About: Olli Rehn
Romania and Bulgaria were not ready for accession, EU auditors confess
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) lifted the veil on a little-known page of European history yesterday (12 September) when it revealed the Court had initially opposed the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU.
EU and Turkey: Time to act
The failure of the coup attempt in Turkey is celebrated as a victory for democracy by Turks. However, after rapidly condemning the coup, the EU’s weak solidarity has become a source of resentment for Ankara, writes Bahadir Kaleagasi.
How can the Commission president be replaced?
Nicholas Whyte contends that in the event of a vacancy at the top of the European Commission, the EPP vice-presidents are well-placed to fill it.
Finland slashes development aid by 43%
The new centre-right Finnish government has decided to cut development aid by 43%, prompting furious reactions from NGOs and fears other EU countries will follow its example.
UK government: Independent Scotland can’t both rejoin the EU and keep the pound
An independent Scotland could not rejoin the EU if it used the pound informally, a senior British minister will say on Tuesday (9 September), according to a former top EU official. Scotland's historic independence referendum is less than three weeks away. InfographicPromoted content
![INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/11/parliament-2014-2019-112014-en-v02.png)
INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]
After a first plenary session and a series committee meetings in early July 2014, key positions were distributed in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s 22 committees held their first meeting on Monday (7 July). On the agenda was the election of committee chairs and vice-chairs. The week before, MEPs gathered for the Parliament's first plenary session in Strasbourg, and elected a president, vice-presidents and quaestors. They also appointed the leader(s) of their faction. The final leading positions were settled after one Vice-President, Corina Cretu, was selected to take up a Commissioner role in Jean-Claude Juncker's EU executive team. Find an overview of the Parliament's key faces for 2014-2019 in our infographic.
Four of the seven Commissioners elected take MEP seats
Seven of the present EU Commissioners stood for European elections and all were elected. Commission President José Manuel Barroso announced today (1 July) that four of them will take their MEP seats, and informed of the temporary re-allocation of their portfolios, pending decisions of their replacements. VideoPromoted content
Barroso confirms former Finnish PM Katainen as Economics Commissioner
Finland's former Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen will become the new European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Commission President José Manuel Barroso confirmed on Wednesday.
Outgoing Finland PM named to key EU economics post
Jyrki Katainen, Finland's outgoing prime minister, is to become the EU's interim Economics Affairs commissioner, replacing compatriot Olli Rehn, who is leaving to join the European Parliament, the EU said Wednesday (25 June).
Lithuania ready to adopt euro, Commission says
Lithuania meets all the criteria for joining the euro, the European Commission said on Wednesday (4 June), clearing the way for the Baltic state to become the 19th member of the single currency from the start of next year. VideoPromoted content
Lithuania ready to join euro from 2015, Commission says
Lithuania is ready to join the euro from 2015 and will become the 19th country to do so. This is the message that the European Commission sent on Wednesday as it released its 2014 Convergence Report, an assessment of how ready eight member states are to join the single currency.
Hollande’s taxes blamed for France’s failure on Commission debt targets
France will miss its European Commission debt targets this year and in 2015 because it failed to curb spending on healthcare and pensions and increased corporate taxes, which stalled growth and jobs, the EU’s executive said today (2 June).
Think tank: no reason to rejoice about high EU election turnout
The relatively high turnout seen at this weekend's European elections was not driven by a sudden rise in interest about European matters, nor by the supposed election of a new President of the European Commission, analysts argue. Rather, it was driven by anger and the rejection of the European project, according to analysts from the Centre for European Policies Studies (CEPS).
Commissioners search for signals to decide their future
Seven Commissioners have won MEP seats, but four of them are undecided if they will take them or stay on as Commissioners, in order to maximise their chances for a better future outside the European Parliament, EURACTIV has learned.
France will keep its promises, says Manuel Valls
The new prime minister reaffirmed France’s commitment to reducing its national deficit, and ending the government’s unclear stance on EU affairs. EURACTIV France reports.
New French cabinet tests German waters
France's new Socialist government delivered mixed messages yesterday (7 April) to Germany, its closest partner and the European Union's pivotal power, on its priorities for reducing the budget deficit and stepping up economic reforms to boost growth.
New French cabinet shelves European affairs
The appointment of Arnaud Montebourg, and disputes over public debt, will complicate relations with Brussels. EURACTIV France reports. VideoPromoted content
EU ministers agree 3-part bailout loan for Greece
Eurozone finance ministers approved on Tuesday the latest bailout aid for Greece, ending a six-month stand-off between Athens and its international lenders.
Brussels rings French deficit alarm
The European Commission has issued a warning about imbalances in France's economy. But an excessive budget deficit threatens to expose the country to first-time sanctions.
Brussels renews criticism of German trade surplus
In its latest macro-economic survey, the European Commission again pointed the finger at Germany's high export surplus. Serious imbalances were also detected in Italy and France, EURACTIV.de reports.
Growing divergences between Paris and Brussels on deficits
The latest European Commission forecasts offer little hope that the French deficit will be brought below 3% by 2015, contrary to France's pledges, EURACTIV France reports.
Economic recovery picking up, but risks remain, Commission says
European Commission Vice-President Olli Rehn, responsible for economic and monetary affairs, told the European Parliament yesterday (25 February) that the EU economy was recovering overall, but warned of the risks of “protracted low growth” if structural reforms were not implemented. VideoPromoted content
EU forecasts mild economic growth, warns of high unemployment
'Recovery in the European Union is gaining ground'. With this message, EU commissioner Olli Rehn launched the bloc's winter economic forecast, showing higher growth in Europe than previously expected. Speaking at the European Parliament on Tuesday, Rehn said that the 18 eurozone countries would grow by 1.2% this year and 1.8% in 2015. But warning that signs of recovery are still 'modest', Rehn also highlighted that unemployment across the bloc remains too high. VideoPromoted content
