About: Guy Verhofstadt
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Nathalie Loiseau has withdrawn her candidacy to lead the new centrist group in the European Parliament, raising questions about French leadership in the EU assembly.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.
May heads to Netherlands, Germany in bid to save Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Germany's Angela Merkel Tuesday (11 December) as she works to salvage her Brexit deal, the day after delaying a parliamentary vote on it to avoid a crushing defeat.
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.
EPP unsure about retaining or expelling Orbán’s party
The European Parliament's vote to censure Hungary presents the assembly's dominant centre-right bloc with a dilemma over whether to retain its populist Hungarian allies or expel them months before elections.
MEPs kick off electoral campaign after Juncker’s State of the Union speech
Jean-Claude Juncker's last State of the Union speech before the next European elections turned into a stocktaking of his mandate and a platform for political groups to set up their priorities for the electoral campaign.
Macron aide: We’re not discussing alliance with Verhofstadt
A senior member of Emmanuel Macron's La République en Marche party has rejected an alliance with liberals in the European Parliament ahead of EU elections in May next year.
Brits thrown post-Brexit EU citizenship lifeline by Commission
The European Commission registered a Citizens' Initiative on Wednesday (18 July) that could end up securing EU citizenship for UK citizens once Britain leaves the EU.
No trade deal before the end of Brexit transition, Verhofstadt warns UK
A new EU-UK trade deal will not be concluded before the end of a post-Brexit transition period, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, told UK MPs on Wednesday (20 June).
Verhofstadt threatens to take Council to court for ‘failure to act’ on asylum reform
The European Parliament debated the priorities for Europe on Tuesday, ahead of a crucial EU summit due on 28-29 June. Among those priorities, the reform of the Dublin regulation seems the most pressing and MEPs urged EU leaders to find an agreement on the asylum system.