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New Dutch populists surge in ‘Rutte referendum’
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will lose his senate majority after upstart anti-EU populists surged in provincial elections just two days after a suspected terror attack in Utrecht.
Eurogroup kick off race for ECB chief economist, Ireland’s Lane puts name forward
Ireland presented Philip Lane’s candidacy as chief economist at the European Central Bank on Monday (21 January), as the Eurogroup opened calls for nominations in a relaxed first session of the year.
Praised over Brexit, Barnier in orbit of EU’s top job
European Union leaders lavished their Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with praise on Sunday (25 November) for securing a divorce agreement with the United Kingdom, strengthening the Frenchman's hand should the stars align for him to run for Commission president.
Brexit draft deal brightens Barnier’s political prospects
The tentative Brexit deal grudgingly approved by the British cabinet on Wednesday (14 November) could yet fall apart, but for one man it is already a personal victory.
Merkel chooses Weber as candidate for EU top job
Angela Merkel has given her backing to fellow German conservative Manfred Weber's bid to front the centre-right's campaign in next year's European Parliament elections, several German newspapers reported on Thursday (30 August).
Merkel eyes German EU Commission chief: report
Chancellor Angela Merkel is focusing on securing the European Commission presidency for a German candidate, rather than backing Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann to succeed Mario Draghi at the helm of the European Central Bank (ECB), Handelsblatt reported.
EPP gets another top job: Finland’s Itala to head OLAF
Finland’s Ville Itälä will be the new director-general of OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud office. He comes from the Finnish Kokoomus party, affiliated with the centre-right European Peoples’ Party (EPP) and will move to Olaf from his current post with the European Court of Auditors.
Thorning-Schmidt makes Brussels appearance, promotes conservative social-democracy
Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who was also the leader of the Social Democrats in her country from 2005 to 2015, made an appearance in Brussels today (11 June) offering her views how the EU should better makes it case globally and improve internally.
Finns Stubb and Katainen leave door open to EU Commission top job
Former Finnish prime ministers Alexander Stubb and Jyrki Katainen left open the possibility on Saturday (9 June) that they would run to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as the EU executive’s president next year.
Selmayr-gate: Storm in an EU teacup
Despite all the fury that rose after Martin Selmayr was appointed secretary-general of the Commission in February, one thing is now clear: the German official will keep his job.
For Romania’s president, the ‘Road to Sibiu’ could also lead to Brussels
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is being considered as a possible replacement for European Council President Donald Tusk when his term expires in December 2019, according to local media reports.
EU summit to stay away from anything requiring treaty change
The informal EU-27 summit on Friday (23 February) will discuss the preparation of the 2019 European elections, institutional issues and the next long-term EU budget. But diplomats said the leaders would steer clear of any big decisions that would require treaty change.
Juncker jabs at Macron as EU jobs race heats up
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker chided French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday (14 February) for failing to form clear Europe-wide party political alliances, as manoeuvring warms up over next year's EU parliament elections.
Rutte pours cold water on Bulgaria’s Schengen and Eurozone dreams
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte poured cold water on Bulgaria’s ambition to unlock its stalled bid to join the EU border-free Schengen area on Tuesday (6 February) and said the country also needed more work to meet the criteria for joining the Eurozone.
Ireland’s concerns over EU digital tax ‘gaining wider support’
Ireland’s concerns over how the European Union should proceed with taxing large digital businesses are shared by a growing number of countries, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said on Monday (5 February).
Stoltenberg reappointed as NATO chief until 2020
NATO today (12 December) reappointed Jens Stoltenberg as secretary general to serve until 2020, as the alliance undergoes its biggest revamp since the Cold War to counter the perceived threat posed by Russia.
Slovakia’s Lajcak elected UN General Assembly president
The United Nations General Assembly yesterday (31 May) picked Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčák to be its next president.
Commission appoints seven new Special Advisers
The Commission published today (4 April) an updated list of its Special Advisers, which have been appointed from 1 April 2017 until 31 March 2018, featuring seven new names.
Tusk row threatens to overshadow EU summit
A row over Poland's bid to replace EU President Donald Tusk threatens to overshadow a summit this week that was meant to focus on post-Brexit unity.
Bulgaria to nominate Commissioner by early April
Bulgarian interim Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov said his cabinet may nominate a EU Commissioner following the 26 March elections, if its results would not allow the fast forming of a government.
Hollande calls Versailles mini-summit on the future of the EU
French President François Hollande said yesterday (20 February) there would be a summit in Versailles with the leaders of Germany, Italy and Spain on 6 March to prepare reforms for the European Union ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March.
Bulgaria to set record for Commission vacancy
Bulgaria's caretaker government will not nominate a Commissioner to replace Kristalina Georgieva, which means that her position will not be filled before May, it became clear on Monday (30 January).
EU Socialists eye Tusk’s job after losing European Parliament presidency
Centre-left leaders could try to oust Donald Tusk as chair of the European Council and key broker of Brexit negotiations with Britain and will have their first discussion on the issue next week before an EU summit in Malta, their party president said.