Berlin and Paris are taking steps to fight the expected manipulation of online information by foreign powers as they approach key elections, Germany in September and France next year.
Once the UK leaves the EU on 31 January, new MEPs will be taking up seats in the European Parliament. Due to its growing population, France will obtain five of 27 new seats. EURACTIV France reports.
After the scandal with the European Parliament's rejection of Sylvie Goulard as the French Commissioner, it is now the turn of Sandro Gozi, the EU adviser to France's prime minister, to be in the spotlight. The Italian had allegedly collaborated with the Maltese government while working for France. EURACTIV France reports.
Sandro Gozi, a former Italy's undersecretary to European affairs in both Renzi and Gentiloni cabinet, will serve as EU affairs advisor to French Prime minister Edouard Philippe, casting doubts over a potential conflict of interests.
European Union governments and institutions are set for intense budget negotiations ahead of a 17 November deadline, with Italy complaining not enough spending is planned for handling migration, security threats and youth unemployment.
Austria will introduce tougher border controls at the Brenner Pass crossing with Italy from 1 June at the latest, as part of its tough response to the EU migration crisis, Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said today (12 April). The Commission voiced concern at the news.
