About: European Council
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.
French Minister: ‘There is a long way to go’ on eurozone budget
France wants to make access to European funds conditional on the European minimum wage and respect for the rule of law, the state secretary for Europe, Amélie de Montchalin, told EURACTIV Slovakia in an interview.
MEPs furious over Council’s ‘backroom horse-trade’ on EU top jobs
Lawmakers of the newly constituted European Parliament slammed EU leaders on Thursday (4 July) for their 'backroom package deal' on the EU's top jobs, with a potential inter-institutional conflict looming ahead as the chamber's decision to approve it is on a knife-edge.
Former German justice minister will vote against von der Leyen
Former German Justice Minister Katarina Barley told EURACTIV in Strasbourg that she wants to vote against Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council's proposed candidate for the European Commission presidency. EURACTIV Germany reports.
In defiance of European Council, Parliament elects Italian Socialist as new president
The European Parliament elected Socialist David-Maria Sassoli as its new president and picked its extended leadership on Wednesday (3 July), after EU leaders trashed out a surprise package deal for the EU top jobs during a marathon summit the previous...
Charles Michel, the compromise builder
Embattled at home in politically divided Belgium, Mr Nice Guy on European stage - outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Chárles Michel, whom EU leaders designated to take over the European Council helm from Donald Tusk, might prove to be an unexpected, but suitable pick.
The Brief – Die another day
As exactly the time when Europe actually could prove its credibility and make it visible for the whole world, EU institutions have buried themselves in a trench war over the election of their new leadership.
Macron condemns EU Council summit as failure
At the end of the summit of EU28 leaders on Monday (1 July), French President Emmanuel Macron deplored the failure of the negotiations, saying that this blockade gave "a not-so-serious image of Europe". EURACTIV France reports.
EU leaders entrenched over top jobs as EPP rebels against Merkel
As morning broke on 1 July, EU leaders were still unable to reach consensus over the distribution of top European jobs as conservatives from Central and Eastern Europe rejected a plan, endorsed by Angela Merkel, that would have installed Socialist Frans Timmermans at the helm of the new Commission.
Austria’s interim chancellor won’t block the majority on EU top jobs
Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein won't ask for special favours at an EU summit next Sunday (30 June) aimed at appointing the new President of the European Commission, except when it comes to one thing: Austria's next EU Commissioner. An analysis by Herbert Vytiska for EURACTIV Germany.
No deal on top jobs or climate neutrality at June summit
The June European Council was all about jobs. Leaders failed to fill the five available positions to lead the EU in the next mandate and to reach an agreement to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, which would lead to the creation of a million jobs, according to a European Commission assessment.
Rutte: ‘I will never support stabilisation mechanisms at euro level’
In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.com after the European Council, Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said on Friday (21 June) that he "will never support" new budgetary instruments to stabilise the euro area if an economic shock hits the region.
Treaty against democracy: Franco-German arm wrestling reflects different political visions
The opposition between France and Germany over the appointment of the new European Commission president reflects their radically different political views. For France, the treaty and the best candidate matter the most, while for Germany, the priority is democracy. EURACTIV France reports.
Keller: ‘It’s not possible that we never had a female Commission president’
Ska Keller is a German Green MEP and co-president of the Greens and European Free Alliance (EFA). The Greens’ unexpected success in the EU elections, combined with the continued decline of the Socialists and Conservatives, means they might emerge as kingmakers.
‘Institutional crisis’ if EU doesn’t pick Spitzenkandidat, EPP warns
EU member states risk plunging the blog into an "institutional crisis," should they decide to abandon the Spitzenkandidat process of selecting the next President of the European Commission, a senior EPP source has told EURACTIV.
Europeans have chosen to protect the environment and EU leaders should listen
The European Council should take the result of the European elections seriously and ensure that the EU's goals and budget are future-oriented, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and environment, write Dr Raphael Weyland and Konstantin Kreiser.
EXCLUSIVE: What countries really think of the EU’s strategic agenda
EU member states broadly supported priorities highlighted for the next five years, although they called for a more “positive” vision. Despite the demands made by the capitals, the latest version only included few changes, according to the latest draft and the minutes seen by EURACTIV.
EU elections: what’s next
Following the European elections in May, MEPs and EU member states will shape the transition into the new term. These are the next steps towards the formation of the Parliament and the Commission.
Gender balance becomes paramount in race for top EU jobs
Initial battle lines were drawn between member states over who will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission President on Tuesday (28 May) as EU leaders met to discuss “no names, just process”, in preparation for a decisive summit in June.
Parliament calls for Spitzenkandidat to be respected, liberals oppose it
The process of naming the next Commission president should respect the Spitzenkandidaten system, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament said in a joint statement on Tuesday (28 May), despite opposition from the liberal ALDE group.
The race for EU top posts heats up
Familiar faces and new names will be competing for the EU’s top jobs, as capitals are starting to manoeuvre and prepare the ground for their preferred candidates, EURACTIV has found out after talking to EU officials and diplomats.
EU to use China as guinea pig to monitor bilateral summit deals
EU member states have decided to set up a new mechanism to monitor China's progress in implementing agreed commitments, with the aim of extending such controls to other bilateral relations, according to documents seen by EURACTIV.
Climate change efforts set for disappointing EU summit in June
A small group of EU countries is pushing for the European Council to come down hard on climate change at an EU summit in June, EURACTIV.com has learned. But chances are slim that it will be a defining moment for the bloc’s environmental credentials.