About: Frans Timmermans
Commission urges Parliament, Council to move on transparency
The European Commission is unhappy with the lack of progress in negotiating its proposal for a mandatory transparency register with the European Parliament and Council and has urged the Parliament to consider making "meaningful" proposals before "our next political meeting", according to an official letter seen by EURACTIV.com.
Romania urged to heed rule of law before assuming EU presidency
The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.
Romania’s tug of war over rule of law nears the line
A power struggle between Romania’s government and judiciary is reaching a tipping point that risks driving a new wedge between the European Union and its eastern members over democratic standards. Justice Minister Tudorel Toader has said he will soon decide...
France, Germany dress down Poland over court reforms
France and Germany on Tuesday (16 October) condemned Poland for pressing ahead with controversial changes to its supreme court despite EU calls for restraint.
Tweets of the Week: Bono, Timmermans, and Juncker dancing
This week, Bono comes to Brussels to preach, Frans Timmermans thinks the Commission job’s in reach, and Jean Claude’s dance moves make the British Press screech.
Timmermans, the right-hand of Juncker, eyes EU throne
Frans Timmermans confirmed on Wednesday (10 October) that he wants to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission next year, dismissing concerns that he has made too many enemies to stand a fighting chance of succeeding his current boss.
Borissov lashes out at EU’s ‘unfair pressure’ over journalist murder
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Wednesday (10 October) the murder of journalist Viktoria Marinova was of purely criminal nature and lashed out against what he called “European pressure”, warning that he would raise the issue at the European People's Party (EPP).
Polish PM Morawiecki: The Commission is breaking the dialogue with Poland
The Polish government "is constantly discussing the law on the Supreme Court" while the European Commission had decided "on a step that would hamper this dialogue to some extent", Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday (September 25). EURACTIV Poland reports.
MEPs trigger Article 7 against Hungary after evasive Juncker speech
MEPs voted en masse to trigger Article 7 proceedings against Hungary on Wednesday (12 September), although Jean-Claude Juncker's early morning Strasbourg speech failed to send much of a clear signal against Budapest's alleged rule of law violations.
Orbán divides EPP ahead of crucial European Parliament vote
The European Parliament held a highly incendiary debate about Hungary on Tuesday (11 September), ahead of a vote on whether to trigger Article 7 against the country, exposing serious internal divisions in the European Peoples’ Party, which includes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's party.
Juncker: Orbán’s EPP membership ‘is a problem’
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker believes that the EPP membership of Hungary's ruling party, led by Viktor Orbán, "is a problem", according to reports by Italian media.
Death-knell for microplastics?
MEPs voted on Tuesday (10 July) to amend European Commission plans to cut plastic pollution and suggested a ban on microplastics in cosmetics and other products by 2020.
Poland’s defence of contested judicial changes leaves EU unconvinced
EU ministers held the first-ever Article 7 hearing in Luxembourg on Tuesday (June 26) to determine the state of play in the rule of law dispute between Brussels and Poland. The EU remains unconvinced by Poland's recent efforts, with everyone waiting to see if and how a crucial judicial reform will go ahead on 3 July.
Timmermans: Increasing transparency on lobbying will boost credibility of institutions
European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans insisted on the need to implement full transparency about lobbying in all European institutions, including the Parliament and the Council, at a conference on Thursday (21 June).
Poland faces turbulent months at home and in EU
Will the European Union continue to allow the Polish government to deceive it over violations of the rule of law? Will the opposition manage to consolidate? Will Jarosław Kaczyński return to Polish politics? The fate of Polish democracy could be decided over the coming months. EURACTIV'S media partner Gazeta Wyborcza reports.
Open letters to Commission call for action in Polish rule of law dispute
Two separate letters, signed by MEPs across the political spectrum and former Polish leaders, demand that the Commission take swift action to halt a controversial judiciary reform in Poland, already closely watched by Brussels for fears that it threatens the basic democratic rules.
Timmermans on Poland: Changes are ‘not sufficient’
Polish authorities need to address key concerns of the Commission over the independence of the country's judiciary by the end of the month, Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday (13 June).
Europe’s biggest challenge now comes from the US, Timmermans says
Europe’s most important task for the rest of this year is to stay strong and united in the face of challenges coming from the United States, the European Commision First Vice-President Frans Timmermans told a business forum on Wednesday (23 May), in comments likely to irk Washington.
EU prepares to say adieu to single-use plastics
The European Commission is gearing up to reveal how it plans to tackle single-use plastics as part of the much vaunted Plastics Strategy. But an initial draft of the legislation has already received mix reviews.
EU urges ‘more progress’ from Poland by next month
The EU warned Poland it could move closer next month to unprecedented sanctions, unless Warsaw makes "a lot more progress" in the row over its controversial court reforms.
EU move to protect whistleblowers gets praise from MEPs, NGOs
Whistleblowers exposing fraud, tax evasion, data breaches and other misdeeds will be given more protection from retaliation under new rules proposed by the European Commission on Monday (23 April). The move got praise from MEPs, NGOs.
Timmermans on rule of law in Poland: Concessions are still insufficient
Commission's Vice chief Frans Timmermans urges Poland to formulate its full proposal to solve the dispute over the rule of law by mid-May as previous concessions are considered as insufficient. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Timmermans urges quick solution to Poland’s court reform dispute
Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans on Monday (9 April) urged Poland to step up efforts at finding a solution to a high-pitched dispute over its controversial judicial reforms, denounced by Brussels as violating the rule of law.