Politics
The Brief – Sibiu, the right cradle for a new Europe?
Sibiu was intended to be the synonym of a ‘new hope’ for Europe. But the landmark summit to take place in the Romanian city in May is increasingly overshadowed by the tricks and faults of the host country. Romania’s rotating...
Ireland launches omnibus bill to mitigate ‘lose-lose’ of no-deal Brexit
Ireland unveiled its contingency plans for a ‘no deal’ Brexit on Friday, publishing an omnibus bill of fifteen pieces of legislation across nine government departments covering citizen's rights, tax and migration, and the education, healthcare and transport sectors.
Romania treads water on migration and asylum reforms
In 2015, Romania voted against relocation quotas for refugees within the EU, though it later supported the UN’s Global Compact on Refugees. Recently, it was asked by the UNHCR to use its six-month EU presidency to mobilise member states to be more active in managing the flows of refugees. EURACTIV Romania reports.
Trans-Europe Express – Friends won’t be friends
First official projections of seats in the new European Parliament have shown two right-wing ruling parties, Italy’s Lega and Poland’s PiS, as the second and third-biggest single party in the next Parliament, but the highly anticipated ‘Italo-Polish axis’ doesn’t seem to pan out.
Not there yet but closer: Britain and EU haggle over Brexit compromise
Britain and the European Union on Thursday (21 February) played down the chances of clinching an immediate Brexit divorce deal but diplomats said they were edging closer to a legal compromise that Prime Minister Theresa May hopes will win over...
The Capitals: Czech far-right supporters expose their party, back Syrian orphans
The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network.
EPP protects Orbán for now, fearing he might join far-right
The EPP does not want to raise tensions with its ‘bad boy’ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán because this might push him towards joining Italian populist Matteo Salvini or even far-right Marine Le Pen, a Christian-Democrat (CDU) told EURACTIV.de.
First Arab-EU summit billed as chance to cooperate in troubled region
European and Arab leaders are to hold their first summit Sunday (24 February), in what the top EU diplomat sees as a chance to boost cooperation across a troubled Mediterranean region.
German bill to tackle undeclared work and child benefit fraud
German finance minister Olaf Scholz has presented a bill for German customs to be given more employees and powers. EURACTIV Germany’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Romania investigates Timmermans and Jourova, Commission says they have immunity
Relations between Bucharest and Brussels hit an all-time low on Thursday (21 February) as the Romanian press reported that the Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová have been indicted for “falsification” of the last Cooperation and Verification report (CVM).
Brexit panic reaches across the Channel to France
The French have finally realised that there may well be a no-deal Brexit. The Medef employers’ federation has said that French businesses are not prepared, the agricultural sector is waiting, while transporters are panicking. EURACTIV France reports.
Romania socialists to attend PES congress as pressure mounts over Kovesi case
Romanian Socialist PSD president Liviu Dragnea will attend the Congress of the European Socialist Party (PES) on 22 and 23 February in Madrid, sources said, although he previously said he could not “be in a picture” with someone who hates Romania.
The Capitals: Romanian socialists feel the heat of Kövesi case
The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV's media network.
Fitch warns of British debt downgrade on ‘hard’ Brexit risk
Ratings agency Fitch warned on Wednesday (20 February) that it could cut Britain's debt rating, citing the economic hit from a potential no-deal Brexit.
Brexit turns EU into landlord in the City of London
The European Medicines Agency is looking to sublet its former headquarters in the financial district of London, after a British court ruled on Wednesday (20 February) that it cannot break its lease despite the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Serbia foreign minister: We want border demarcation with Kosovo
Serbia's official position in the dialogue with Kosovo is to go for a border demarcation along ethnic lines between Belgrade and its former province, Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić has said without elaborating further. Dačić's statement was met with protests in both Belgrade and Priština.
May hails Brexit talks ‘progress’ but no breakthrough
Prime Minister Theresa May said she had made "progress" in talks with the EU on Wednesday (20 February) as she sought to extract concessions on the terms of Britain's divorce, but as expected there was no major breakthrough.
Germany needs a quarter of a million migrant workers a year
Germany is dependent on migrant workers but a decreasing number of them will be EU citizens in the future. In the long term, about 146,000 immigrants from outside of the EU will have to be integrated into the German labour market every year, according to a recent study. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The Brief – The Independent Eleven
Leaving the party that got you elected is very rare in Britain. So, too, is the emergence of a new party. That makes the joining of eight ex-Labour MPs with three ex-Conservatives in the Independent Group the most significant since the launch of the Social Democrat Party in 1981.
French people make ‘social Europe’ proposals in workshops ahead of EU elections
When consulted at a workshop on the future of “social Europe” after the European elections, French people were ambitious on social issues. EURACTIV France reports.
German social democrats’ manifesto: What role for the environment?
The German SPD published its European election manifesto on Monday (18 February), clearly setting out social justice and fair taxation as the main priorities. But what about environmental policy? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bulgarian PM destabilised by revelations about hidden political alliance
In Bulgaria, the European elections are seen as a test for Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, at a time when his conservative GERB party are polling neck-and-neck with the socialists. Krassen Nikolov tells the inside story for EUelectionsBulgaria.com.
The Capitals: Prespa Agreement shows first ‘tangible’ benefits
The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s newsroom network.