About: Guy Verhofstadt
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.
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.
UK Brexit minister open to Ukraine-style EU association
Brexit minister David Davis said Tuesday (1 May) he has "no intrinsic objection" to the idea of an association deal between Britain and the European Union similar to one the bloc has with Ukraine.
En Marche aiming to take out the EPP
Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberal ALDE group and Belgium's former prime minister, took part in the launch of the Grand March for Europe in Brussels, whose aim is to listen to citizens but also to challenge traditional European political groups. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Juncker under fire for ‘nauseating’ Putin letter
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker came under fire yesterday (20 March) over a "nauseating" letter congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election even as Britain blames Moscow for a deadly toxin attack.
The Brief – Europe united
Who says the European Union cannot be united? Or that it can no longer see eye to eye with Washington on anything?