About: Charles Michel
No progress on trade, investment, Hong Kong as EU wraps-up tense China summit
No tangible progress was made on several key issues as leaders from the EU and China met for a tense virtual summit on Monday (22 June), amid tensions over tariffs targeting Chinese firms and Europe's fears over Beijing's growing global authority.
Tweets of the Week: Animal Idioms, Racism Debate, Recovery Council
What on earth is a pig in a poke, in EU institutions diversity is broke and European Council discussions are far from a joke.
Caught between US and Beijing, EU approaches challenging China summit talks
While the EU is still struggling to find a common position on China, Beijing hopes to boost ‘strategic trust’ when its leaders hold a video summit with European Council President Charles Michel and Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen next...
EU agreement on recovery plan by July ‘very difficult’, officials warn
It will be “very difficult” to reach an agreement on the recovery fund and the EU's overall seven-year budget by July, as intended, given the disagreements over the size, the distribution of the stimulus and the attached conditions, EU officials and national diplomats acknowledged on Wednesday (10 June).
Wong: EU should hurry up on Magnitsky Act to save Hong Kong
The EU should adopt a firm stance against China's recent plans for national security legislation in Hong Kong by hurrying to establish a 'Magnitsky-style' framework for human rights abuses, leading pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has told EURACTIV.
EU and Western Balkan leaders reaffirm ties in veiled response to China, Russia
EU leaders confirmed their "unequivocal support for the European perspective" to their Western Balkans counterparts during a video-summit on Wednesday (6 May). However, the final declaration doesn't make reference to a tangible time frame for the region's accession to the bloc.
EU to discuss Africa debt relief
EU countries will discuss a request for debt relief from five Sahel countries as part of efforts to help them cope with coronavirus, European Council chief Charles Michel said Tuesday (28 April).
Tweets of the Week: EU Corona Plans, Earth Day, Oil Prices
COVID-19 crisis continues, you all know the score, EarthDay reminds us, we could all do much more, and the global oil price drops through the floor.
Charles Michel limits ambitions for virus teleconference summit
Differences among EU countries look set to stymie any major decisions on tackling the long-term economic impact of the crisis at a summit later this week. In a letter Tuesday inviting the 27 leaders to the videoconference, EU Council President...
Michel: EU’s way of working is ‘too slow’
European Council President Charles Michel has voiced regret that Europe’s way of working, also evident during the coronavirus crisis, is ‘too slow’ and called for more solidarity with countries that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, like Italy and Spain.
EU leaders to hold coronavirus video conference on 26 March
European Union leaders will hold another video conference on 26 March to discuss the impact of coronavirus, a top official said on Thursday (19 March), the same day the European Parliament plans to increase EU aid to the economy.
Can the EU be run by videolink? Confidentiality is the biggest problem
The European Union runs on meetings -- endless gatherings to take decisions and try to build consensus among 27 diverse member states.
EU leaders agree to shut external borders, grapple with coronavirus response
EU leaders confirmed the proposed closure of the EU's external and Schengen borders for at least 30 days on Tuesday (17 March) as the bloc continued struggling to come up with a unified response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Europe furious over Trump’s unilateral travel ban
European officials reacted with surprise and anger Thursday (12 March) after US President Donald Trump imposed a trans-Atlantic travel ban they fear will wound economies already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
EU pledges €25 billion to weather coronavirus impact
EU institutions and member states agreed on Tuesday (10 March) to ease EU spending rules and mobilise at least €25 billion of EU funds to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus.
Stern-faced EU leaders warn Erdogan to respect migrants deal
Stern-faced EU leaders warned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (9 March) to respect the terms of a previous deal to keep migrants away from Europe's borders, after the Turkish leader came to Brussels to demand more support.
Erdogan holds Brussels talks as situation on Greek border gets nasty
Migration crisis talks were set to be held between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and senior EU officials in Brussels on Monday (9 March), as Germany said the bloc was considering taking in 1,500 child refugees.
Eastern Partnership’s champions expect more from the ‘geopolitical Commission’
As associated countries of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova ask for a more ambitious Eastern Partnership (EaP) policy, the debate continues about the next steps and available financial support for what is lauded as one of the EU's most successful foreign policies.
Migrants clash with Greek police, diplomatic efforts underway
Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday (1 March), with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.
EU leaders fail to agree on first post-Brexit budget as divisions grow
EU countries failed to narrow deep differences over the bloc's next seven-year budget as a group of net contributors refused to approve bigger spending and instead pushed for big cuts for farmers and poorer regions, in a bid to fill a €75 billion hole left by Brexit.
EU’s big budget battle
Leaders of the EU27 hold a special summit to debate the bloc's 2021-27 budget, in an effort to meet the tightening deadlines, fill the financial gap left by Brexit and reconcile vastly different positions of the member states.
EU faces tough post-Brexit test with 2021-2027 budget
Unlike national governments who adopt budgets every year, EU finances cover a seven-year period and need to be agreed by all 27 member states. The bloc’s next budget, the first after Brexit, will be debated by EU leaders on Thursday...
Pressure mounts on EU leaders to reach MFF deal within days
The tight calendar, the urgent priorities awaiting the EU and the risk of post-Brexit talks affecting the negotiations are adding pressure on EU leaders to reach an agreement within days on the bloc’s long-term budget. Otherwise, a senior EU official warned, Europe risks facing a “horror scenario” in January next year.