About: Günther Oettinger
China’s Xi meets top EU leaders to strengthen ties
The leaders of China, France, Germany and the EU were set to meet in Paris on Tuesday (26 March) for "unprecedented" talks on how to improve ties, despite growing jitters over Beijing's massive investments in Europe.
Oettinger calls for EU veto on Italy-China deal
Italy's participation in China's giant "Silk Road" infrastructure project sparked an outcry in Germany on Sunday (24 March), including a call for the European Union to block such deals with a veto.
Commission eager to see the capacity of Southern gas corridor doubled
A recent meeting of government officials and big energy companies in Azerbaijan signalled ambitions about doubling the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), and of more European countries becoming clients.
Macron had ‘lost authority’ by exceeding deficit limit, Oettinger said
France president Emmanuel Macron "lost authority" by releasing a budget draft which would exceed the EU's 3% deficit limit, Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said on Thursday (27 December) in an interview.
Parliament urges Council to start negotiating on next EU long-term budget
The European Parliament laid down funding priorities for the next long-term EU budget on Tuesday (13 November) and urged the Council to agree on a common position so that talks be completed before next May. But differences still remain about the level of member states' contributions.
Regions’ representative: We don’t want money just for the sake of it
Local and regional authorities met with EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger on Tuesday (25 September) to express their concern that the funding for Cohesion is likely to be reduced in the next long-term EU budget due to Brexit and new priorities.
‘Fictitious and false invoices’: Commission raps UK for budget fraud
The European Commission sent a stark warning to the UK government on Monday (24 September), after it was revealed that Britain has outstanding customs duty contributions to the EU budget worth €2.7 billion.
Oettinger names and shames member states on long-term EU budget cuts
Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Finland…. The EU's Budget Commissioner Günter Oettinger did not hesitate to point the finger at countries reluctant to increase their contributions to the EU's next seven-year budget during a speech on Wednesday (19 September).
Commission seeks dialogue with Five Star Movement, isolating Lega
Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger flew to Rome on Thursday (13 September), as part of a series of official visits he is doing to present the long-term EU budget (MFF) proposal. But he only talked to Italian deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement.
Oettinger warns Italy not to block EU budget talks
It is in no one's interest to hold up budget negotiations at the European Union, the bloc's budget chief warned Tuesday (28 August) after Italy threatened a blockade over the migrant issue.
Italy threatens to veto EU’s long-term budget over migration crisis
Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio on Monday (27 August) threatened to veto the European Union's seven-year budget plan should the bloc not do more to share the burden of migrant arrivals.
Oettinger dismisses claims EU to blame for Italian bridge collapse
Brussels has recently encouraged Italy to increase expenditure in infrastructure, EU officials said on Thursday (16 August) in response to Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s allegations that the bloc's austerity policies were partly responsible for Italian bridge collapse.
Oettinger’s Italy gaffe under the microscope
The EU’s budget Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, triggered a wave of outrage last month after reportedly suggesting that markets will “teach” Italian people how to vote. EURACTIV.com looks into the story as part of the 'Fact or Fake' series, in partnership with France 24.
Oettinger appeals to CSU to ease pressure on Merkel
Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger, an ally of beleaguered German Chancellor Angela Merkel from her CDU party, appealed on Monday (25 June) to CDU's Bavarian sister party, CSU, to ease their pressure on the Chancellor by not setting strict deadlines to fix the migration conundrum.
EU to hike migration spending in development aid overhaul
The European Commission will set out its plans to dramatically increase spending on migration control on Thursday (14 June), as part of its overhaul of EU development spending between 2021 and 2027.
Oettinger: Markets will show the way to shun populists in Italy
Markets will persuade Italians not to vote for the two populist parties that have tried and failed to form a government this month, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the anti-migrant Eurosceptic League, the EU's budget Commissioner said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
Azeri Ambassador: We count on EU to uphold international law
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Belgium, Fuad Isgandarov, talks about the current geopolitical tensions with Iran, recent political changes in Armenia, attacks against his country in the international media, the human rights situation and future EU relations.
Commission proposes 3% EU budget hike for 2019
With negotiations on the next long-term financial framework around the corner, the European Commission presented on Wednesday (23 May) its draft proposal for the 2019 EU budget with a 3% increase compared to 2018, a proposal backed by Parliament.
Simplification still the main challenge for EU cohesion policy control
The European Commission will soon present its legislative proposal for the future EU cohesion policy, in the context of negotiations for a new long-term budget. But in order to define new financing instruments, it is important to understand if the existing ones worked or not.
No big winners and losers in new Cohesion funds, Oettinger says
The European Commission is determined to protect the integrity of its Cohesion Policy but this is going to be a battle where no one can have it all, the EU's Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger told the Committee of the Regions plenary on Thursday (May 16).
EU budget approval before European elections looking increasingly uncertain
Rotating EU presidency holder Bulgaria admitted yesterday (14 May) there was no certainty that the new long-term EU budget for 2020-2027 could be adopted before next year’s European elections.
Commission’s budget proposal draws praise from MEPs
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger received a largely positive reception from MEPs to their proposal for the next long-term EU budget from 2021-2027.
Commission’s ‘realistic’ budget criticised by member states
The European Commission's proposal for a moderate increase of EU funds for the next budgetary period (2021-2027) was immediately dismissed as a non-starter by national capitals.