About: Charles Michel
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.
CAP spending faces further €5bn cut in bloc’s budget blueprint
In the latest compromise proposal for the next EU 7-year spending plan, fresh money allocated on the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) were trimmed by €7.5 billion, only partly offset by a €2.5 billion increase in direct payments to farmers.
EU in ‘frank’ talks with Western Balkan nations seeking membership
European Council president Charles Michel on Sunday (16 February) met with leaders of the six Western Balkan nations seeking to join the EU, for 'frank' talks ahead of a key summit in Zagreb in May.
Michel offers flexible EU budget to convince sceptics
More flexibility within the Common Agriculture Policy and more money to less developed regions instead of a larger budget is what European Council President Charles Michel will offer to sceptic countries to agree on a new EU 7-year blueprint next week.
We will find new path with London after Brexit, say EU leaders
The European Union will work hard to forge a future as an ally and partner of Britain after their divorce on Friday (31 January), European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen wrote in Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily.
Divided EU leaders to hammer out budget at February summit
European Union leaders meet next month in Brussels to try to agree a first post-Brexit longterm budget, with divisions over proposed cuts that could undermine defence and climate change ambitions.
Budget battle hampers EU in space
With the continuous militarisation of space, EU policymakers have started dropping their opposition to plans linking Europe's civilian space assets with defence elements. But as the political tide is slowly turning, cuts proposed in the EU’s draft budget threaten the new ambition.
EU sidelined as Berlin summit thrashes out shaky Libya ceasefire
World powers at a Berlin Conference on Sunday (19 January), attended by the main backers of the rival Libyan factions, committed to end military support for the civil war parties and uphold an existing UN arms embargo.
Macron, Sahel leaders meet to boost anti-jihadist campaign
French President Emmanuel Macron will on Monday (13 January) host counterparts from five Sahel countries seeking more backing in the fight against a murderous jihadist uprising even as France's military role is being questioned.
Allied with far-left, Spain’s Sanchez stays on as PM
Spain's parliament on Tuesday (7 January) narrowly confirmed Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as premier for another term, paving the way for the country's first-ever coalition government since its return to democracy in the 1970s.
The battle of numbers that will shape EU’s future
It might not be the sexiest debate but how the EU will look in the next seven years will depend on the outcome of one of the toughest upcoming fights in 2020: the negotiation over the bloc’s next long-term budget.