About: European Council Archives

European solidarity is being put to the test as some EU member states are not supporting the idea of 'corona bonds' and the EU's approach to communicating with the public about the crisis remains too discreet, according to Paris. EURACTIV France reports.

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.

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.

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.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Wednesday (12 February) that the  European Green Deal would fail if member states declined to provide the necessary funds to workers and regions affected by the climate transition.

Tensions between Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, and his finance minister and Eurogroup president, Mario Centeno erupted in front of EU leaders on Friday (13 December) as the two clashed over the design of the eurozone budgetary instrument .

The European Council has asked the Commission to present a mandate to start post-Brexit negotiations with the UK as soon as possible, following Thursday (12 December) UK elections results that confirmed a strong majority for Boris Johnson.

The European Council handed over the negotiation of the next EU long-term budget to its president, Charles Michel during the first round of the December summit on Thursday (12 December). 

As European Council president Charles Michel takes over the negotiations on the EU's long-term budget, the Parliament hopes this will give a new impetus to the slow-moving talks, lawmakers in charge told a press briefing on Wednesday (11 December).

EU leaders will urge co-legislators in the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to examine “as a matter of priority” the possibility to sanction countries breaching trade rules and blocking the dispute settlement process, according to the latest version of the summit conclusions seen by EURACTIV.

The Commission's proposal for the EU's new long-term budget has been caught in the crossfire as net contributors criticise the idea of having to pay more while a number of southern and eastern member states have joined forces to oppose planned cuts in traditional policies. 

The EU27 ambassadors agreed on Monday (28 October) to extend the Brexit negotiations for a further three months until 31 January although the UK will be able to leave as soon as the ratification of the withdrawal agreement is completed. 

EU leaders failed to narrow their differences over the EU's seven-year budget for 2021-27,  the Multiannual Financial Framework, as member states maintained their entrenched positions on the EU’s spending volume and priorities. 

In a last-ditch effort on Wednesday evening (16 October) before a decisive EU summit, the Visegrad Four and North Macedonian officials tried to sway the enlargement mood in Brussels.

The EU and UK are on the brink of a Brexit deal, but it is unclear whether the Democratic Unionist Party will agree to the new agreement, and when UK lawmakers will vote on the deal.

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.

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 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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.