About: Guy Verhofstadt
EU Commission proposes Ukraine reconstruction platform
Along with a €9 billion increase in short-term budgetary aid to the Ukrainian government, the European Commission proposed on Wednesday (18 May) setting up a reconstruction platform for Ukraine to help with the massive financing needs of rebuilding the country.
European politicians want citizen panels to be used at EU level
The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) ended on Monday (9 May), but a group of politicians want citizens' forums that were at its heart to become a permanent practice at the EU level. EURACTIV Germany reports.
CoFoE: Participants ask for increased EU intervention in Ukrainian war
Participants from the Conference on the Future of Europe met in Strasbourg to speak in front of the conference's plenary, where Ukrainian activists and MPs urged for more drastic EU intervention in Ukraine, including the implementation of a no-fly zone.
Largely ignored Conference on the Future of Europe back in the spotlight
The Council on the Future of Europe, proposed by now-outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to solve Poland's rule of law issues, has been paid little attention. But that does not mean those attending have not been busy.
Liberal leader Hans van Baalen dies aged 60
Hans van Baalen, ALDE Party President, passed away in the late hours of 29 April at the age of 60 after a short illness, his party central announced on Friday (30 April).
MEPs express ‘grave concern’ about Brexit citizens’ rights regime
Lawmakers in the European Parliament have urged the UK government to overhaul its regime for EU citizens’ rights after Brexit, expressing ‘grave concern’ about its EU Settlement Scheme.
Guy Verhofstadt ready to chair citizen consultations on Europe’s future
From May onwards, hundreds of EU citizens will be invited to reflect on Europe's future at a conference that will debate European policy priorities in an attempt to introduce direct democracy in EU decision-making. EURACTIV France reports.
UK would suffer most from missing new Brexit deadline, von der Leyen warns
The UK would suffer the most if officials failed to meet a new December 2020 deadline to finalise a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned.
With Loiseau’s withdrawal, leadership questions arise for ‘Renew Europe’
Nathalie Loiseau has withdrawn her candidacy to lead the new centrist group in the European Parliament, raising questions about French leadership in the EU assembly. EURACTIV France reports.
Why centrists in European Parliament are prepared to drop the term ‘liberal’
The incoming centrist group in the European Parliament should no longer be calling itself "liberal". This could also lead to the group leaning more towards the left. EURACTIV France reports.
EXCLUSIVE: Macron’s Renaissance to reveal allies in Strasbourg
Eight European parties will meet up with Macron’s Renaissance party tomorrow (11 May 2019) in Strasbourg. For allies of France’s leading party in the European Parliament, the wait is over and they can now form a group of 100 centrists. EURACTIV France reports.
Pro-European candidates for EU election identify Council as the ‘common enemy’
An oddly uncontroversial debate between the lead candidates of the four major pro-European political families at this month's EU elections took place in Florence on Thursday (2 May).
First Spitzenkandidaten debate falls flat
Five candidates vying to become the next European Commission president sparred and bantered in the first European election debate, which fell flat in the absence of Manfred Weber, candidate of the largest political group.
Verhofstadt warns Brexit extension could ‘poison’ EU elections
Liberal group leader Guy Verhofstadt warned on Tuesday (16 April) that the decision to grant the United Kingdom a Brexit extension last week could “poison” the European elections, in which the UK is now likely to take part.
May offers cross-party talks, increasing hopes of soft Brexit
Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to pave the way for accepting a softer Brexit on Tuesday (April 2), as she offered to enter talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a bid to build cross-party support and break the Brexit impasse.
EPP has ‘lost all credibility’ after Orbán scandal, Verhofstadt says
The European People's Party has “lost all credibility and moral authority to lead the EU,” ALDE's leader Guy Verhofstadt has said, following the EPP's decision to suspend but not expel Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
EU lawmakers urge UK to adopt alternative Brexit plan
With no majority in the UK Parliament for a third vote on the withdrawal agreement, EU lawmakers have called on British MPs to back an alternative Brexit plan or leave without a deal.
Citizens’ expectations for Europe focus on climate and social issues
The common expectations of Europeans are actually far from the divisions fuelled by politicians. This was highlighted by the WeEuropeans initiative, which managed to mobilise 2 million people and generate 30,000 proposals. EURACTIV France reports.
Vestager joins EU Commission presidency race
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager will compete to be the next president of the European Commission, as Europe’s liberals are set to name the Dane among a team of lead candidates that also includes Guy Verhofstadt, Belgium's former Prime Minister.
EU warns Brexit extension cannot be taken for granted
The European Union executive said on Thursday (14 March) Britain will have to justify any request to postpone Brexit beyond the end of this month and that EU leaders would put a priority on avoiding disrupting EU institutions in considering it.
Barnier casts doubt on Brexit extension
The EU wants to hear exactly what type of a future relationship the UK wishes to have with the bloc before considering any Brexit extension, the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said in Strasbourg. But he questioned the point of an extension at all and warned that the risk of a no deal "has never been higher.
EU raps Facebook, Twitter and Google for inaction on fake news
Online platforms are failing to make sufficient progress in the fight against disinformation, the European Commission warned on Thursday (28 December). As the European elections draw closer, the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA has called for national legislation in the fight against fake news.
Irish backstop will stay in Brexit deal, May assures MEPs
Prime Minister Theresa May has promised EU lawmakers that she had no plans to remove the controversial Irish backstop from a final Brexit deal as she met with a series of EU leaders in Brussels. But prospects of the UK's orderly withdrawal from the EU on 29 March remained bleak.