Politics
EU ministers back border fences to deal with Eastern threats
Several EU interior ministers came together on Friday (21 January) to discuss how to step up the protection of EU external borders but failed to agree on a common approach, with options ranging from building fences on the borders to strengthening Schengen and migration legislation.
Šuica: Commission will support changes to treaties if citizens ask
Citizens’ recommendations are “at the heart of the process” of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), Dubravka Šuica said in an interview with EURACTIV. If the recommendations include changes to treaties, the Commission will support them, in line...
European citizens divided on nuclear in EU democracy experiment
A citizens' panel dedicated to the environment, climate change, and health, held in Warsaw in January, found no agreement for a recommendation on nuclear energy, despite being one of the most debated issues.
Tweets of the week: Metsola&Macron, Berlusconi and the Sheriff
Metsola is President as everyone guessed, Berlusconi resurgence has EU watchers stressed, and there’s a new sheriff in town to fight the digital Wild West.
French candidate Hidalgo ‘profoundly’ pro-European
Anne Hidalgo, candidate for the Socialist Party in the French presidential elections, unveiled her programme on 13 January. As opposed to the populists in the race, her ambitious proposals all assert the primacy of EU law. EURACTIV France reports.
EU should advance foreign intelligence-gathering capacity, EU lawmaker says
The EU should develop its own foreign intelligence services to provide itself with credible information about possible foreign threats, according to an upcoming European Parliament proposal, previewed to EURACTIV.
The Brief — COVID gamblers
Is this the end of COVID – or at least of the restrictions? Or is it a misperception? Should we brace for a new variant, possibly the worst we could imagine?
EU and UK set end February deadline for NI protocol deal
EU and UK officials have set the end of February as the unofficial deadline for reaching agreement on the Northern Ireland protocol, amid anxiety that the long–running talks could disrupt the campaign for the Northern Ireland assembly elections.
Zemmour presents anti-immigration EU vision similar to Le Pen’s
Éric Zemmour, the fiery far-right candidate in the French presidential elections, chose to clarify his anti-immigration-focused vision of Europe in Calais. While he will not advocate for Frexit, he will try to renegotiate the Schengen agreement, and "if necessary" withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
Time for Europe to stand on its own two feet
The way the US recently applied the Magnitsky Act in Bulgaria may have been beneficial for the country struggling with its mafia, but was a humiliation vis-a-vis the EU, Dick Roche writes.
UK PM Johnson drops COVID-19 restrictions
People in England will no longer be required to wear face masks anywhere or work from home from next week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, adding that scientists believed a wave of the Omicron coronavirus variant had peaked nationally.
European firms make slow progress in appointing more women to boards
The proportion of women in leading positions at major European companies rose last year, but fell behind schedule to reach the European Commission's proposed target of 40% for 2025, a study by an EU-sponsored non-profit organisation showed on Thursday (19 January).Editor's picks
The Brief – Grand Tattoo for German pacifism
The Germany of today is inherently a pacifist country. This truth is often lost amid the big news, but political observers of the party landscape in Berlin and beyond will agree.
Macron’s French EU presidency presentation turns into a settling of scores
President Emmanuel Macron presented the programme of France's six-month EU Council presidency before very agitated MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday (19 January), but it quickly turned into a sparring match with the French opposition.
The French and the FPEU: a match made in heaven?
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union began on 1 January 2022. For six months, France will be setting the pace for the legislative agenda and negotiations at the heart of the European institutions.
Presidential candidate Mélenchon ready to push for EU Treaty reform
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, presidential candidate of radical left party La France Insoumise, hopes to push member countries to break away from EU treaties "that block us" if he wins the election in April.
UK PM Johnson faces ‘pork pie’ plot to trigger leadership challenge
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was fighting to shore up his premiership on Wednesday (19 January) amid a revolt by his own lawmakers who are angry over a series of lockdown parties in Downing Street.
Slovenia considers closer ties with Taiwan
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Romanian PM being accused of plagiarism, Finland not joining the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games, and so much more.
Athletes warned against speaking up on human rights at Beijing Games
Athletes travelling to next month's Beijing Olympics were warned on Tuesday (18 January) about speaking up on human rights issues while in China for their own safety by speakers at a seminar hosted by Human Rights Watch.
The Brief – An inevitable betrayal
Following the 2008 economic crisis, the EU socialists almost collapsed in successive elections across the bloc. Back then, they put the blame on the “grand coalition” they had formed with the centre-right.
Britain’s financial watchdog cracks down on EU licence laggards
Britain's financial watchdog said on Tuesday it had stopped four European firms from operating after they failed to provide information showing they had applied for a permanent licence to do business in the country.
European Parliament elects first woman President in twenty years
Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola was elected on Tuesday (18 January) to lead the EU institution for the second half of its five year mandate after securing an overwhelming majority in the first ballot.
Local communities mull EU treaty change in bloc-wide democracy experiment
The success of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) depends on the geographical spread and depth of the debate and proper follow-up, EU stakeholders warn.