About: Council
Member state criticism, COVID crisis delay ratification of EU-Mercosur deal
The challenging procedure of ratifying the EU-Mercosur deal is being held up due to a combination of the COVID-19 health crisis and considerable criticism from member states. EURACTIV's partner Efeagro takes a look at the current state of play.
Green German MP: The times are changing, and so must the CAP
The European Parliament will vote on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the end of the week. In an interview with EURACTIV France, Bundestag MP Harald Ebner (Greens) spoke about how crucial it was to integrate the European Commission's 'Farm to Fork' strategy into the new CAP, which according to him, should be greener and fairer.
Leak: Capitals seek to reform EU summits to cope with Trump era
EU countries are working on a review of their summits to improve their efficiency amid the challenges posed by Donald Trump, China and other foreign actors, according to official notes seen by EURACTIV.com.
Battle lines and ‘illusions’ ahead of EU summit on Brexit
UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday (27 April) accused the other 27 EU countries of lining up to oppose Britain over Brexit after Germany's Angela Merkel said the UK should have no "illusions" over the exit process.
Better Regulation: expertise over politics?
As the Commission makes a bid for greater democratic legitimacy, it must take care not to allow its technocratic tendencies to sideline the EU’s elected institutions, argue Charles de Marcilly and Matthias Touillon.![Jacek Dominik [Georgi Gotev]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/jacek_dominik.jpeg)
Jacek Dominik: EU budget is ‘hostage to national politics’
EU budget commissioner Jacek Dominik said yesterday (24 September) that it was “very dangerous” that over the last few years, the EU budget has become hostage to national politics, and that a “hardcore” of net payers were saying “no” to whatever proposals the Commission was making.The Council’s brazen Nobel fraud
The message of the EU Council’s Nobel Prize exhibition is a tribute to France's General de Gaulle, writes David Price who wonders: Is the Council now openly declaring it is a Bastion of Gaullism?Rising poverty and unemployment: Discarded priorities of the EU budget
After more than two years of campaigning for a social pillar in the EU budget, the proposals made last week are extremely disappointing and worrying, writes Pierre Baussand.
Council voting: Who are the EU hardliners and ‘yes men’?
VoteWatch Europe has released its first-ever report examining national voting trends in the Council of the European Union. The survey provides new insights into the main areas of disagreement and could help reveal which member states are ‘most difficult’.
Energy efficiency talks focus on finance, deal uncertain
Financing aspects are dominating ongoing talks on the energy efficiency directive, but member states are keeping their hands firmly on their wallets, EURACTIV has learned.
New treaty gets EU legal clearance, UK sidelined
A draft intergovernmental treaty to tighten fiscal discipline in the eurozone has received the green light from the European Council's legal service, paving the way for a final text to be agreed by the end of January, EU officials said on Friday (16 December).
Member states weigh in on future of EU regional policy
Ahead of a summit on 17-18 June, EU member states have presented an assessment of Europe's regional policy and are due to call on the European Commission to ensure that a proper debate is held on the policy's future.
High expectations of Sweden at EU helm
As Sweden prepares to assume the EU's rotating presidency on 1 July, business, civil society and human rights groups alike are lobbying Stockholm to find a way out of the financial, economic and climate crises by promoting structural reform and ambitious policies.
Sweden’s EU presidency logo sets sights on climate
Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmström unveiled the logo of her country's upcoming EU presidency on Monday (2 March). The design, a golden S-shaped curve dividing - or perhaps uniting - two blue sides was described by the winning advertising agency, Bacon Advertising, as reflecting "openness, dialogue, climate and light".
EU moves to combat illegal fishing, protect ecosystems
Fisheries ministers from the 27-member bloc have given their unanimous backing to Commission proposals to combat illegal fishing and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, in a move welcomed by European environmental groups.
Watered-down waste directive gets MEPs’ green light
MEPs agreed yesterday (17 June) to back new waste legislation despite the lack of binding goals for member states on waste prevention, while targets for re-use and recycling are included. NGOs and green groups immediately slammed the directive for not going far enough.
Governments seek to water down waste targets
The Parliament and Council are locked in a battle over waste targets, after a trialogue meeting on 2 June in conjunction with the Commission produced no agreement on percentage targets for household and demolition waste.