Politics
Juncker warns May: ‘No room’ to renegotiate Brexit deal
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (11 December) that the EU would be open to offer “clarifications” to British Prime Minister Theresa May, but insisted that the withdrawal agreement was the “best possible, the only possible” deal.
May heads to Netherlands, Germany in bid to save Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Germany's Angela Merkel Tuesday (11 December) as she works to salvage her Brexit deal, the day after delaying a parliamentary vote on it to avoid a crushing defeat.
Marrakesh UN forum adopts migration pact despite withdrawals
A United Nations conference adopted a migration pact in front of leaders and representatives from over 160 countries in Morocco on Monday (10 December), despite a string of withdrawals, including several EU countries, driven by anti-immigrant populism.
Macron announces financial concessions in bid to end ‘yellow vest’ revolt
Embattled French President Emmanuel Macron Monday (10 December) announced a series of financial measures seeking to defuse the "yellow vest" revolt that has triggered violent protests in cities across the country.
Theresa May buys one last chance after shelving Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs on Monday (10 December) that she would return to Brussels to seek new concessions on the Irish ‘backstop’ as she postponed a vote in parliament to give herself one last chance to salvage her battered Brexit deal.
The Brief – No roadmaps needed for experienced travellers
Morocco is a tree with its roots in Africa and its branches in Europe. So said the late King Hassan II of Morocco. That partly explains why hosting the UN migration summit in Marrakech, which formally adopted the UN’s contentious...
Citizens’ consultations: France dreaming of ecological Europe
The European Council between 13-14 December will focus on the findings of the citizens’ consultations. French people dream of having a more ecological and more socially just Europe, where there is greater citizen participation. Can the EU meet their expectations? EURACTIV France reports.
Six months before elections, only CDS and Left Bloc announced their candidates in Portugal
Six months before the European elections, the right-wing CDS People’s Party (CDS-PP) and the Left Bloc (BE) are the only Portuguese parties to have presented their leading candidates. Other parties postponed announcing candidates for the end of this year or the start of 2019. EURACTIV’s media partner Lusa reports.
EU court offers Brexit way out as May moves to delay crunch vote
The European Court of Justice ruled on Monday (10 December) that the UK can unilaterally halt the Brexit process as Theresa May moved towards delaying a crunch vote on her EU Withdrawal Agreement in the UK parliament.
Salvini hails six months in power, wants to personally negotiate with EU
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini spoke to thousands of supporters in a packed square in Rome on Saturday (8 December) as his surging League party celebrates six months in power. EURACTIV reports from Rome.
May presses on with Brexit vote as MPs demand better deal
Theresa May will push ahead with a crucial vote on her European Union exit deal, her Brexit minister said on Sunday (9 December), as senior lawmakers in her own party piled pressure on the British prime minister to go back to Brussels and seek a better offer.
Socialists entrust Timmermans to replace Juncker at EU helm
Europe’s socialist parties on Saturday (8 December) chose Dutch politician Frans Timmermans to lead them in May elections and to succeed his boss Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Delegates voted in Timmermans, currently first vice president of the EU’s powerful...
Bulgarian deputy PM raises obstacles for Macedonia’s EU, NATO accession
Bulgarian deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov stated on Saturday (8 December) that he would not let Macedonia join the EU and NATO, reacting to recent statements by the Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev about the Macedonian language that have also infuriated Athens.
Belgian PM relaunches government as minority after ally quits
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel relaunched his government on Sunday (9 December) as a minority administration after the biggest party in his coalition quit in a dispute over signing the UN migration compact.
Vlaams Belang hosts Steve Bannon, Marine Le Pen in Flemish parliament
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Steve Bannon, a former advisor to US President Donald Trump, denounced the UN migration compact at an event hosted by Vlaams Belang in the Flemish parliament in Brussels on Saturday (8 December).
Election landslide in Armenia as revolution comes full-circle
Armenia confirmed journalist-turned-politician Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister on Sunday (9 December) as voters handed him a landslide victory and banished the former ruling party from parliament, after nearly two decades in power.
With eyes on future Chancellorship, CDU elects Kramp-Karrenbauer as new chair
Germany's ruling CDU chose Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as its new chairperson to replace Angela Merkel on Friday (7 December), in a move that raised some doubts about which path the country's biggest party aims to take to stave off challenges from the left and the right. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The Brief – Socialist schism
The Party of European Socialists is meeting in Lisbon in an apparent show of unity. Unlike the EPP, the liberals or even the greens, socialists don’t need to choose from competing candidates – they only have one. Frans Timmermans will be their Spitzenkandidat, and Sergei Stanishev will be re-elected for a third time as PES president, without competition.
Which way forward for Merkel’s CDU?
The CDU is holding a vote today on who will take over its chair and will possibly be its candidate to German Chancellor one day. EURACTIV Germany gives an overview of how the three candidates could shape the part and therefore also the EU.
Trans-Europe Express – Germany’s next Bundeskanzler
Rarely has a national party convention been followed so eagerly in Brussels corridors. As Germany's CDU party is set to vote this afternoon on Chancellor Angela Merkel's successor at the party helm, thoughts are already on the future.
Orbán exempts pro-government behemoth media group from scrutiny
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has exempted a mammoth pro-government media group from scrutiny by the national competition watchdog, according to a decree published late on Wednesday (5 December).
Host migrants or pay, France and Germany propose
European Union governments that refuse to host refugees could instead pay to be excused from the bloc's system of sharing out migrants, France and Germany proposed on Thursday (6 December) as they sought to end a long-running EU feud over migration.
Ministers clamp down on online terrorist content despite wave of opposition
Ministers sitting on the EU Home Affairs Council adopted their negotiating position on the European Commission's proposed regulation against the spread of online terrorist content on Thursday (6 December), as those in the industry reacted with frustration to the plans.