Security
Finland kicks off EU presidency with bid to tackle ‘unfin[n]ished business’
"A sustainable Europe - a sustainable future". This is Finland's motto to kickstart its presidency in the European Council for the next six months. The Finnish programme seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, expand the digital internal market and strengthen military cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU, France, Germany and UK urge Iran to reverse uranium decision
The diplomatic chiefs of the EU, France, Germany and Britain said Tuesday (2 July) they were "extremely concerned" and urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal.
Finland to push EU review of internal security to face new threats
Finland will push for a review of the bloc’s internal security strategy to better face new challenges including hybrid threats, Finnish ministers explained on Thursday (27 June), as the country geared up to start its six-month-stint at the helm of the EU's rotating presidency.
EU backs cyber sanctions regime, following Dutch and UK pressure
Under new EU rules, individuals and groups conducting cyber-attacks from outside the bloc may be hit with potential sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes. But the measures announced on Friday will be applied only to "persons and entities" and not to national governments.
EXCLUSIVE: Germany blocking EU plans to stop spyware trade with dictators
EU proposals to establish export restrictions on spyware are being held back by Germany, which has adopted an ambiguous stance on the plans, EURACTIV has learnt.
Theresa May fires defence secretary over Huawei leak
British Prime Minister Theresa May fired her defence minister on Wednesday (1 May) over a leak of discussions in the National Security Council about Chinese telecoms company Huawei, the latest of her allies to be ousted from government.
Experts point out deficiencies in countering the jihadist threat
With the jihadists behind the bloodshed in Paris and Brussels able to criss-cross European borders at will, anti-terror chiefs have been forced to come together to seek a common response to a global threat.
US ‘undermining political independence of Europe,’ Huawei says
The US campaign against Chinese telecoms manufacturers is undermining the "political independence of Europe" to decide commercial partnerships for itself, Huawei has warned.
New Zealand and France plan bid to tackle extremism on social media
In the wake of the Christchurch attack, New Zealand said on Wednesday (24 April) that it would work with France in an effort to stop social media from being used to promote terrorism and violent extremism.
Mogherini’s tarnished legacy
Paradoxically it was the EU’s closest partner, the United States, that has done most to damage Federica Mogherini's legacy as High Representative with a full-scale assault on the EU’s commitment to multilateralism, writes Fraser Cameron.
Weapons research is undermining European democracy
The European Parliament is voting on Thursday (18 April) on the European Defence Fund, a multi-billion military research programme. Not only is this Fund a step in the militarisation of the EU, but it is also undermining European democracy, writes Bram Vranken.
MEPs back plans to quell online terrorist content, but one-hour timeframe is criticised
The European Parliament has backed plans to force online hosting services to remove terrorist content within one hour of reporting, in a move aimed at quelling the spread of extremist propaganda online. However, there was no shortage of those in the industry criticising the timeframe.
Amid worries over Russia, Sweden returns troops to Baltic island
Under an icy rain, camouflage-clad Swedish soldiers crouched behind a log pile, aimed their machine guns towards the Baltic Sea and, at their officers' barked orders, opened fire down the snow-covered range.
Border controls: state of emergency becoming state of normality
Germany, as well as other EU member states in the Schengen area, is extending the period of random border checks. The EU Commission is not pleased. EURACTIV’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
US issue extradition request as Assange is arrested after seven-year asylum
The US justice department has issued an extradition request for the indictment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, after he was arrested by British authorities on Thursday (11 April). The arrest followed a decision by the Ecuadorean embassy to revoke his seven-year asylum status.
UK, Dutch spy agencies curb intel flow to Austria over Russia ties
British and Dutch spy agencies have heavily restricted the amount of intelligence they share with Austria, mainly because of ties between the ruling far-right Freedom Party and Russia, an Austrian opposition lawmaker said on Tuesday (9 April).
EU lawmakers back one-hour deadline to remove online terrorist content
Lawmakers in the European Parliament's Justice Committee have backed measures to clamp down on the spread of online terrorist content, including an obligation for platforms to remove offending content within one hour of reporting or face fines of up to 4% of their global turnover.OpinionPromoted content
NATO at 70: The enduring transatlantic alliance for peace and security
For 70 years, NATO continues to play a crucial role in our defence and security. The emerging threats may vary, but if NATO continues its collaborative, innovative practices then it will remain as relevant today as it was in 1949.
EU to drop threat of Huawei ban but wants 5G risks monitored
The European Commission will next week urge EU countries to share more data to tackle cybersecurity risks related to 5G networks but will ignore U.S. calls to ban Huawei Technologies, four people familiar with the matter said on Friday (22 March).
EU institutions at loggerheads over online terrorist content
MEPs are seeking to "delay and time-out" the adoption of the regulation against online terrorist content, the EU's security chief Julian King said on Wednesday (21 March). His comments came as the Commission criticised online platforms for dragging their feet in removing graphic video footage following the Christchurch attacks.
Up to 400 online platforms hosting terrorist content, Commission says
Between 200 and 400 online platforms are currently hosting content that could lead to terrorist radicalisation, the European Commission has said.
Serbia ramps up military capabilities, but affirms it sticks to neutrality
Continuing recent efforts to improve its armed forces, Serbia took over four more MiG-29 aircraft from Belarus. The country wants to join the European Union but not NATO, and is seeking good ties with both Moscow and Washington. EURACTIV.rs reports.
After Putin’s warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in US
Russian state television has listed US military facilities that Moscow would target in the event of a nuclear strike, and said that a hypersonic missile Russia is developing would be able to hit them in less than five minutes.