putting them in doubt.

German election 2021: Who comes after Merkel?

Germans vote for a new parliament on Sunday (26 September) in an election already dubbed 'historic' because it will determine the successor of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will retire after 16 years at the helm of the EU's strongest economy.

Germans to decide on a future without Angela Merkel

All eyes are on Berlin this week as Germans vote on a new government on Sunday (26 September). The final result is difficult to predict but the new government will be one without Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been in power for 16 years and will step down from politics altogether.

Civil society calls for transparency in Commission’s rule of law report

62 organisations have complained about a lack of transparency, tight deadlines, and limited scope of the European Commission's annual report assessing the rule of law situation in the EU Member States.

Czech far right sets ‘Czexit’ referendum law as price for post-vote talks

The far-right SPD party, which may play a role in forming a new Czech government next month, would demand the cabinet propose legislation that could lead to a referendum on leaving the European Union, party chief Tomio Okamura said.

German Chancellor Merkel to stick around for a while after polls

As Angela Merkel said goodbye to her Stralsund constituency of 30 years on 21 September and visited Paris one last time as chancellor on 16 September, one might get the wrong impression that she is not long for the international stage.

The Brief, powered by EHFG — The rise of the kingmakers

With the new German parliament likely to be more fragmented after the federal election on Sunday (September 26), several small parties are preparing themselves to play a kingmaker role in the subsequent coalition-building talks.

Post-election Germany: back to austerity or fit for a fiscal union?

Germany is heading to the polls on Sunday (26 September) amid intense debate on the future of Europe's fiscal policy.

Shakeup in Berlin – German 2021 elections

The upcoming German federal elections are already dubbed 'historic': Veteran Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down after 16 years in office while her conservative CDU/CSU union is polling at historic lows and trailing the Social Democrats, who are in pole position ahead of the 26 September vote.

Germany’s youth disgruntled with election system dominated by seniors

Germany heads to the polls on Sunday (26 September) with a majority of voters aged above 50, while many teenagers under the legal voting age of 18 feel disgruntled for not being allowed to vote in an election they consider pivotal.

Romanian MEP demands EU investigation into UK profiling claims

A Romanian MEP has called on the European Commission to intervene following the release of data suggesting that UK border officials could be conducting racial profiling against Romanian and other east Europeans states.

How post-election Germany can become a climate delivery champion

National elections in Germany are only days away. The eyes of the world are turning to Berlin as Angela Merkel is stepping down after 16 years and polls are predicting a tight race. In this opinion piece, Cora Herwartz and Jule Könneke outline how post-election Germany can reclaim its climate frontrunner role.

Slovenian Minister urges Frontex to help EU member states, third countries

The situation on the EU's border with Belarus was high on the agenda as the management board of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) started a two-day meeting in Slovenia on Tuesday (21 September).

The Brief, powered by EHFG — Replacing tents with concrete

The EU’s repackaged migration pact could be finalised in the weeks after next year’s French presidential elections. At least that’s what Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas told this website.

Hungarian minister: Schinas wants to ‘hide’ migration from German, French voters

Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga has lashed out against European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas after he told EURACTIV in an interview that the much-awaited European migration pact should be approved after the French elections due next year.

German parties and migration: Different priorities and concerns

While all the parties running in next Sunday's German election agree that the current European migration regime has to be reformed, their vision of what these changes should look like vary considerably.