About: Maroš Šefčovič
EU rejects UK demand for new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
Britain demanded on Wednesday (21 July) that the European Union agree to rewrite a deal overseeing problematic post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland just a year after it was agreed with the bloc, a call immediately rejected by Brussels.
EU, Ukraine sign ‘strategic partnership’ on raw materials
Kyiv will be invited on Tuesday (13 July) to join EU industrial alliances on batteries and raw materials, with a view to develop an entire value chain of the extraction, refining and recycling of minerals in Ukraine to supply the EU market for electric cars and digital equipment.
EU urges UK to accept Swiss-style deal to end agri-food standoff
The European Union urged London on Tuesday (6 July) to consider a Swiss-style veterinary agreement with Brussels on agri-foods to end a post-Brexit 'sausage war' row over certain goods moving between Britain and its province of Northern Ireland.
War of words intensifies on Northern Ireland Protocol dispute
The war of words between UK and EU officials is continuing ahead of a crunch meeting on the Northern Ireland Protocol, when Brexit Minister David Frost is due to meet European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic in London.
EU confident of COVID-19 travel certificate for summer
The European Commission expects to finish work soon on a COVID-19 certificate that could allow citizens to travel more easily this summer in the 27-nation bloc, the EU executive said after a meeting with European affairs ministers.
EU on the outs with AstraZeneca as vaccine deliveries struggle to take off
EU officials remain frustrated by the behaviour of AstraZeneca pharmaceutical, which is still struggling to deliver the expected doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Europe, and are set to use all the tools at their disposal to secure further doses for Europeans.
EU launches lawsuits against UK over Irish border
The EU launched legal proceedings against Britain on Monday (15 March), alleging that London had broken a protocol of its Brexit divorce agreement covering Ireland.
Time for Boris to stop ‘passing the buck’
Bluster, bluff and a freewheeling approach to facts have been the hallmark of the attitude of Boris Johnson to the problems Brexit posed for Northern Ireland, writes Dick Roche.
UK agrees more time for EU to ratify post-Brexit pact
The UK government agreed Tuesday (23 February) to allow the European Union more time to formally ratify the post-Brexit trade deal which came into effect on January 1.
Northern Irish Brexit issue is two-way street, says EU’s Sefcovic
Britain must show it is fully using the avenues available under the Brexit divorce deal to minimise trade disruption in Northern Ireland before seeking concessions, a senior EU official said on Tuesday (23 February).
EU rejects most UK demands on Northern Ireland trade, concedes on steel
The European Union rejected on Wednesday (10 February) most of Britain's demands for easier trade with Northern Ireland but said it was examining more flexibility on steel.
Irish government slaps down UK bid to reopen NI protocol
Irish Foreign minister Simon Coveney ruled out on Thursday (4 February) the possibility of the Northern Ireland protocol being scrapped or renegotiated, following growing pressure on the issue from Boris Johnson's UK government.
EU rebuffs UK demand to soften Northern Ireland Brexit trade terms
The EU on Wednesday (3 February) rebuffed a British demand to extend a grace period for checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland, saying the post-Brexit trade treaty gave London enough tools to solve the problems.
Brussels approves €2.9 billion investment into battery innovation
Twelve EU countries will jointly invest almost three billion euros into innovation in battery cell technology for electric vehicles and energy storage, cementing the EU as a “global hotspot” for battery innovation, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (26 January).
UK scraps plan to break Withdrawal Agreement after cutting deal with EU
The UK government will drop controversial sections of its Internal Market Bill that would violate the deal regulating its withdrawal from the EU, it said after reaching an agreement with the European Commission on Tuesday (8 December).
EU says it could be self-sufficient in electric vehicle batteries by 2025
The European Union could produce enough batteries by 2025 to power its fast-growing fleet of electric vehicles without relying on imported cells, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said on Tuesday (24 November).
EU’s Sefcovic: Europe must be ‘much more strategic’ on raw materials
The European Union “cannot achieve” climate neutrality without critical raw materials like lithium and rare earths, says Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič. It now needs to be “much more strategic” in relations with supplier countries in order to ensure the bloc's “strategic autonomy,” he argues.
EU to launch legal action over Cyprus, Malta ‘golden passports’
The EU said Monday (19 October) it will begin legal action against Cyprus and Malta over their controversial "golden passport" schemes for foreign investors, which critics say have been exploited by criminals.
UK says door remains ‘ajar’ for post-Brexit trade deal
Britain still wants to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union despite the current deadlock, a senior government minister insisted ahead of fresh talks Monday (19 October).
EU issues ultimatum to UK: withdraw bill or trade talks collapse
The EU issued a stern ultimatum to the UK on Thursday (10 September) to withdraw its bill overriding the Irish Protocol or talks on an EU-UK trade deal will collapse.
EU raw materials push aims to underpin Green Deal, digital ambitions
Increasing the EU’s domestic supply of critical raw materials and cutting external dependencies got top billing in a new European Commission strategy on Thursday (3 September), as the bloc started to get serious about its Green Deal and digital agenda.
EU to launch raw materials industry alliance
The European Commission will announce the launch of a new industry alliance this week, with a view to building a complete EU supply chain for raw materials like lithium, which are seen as critical for the bloc’s digital and green transitions.
Europe is ‘closing the gap’ on battery manufacturing, Northvolt says
Swedish battery maker Northvolt says Europe is catching up with Asian rivals in the manufacturing of car batteries but warns that more efforts are needed to build a complete supply chain “ecosystem” in the EU.