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Germany’s EU Presidency: Merkel had to fix it
The turn of the year marks the end of the German presidency of the EU Council. When Angela Merkel's government took over in July, it was already clear that all previous plans had gone up in smoke and there was only one priority left: dealing with the pandemic. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Polish PM says extra summit may be needed to unblock EU budget
The European Union may need to hold an extra summit to secure agreement on its planned economic recovery fund and budget, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday (8 December).
‘It’s not gonna work’, Orbán says about Polish veto retreat
Hungary and Poland have committed to supporting each other's position in the budget row, and attaching a declaration to the rule of law regulation does not work for Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a weekly radio interview on Friday (4 December), following news that Poland may be softening its position on the veto.
Poland, Hungary propose two-track way out of EU budget deadlock
Poland and Hungary reaffirmed on Thursday (26 October) their opposition to tying EU finds with the rule of law in member states and instead offered their own proposal for breaking the deadlock that is holding back the EU's €1.81 trillion seven-year budget and the recovery fund.
Slovenia PM backs Hungary, Poland in EU rule of law row
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Wednesday (18 November) backed the criticisms made by Poland and Hungary when they vetoed the EU budget over plans to tie funding to respect for the rule of law. “Some political groups… are openly...
EU institutions strike deal on bloc’s long term budget
The European Parliament and Council reached a final deal on the EU's next seven-year budget, worth €1.0743 trillion, on Tuesday (10 November), agreeing to add an additional €16 billion to the budget, mostly for health and education and introduce a roadmap for new European levies and biodiversity targets.
EU budget chief sees deal on bloc’s long-term finances on Monday
The European Parliament and the bloc's national governments are likely to reach a deal on the EU's €1.1 trillion long-term budget for 2021-2027 on Monday (9 November), the European Commission's Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said.
EU institutions strike budget deal on rule of law mechanism
The European Parliament and the Council representing the EU27 reached a preliminary deal on linking the disbursement of EU funds to rule of law after five rounds of talks, clearing a major hurdle in the wider negotiations on the bloc's budget.
Europe urged to align budget with green finance rules
The EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy should be systematically applied to track green investments in the bloc’s next long-term budget and coronavirus recovery fund, which together amount to €1.8 trillion over the next seven years, according to a new report launched on Wednesday (28 October).
EU budget deal ‘virtually impossible’ without face-to-face talks
Reaching an agreement over the EU's €1.8 trillion seven-year budget and recovery plan will be "virtually impossible" without face-to-face meetings, warned the German EU Presidency.
European citizens support linking EU funds to rule of law – survey
More than three out of four Europeans think that the EU should only distribute funds to member states that implement rule of law and democratic principles, according to a new survey commissioned by the European Parliament.
Erasmus celebrated worldwide as MEPs push for more funding
As Europe celebrates its flagship educational mobility programme, lawmakers in the European Parliament are fighting to increase the budget for what is widely regarded as one of the EU's greatest achievements.
Divisions over economic criteria in cohesion policy negotiations
Negotiations on cohesion policy between the European Parliament, Commission and Council will take place on Thursday (15 October), focusing on how strictly the flow of money is regulated and whether it should be distributed according to economic criteria. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU budget talks: Parliament sees the ball in German presidency’s court
Negotiations on the EU's long-term budget will enter their seventh round on Thursday (8 October). The European Parliament, which demands more money for EU programmes and clarity on the rule of law, views the ball in the German Council Presidency's court. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Parliament demands rule of law mechanism before signing off on EU budget
Leaders of the four major political groups in the European Parliament warned on Wednesday (26 August) that they would not sign off on the bloc's next long-term budget unless there was a formal deal on linking EU funds to rule of law, in the latest signal that lawmakers would not back down on conditionality.
EU recovery deal: the summit that will cement Merkel’s legacy
At the EU summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a U-turn as German advocated for the assumption of joint debts and dissociated itself from the donor countries for the first time and not just for economic reasons. This time, Merkel is fighting for her legacy as a shaper of the EU. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German industry pleased with EU summit result
German business associations are cheering the deal EU leaders reached at a marathon summit that ended on Tuesday morning (21 July), and they have every reason to do so, explains economic researcher Jürgen Matthes. But some observers are displeased with cuts in funding for innovation, research or defence. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Council brokers historic stimulus pact as budget cuts, rule of law retreat plague deal
Leaders of the 27 EU countries finally compromised on a €1,074 billion long-term budget and recovery fund instrument early on Tuesday (21 July) morning, but it took one of the longest-lasting summits in European Council history and the final deal cut funding for some of the bloc's key priorities.
Green budget rules won’t be the hottest potato at EU summit talks
Plans to reserve 30% of European Union spending for climate objectives will not be the hottest topic on the agenda when EU leaders meet on Friday (17 July). And that may be good news for the climate.
In Berlin, Sánchez vows to ‘do everything to reach a deal’ at EU summit
Just before the EU Council summit on 17 July, leaders of those EU countries that suffered most from the coronavirus pandemic are meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the politician on whom they pin their hopes for a rapid recovery. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Workers’ involvement should not be ‘decorative’ in coronavirus recovery, expert says
If EU leaders agree on the EU's seven-year budget and the recovery fund on Friday (17 July), this could facilitate the transition to a more modern and greener Europe. But labour representatives also want to ensure that workers have a say in the entire policymaking process.
For Italy, time is of the essence, Conte tells Merkel
Five days before an EU summit that could adopt a historic EU budget and a recovery fund, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met Angela Merkel in Berlin. Both support a generous aid fund and both want an agreement at the weekend. But for Conte, the economic survival of his country is at stake. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Sweden and Denmark step out of the shadows as EU’s frugals
Normally perceived as team players, Sweden and Denmark have found themselves playing the unaccustomed role of outliers in EU politics, blocking the widely backed COVID-19 recovery plan.