About: EU
Austria minister ‘cannot imagine’ an agreement at EU summit
Austria's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler does not expect an agreement to be reached at the EU's budget summit on Friday and Saturday. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, she explains where Austria wants to renegotiate and pleads for a stricter link to the rule of law.
In Berlin, Sánchez vows to ‘do everything to reach a deal’ at EU summit
Just before the EU Council summit on 17 July, leaders of those EU countries that suffered most from the coronavirus pandemic are meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the politician on whom they pin their hopes for a rapid recovery. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Gabriel outlines key areas for EU digital education action plan
Developing digital competencies across the EU as well as promoting gender equality in the bloc's digital economy are two key areas that the European Commission will seek to foster as part of the forthcoming revamped Digital Education Action Plan, the EU's Innovation and Research Commissioner Mariya Gabriel has said.
Huawei banned from UK 5G network, pleads with Johnson to reconsider
The UK has excluded Huawei from its future 5G network infrastructure, the government announced on Tuesday (14 July). The Chinese telecommunications firm immediately urged Boris Johnson's administration to reconsider the decision, seen as a substantial setback for its business in Europe.
To save European journalism, we need an anti-SLAPPS directive
The EU should better consider implementing legal measures to safeguard the freedom of the press, writes Jessica Ní Mhainín.
For Italy, time is of the essence, Conte tells Merkel
Five days before an EU summit that could adopt a historic EU budget and a recovery fund, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met Angela Merkel in Berlin. Both support a generous aid fund and both want an agreement at the weekend. But for Conte, the economic survival of his country is at stake. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission expert group warns against ‘killer acquisitions’ in platform economy
The EU should consider imposing 'new obligations' on major platforms to report their merger and acquisition activities to the European Commission in order to avoid a culture of 'killer acquisitions,' a report produced for the EU executive has said.
Slovenian PM calls for mandatory coronavirus app, against Commission advice
Coronavirus contact tracing applications should be made mandatory as a means of helping the European Union transition out of the public health crisis and open up its borders, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša said on Wednesday (8 July).
Altmaier argues against ‘international monopolies’ in the platform economy
A "well-regulated" platform economy should allow for small and medium-sized enterprises to compete fairly and should not lead to the formation of "international monopolies", German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Tuesday (7 July).
Huawei waits it out on possible UK ban
Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has said it is remaining patient in light of media reports that the UK government is charting a gradual phase-out of its equipment in 5G network infrastructure, which could lead to a blanket ban.
Commission conducting ‘preparatory work’ should ECJ invalidate privacy shield
The European Commission is preparing for the eventuality that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) may invalidate the EU-US data transfer agreement, known as the Privacy Shield, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has said.
Germany calls for tightened AI regulation at EU level
Four months after the European Commission presented its 'white paper' on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the German government said it broadly agrees with Brussels but sees a need to tighten up on security. The government is particularly concerned by the fact that only AI applications with "high risk" have to meet special requirements. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Vestager warns against predictive policing in Artificial Intelligence
Certain Artificial Intelligence application including forms of predictive policing are 'not acceptable' in the EU, the European Commission's Vice-President for Digital policy, Margarethe Vestager has said.
Merkel and Macron show unity ahead of all-important EU summit
In a show of unity, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Monday (29 June) and reaffirmed their commitment to the EU Recovery Fund, voicing hope that EU leaders would overcome their current differences. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Italy no longer among EU’s ‘top 5’ host countries for asylum seekers
For the first time since 2015, asylum applications in the EU started to rise again in 2019. However, Italy is no longer among the main host countries while Germany retains its top spot. EURACTIV Italy reports.
Artificial Intelligence: The time for ethics is over
Organising ethical debates has long been an efficient way for industry to delay and avoid hard regulation. Europe now needs strong, enforceable rights for its citizens, writes Green MEP Alexandra Geese.
New Irish prime minister gives boost to EU centrists
The centrist Renew Europe political faction has added another EU leader to their roster after Ireland formed a new government over the weekend, with Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin at the helm, tasked with overseeing the country's economic recovery after the pandemic.
Commission uncertain on future UK data adequacy agreement
The European Commission has said that it 'cannot predict' whether the UK will be fit for a data transfer adequacy agreement with the EU as part of ongoing negotiations on a future trade deal between the two parties.
German EU Presidency: Government sets priorities as ‘motor and moderator of Europe’
One week before Germany takes over the EU Council presidency on 1 July, its highly anticipated programme went through the cabinet, with priorities focused on managing the coronavirus crisis and its economic and social fallout. However, that was not enough to placate critics in the green and left-wing opposition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Digital tax: Stage set for EU leadership after Trump’s OECD withdrawal
Amazon does not need another massive handout, but that is what the Trump administration gave the US behemoth by withdrawing from international digital tax negotiations at the OECD. The timing could not be worse, write Christy Hoffman and Oliver Roethig.
LEAK: Commission pushes UK for ‘high degree of convergence’ in GDPR review
The European Commission will tomorrow (24 June) highlight the importance of the UK abiding by EU data protection rules as part of a future relationship between the two parties, in the first review of the landmark general data protection regulation, obtained by EURACTIV.
Platforms clamp down on hate speech in run up to Digital Services Act
The European Commission has applauded efforts by some of the world's largest tech platforms in stifling the spread of illegal content, in the last evaluation of the EU's code on countering illegal hate speech online before the Digital Services Act is presented later this year.
US Corporations are talking about bans for AI. Will the EU?
The conversation on banning certain uses of artificial intelligence (AI) is back on the legislative agenda. The European Commission's public consultation closed recently, leaving the EU to grapple with what the public think about AI regulation, write Nani Jansen Reventlow and Sarah Chander.