Politics
For oligarchs or Mafiosi, obtaining a Bulgarian passport is easy and cheap
The case of the Russian oligarch Sergei Adoniev is a good example for the obscure ways Bulgarian citizenship is being granted to paying clients. Free Europe Bulgaria broke the story on Tuesday (22 January) a day before the EU Commission will issue a warning against “golden passports” schemes.
No-deal Brexit makes hard border in Ireland ‘inevitable’, says Commission
A ‘no deal’ Brexit would ‘inevitably’ lead to the return of a hard border in Ireland, the European Commission’s chief spokesman said on Tuesday (22 January).
Treaty of Aachen: ‘France and Germany have to show responsibility’
More than half a century after the Élysée Treaty was signed, France and Germany are renewing their alliance. Both countries want to cooperate closely economically, culturally and in terms of foreign policy. But can a treaty bridge existing differences of opinion? EURACTIV Germany reports.
The Brief – Opting out of opt-outs
Hardships are almost always easier to bear when there’s a “we’re all in the same boat” philosophy at work. But the EU struggles with that mantra and now its lawmakers want to bolt the stable door.
Five hidden virtues of the Treaty of Aachen
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle contains discrete but crucial innovations in the areas of defence and diplomacy. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission warns Romania against amnesty plans for corrupt officials
The European Commission warned Romania on Tuesday (22 January) against passing a decree that would provide an easy legal tool to overturn corruption convictions for politicians, including the strongman Liviu Dragnea, leader of the ruling PSD party.
Brexit or not, Britain must stay on the EU’s security team
Make no mistake: Brexit will damage our security. It will weaken the UK more, but it will weaken the EU too, writes Matthieu Borsboom.
EU sees crime risks from Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria ‘golden passport’ schemes
The European Commission will warn that schemes in EU states to sell citizenship or residence to wealthy individuals could help foreign organised crime groups infiltrate the bloc and increase the risk of money laundering, corruption and tax evasion.
France summons Italian envoy over Di Maio Africa comments
France has summoned Italy's ambassador to protest against comments by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who accused Paris of continuing to colonise Africa and causing people to migrate from the continent, a government source told AFP.
May tries to tweak defeated Brexit plan, refuses to rule out no-deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit on Monday (21 January) by proposing to seek further concessions from the European Union on a plan to prevent customs checks on the Irish border.
Has the EU delivered on economy and growth?
The European elections will take place in just over four months. Economy and growth will play an important role in deciding who will sit in the new European Parliament.
France and Germany endorse a disenchanted vision of their relationship in new treaty
The treaty that France and Germany will sign on Tuesday (22 January) stems from Macron’s pro-European vigour. The text is a pragmatic one, promoting the economy and defence rather than politics but some major differences remain. EURACTIV France reports.Editor's picks
May seeks bilateral deal on Irish border to break Brexit impasse
British Prime Minister Theresa May is considering solving a Brexit deadlock by amending a 1998 agreement that ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland after ditching attempts to negotiate a cross-party deal, the Daily Telegraph reported late on Sunday (20 January).
Brexit is ‘the ultimate test case of Europeanisation’
Brexit may have paralysed and, in equal measures, humiliated Britain’s government, parliament and political parties, but Anand Menon, director of an influential UK think tank, is fascinated by the impact of this "unique experiment" on the country’s politics.
Commission to revoke British .eu domains after Brexit
The European Commission plans to revoke all .eu domain name registrations belonging to British registrars after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, EURACTIV has learnt.
Italy’s black MEP victim of repeated racist jibes fears ‘institutional’ racism
Politics consistently keeps overlooking racial issues and this may lead to 'institutional' racism, a former Italian minister and current socialist MEP, who has been the victim of racial abuse, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Sefcovic confirms run at Slovak presidency
European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will take an unpaid leave of absence to run in Slovakia’s presidential elections in May, he confirmed in Bratislava on Friday (18 January).
Will UK hold EU elections if Article 50 is extended? EU institutions differ
The European Commission indicated on Friday (18 January) that Britons would need to choose their representatives to the next European Parliament if the country were to stay in the European Union beyond the first sitting of the new assembly on 2 July.
Trans-Europe Express – Feminism at the heart of the European Parliament
This week the European Parliament called for a more gender-balanced chamber, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended feminism as one of the core values of the EU.
Tweets of the Week: Meaningful vote, Adamowicz, and the eurozone turns 20
This week, Theresa May thrashed by her peers, mayor’s murder brings Gdansk to tears and the Euro celebrates 20 years. This episode is supported by ACCA.
Russian MPs prolong payments freeze to Council of Europe
Russia's parliament voted Thursday (17 January) against sending delegates or paying contributions to the Council of Europe, increasing the risk of ultimate exclusion from the rights body and the European Court of Human Rights.
Parliament seeks financial punishment for countries breaching rule of law
European Union countries that undermine the bloc's democratic principles could lose EU funds, under a draft law backed by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 January).
Time to give up sacred EU budget cows
As EU member states debate the bloc’s next 7-year budget, no sector should be off-limits. Annika Hedberg argues that each euro spent should provide added value for the EU and its citizens, including the agricultural sector, a major recipient of EU money.