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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rehn clears way for Verhofstadt to lead Liberal’s election campaign
The two liberal candidates in the European Commission presidential race, Olli Rehn and Guy Verhofstadt, reached an agreement yesterday (20 January), cancelling their expected duel over the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe's candidacy for the European Commission presidency.
‘I have a vision’, says liberal EU election nominee Olli Rehn
EXCLUSIVE / The EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner, Olli Rehn, will compete with Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the liberal political group in the European Parliament, in what is expected to be a close race to head the campaign for the European Commission presidency next year. Rehn spoke to EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Rehn in pole position to lead EU liberals in 2014 election campaign
Olli Rehn, the EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner, has secured the support of 14 liberal parties to become the frontrunner of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) at next year's European elections.
Brussels to up pressure on Berlin for weak domestic demand
The European Commission will decide this week whether to scrutinise Germany's trade surplus for economic imbalances, which would undermine the nascent eurozone recovery, Olli Rehn wrote in an op-ed in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Commission confirms economic recovery in latest forecast
The European economy started to grow again in the second quarter of this year, after contracting in the first quarter, according to the Commission's Autumn European Economic Forecast, published on Tuesday (5 November).
Wilfried Martens’ hospitalisation opens EPP leadership succession race
After Wilfried Martens, the long-serving president of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), was admitted to hospital, discrete talks have began about his succession despite his expected recovery, EURACTIV has learned.
Finance Commissioner cautious as longest recession ends
The eurozone has exited its record 18 months of economic contraction as Eurostat GDP flash estimates recorded better than expected 0.3% growth in the currency area and in the wider European Union today (14 August).