MEPs demand harder EU rules on bee protection
The EU parliament knocked back "weak" pesticide rules proposed by EU commission and member states over concerns to pollinator health and food security.
News in Brief
- MEPs urge economic sanctions on Turkey
- Extra Brexit summit needed if no consensus, Irish PM warns
- MEPs want to end sponsorships of EU presidencies
- Putin opens first summit with African leaders
- Commission clears EU-US privacy agreement for third year
- EU warns six member states on draft budgets
- EU starts negotiations on sustainable industry
- Russia and Turkey reach deal on northern Syria
Column
Why the EU can't do security and defence
What if the EU can't guarantee European security? In times when US physical presence does not make up for its mental absence, the question got urgent.
Podcast
Not That Ambassador
Gordon Sondland, Donald Trump's ambassador to the EU, is due to appear before the House impeachment inquiry in Washington on Thursday. His predecessor as ambassador, Anthony Gardner, talks about the role, and his successor, on our EU Scream podcast.
Opinion
Europe quietly becoming a spy superpower
Momentous changes are underway in European intelligence, propelled by new technology, but is democratic accountability keeping up?
Brexit vote prompts Tusk to seek further extension
UK lawmakers finally backed a bill to leave the EU, but put off ratification, in what could prompt a Brexit delay or new UK election.
EU commission backs Croatia's Schengen bid
Croatia is eligible to join the EU's free-travel area, the Schengen zone, the European Commission has said, but threats of national vetoes remain.
Macron ponders options for EU commissioner
French president expected to name Thierry Breton, a tech CEO, to be EU single market commissioner, but other options remain.
EU centrists ally with far right on migrant rescues
Centre-right and liberal MEPs have joined forces with far right ones to dilute EU commitments on helping desperate people in Mediterranean Sea rescues.
EU open to imminent Brexit extension, Tusk indicates
The EU is willing to delay Brexit beyond 31 October, it indicated, as Westminster gets ready for crunch votes on the Brexit withdrawal bill.
MPs vote on Johnson's latest push for Brexit deal
The EU parliament is awaiting the decision of British MPs on the Brexit deal before holding a vote by MEPs, as British PM Boris Johnson puts the Brexit deal to another vote on Tuesday.
Opinion
Macron breaks Balkans promise in quest for EU dominance
By blocking accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, French president Emmanuel Macron is siding with illiberals.
Snap elections in North Macedonia after EU rejection
North Macedonia's party leaders agreed on Sunday to hold snap elections on 12 April after the European Council blocked its promised accession talks.
UK opposition MPs attack new Brexit deal
British opposition MPs have begun to torpedo the latest Brexit deal with amendments that could delay or stop Britain from leaving the EU.
Deep divisions on display over post-Brexit EU budget
EU leaders discussed the EU's next buget, for 2021-2027, for the first time in detail, still without numbers. Positions are entrenched and are far away from each other.
Juncker: 'Historic mistake' against Balkan EU hopefuls
The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker described a decision to block Albania and North Macedonia from advancing into the next phase to eventually join the European Union as a historic mistake.
EU leaders spent just 12 minutes on climate
Climate change was part of the agenda of the EU leaders for Friday's summit. However, the council decided to finalise the EUʼs long-term strategy on climate change at its next meeting in December.
Agenda
Crunch Brexit vote in UK This WEEK
The future of Brexit continues to hang in the balance this week, with a crunch vote in Westminster on Saturday.
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Latest News
- Europe quietly becoming a spy superpower
- MEPs demand harder EU rules on bee protection
- Why the EU can't do security and defence
- Macron ponders options for EU commissioner
- Brexit vote prompts Tusk to seek further extension
- EU commission backs Croatia's Schengen bid
- EU open to imminent Brexit extension, Tusk indicates
- EU centrists ally with far right on migrant rescues
EU envoy sheds light on weird US diplomacy
Remarks to Congress by the US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, have shed light on the unusual nature of American diplomacy under president Donald Trump.
EU fails to deliver on Albania and North Macedonia
Denmark, France and the Netherlands opposed opening talks on EU accession with Albania and North Macedonia in a blow that may invite greater Russian influence in the Balkan region.
Opinion
Europe's empty fortress
It is too easy only to criticise the rightists and their fixation with barbed wire, Trump for his wall on the border with Mexico, Orban for his xenophobia.
EU leaders back Brexit deal as Johnson faces Westminster
EU leaders on Thursday night endorsed the deal reached by EU and UK negotiators - now it is up to British PM Boris Johnson to convince a majority of MPs to ratify the agreement in a showdown on Saturday.
Opinion
Catalonia shows dangers of jail terms for non-violence
Time and again, across the world, efforts to "decapitate" non-violent movements, and refusals to engage in political dialogue with them, have led to situations like we are seeing today in Catalonia.
New Brexit deal drops Irish border backstop
The EU and the UK has agreed to a revised Brexit deal that drops the contentious backstop on the island of Ireland, and "sqaures the circle" of keeping the Irish border open. EU leaders are expected to endorse it Thursday.
Macron warned on danger of Balkans veto
France's veto on North Macedonia enlargement will endanger the Serbia-Kosovo peace process, a senior EU official has warned, but diplomats do not expect Macron to change his mind.
Crucial summit: last EU-28 format?
The EU summit will be crucial for the future of the EU, but especially for the UK. The next EU summit will not be the same since the UK's withdrawal will have consequences for the power relations within the council.
Brexit deal now hinges on Northern Irish unionists
Brexit negotiators held marathon talks but the Northern Irish unionists appear to be axing UK prime minister Boris Johnson's revised deal, as EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss Brexit but also other divisive, long-term issues.
EU leaders to warn von der Leyen over 'giving in' to MEPs
The new commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen will meet for the first time with EU leaders who nominated her for the job. She will be asked to lay out her plans for getting her commission through parliament.
Balkans row to hit EU summit after French veto
Thursday's EU summit could see French and German leaders butt heads on enlargement after France blocked new Western Balkans talks.
Opinion
Polish election: analysing why PiS won
Support for democracy was particularly low in Poland with only 19 percent consistently supporting democracy - only Hungary and Bulgaria scored lower.
Catalonia demands EU intervention, as crisis deepens
No amnesties and no pardons, Spain insists, on the jailed Catalan leaders, whilst figures from the Spanish region in Brussels called on the EU to intervene in the escalating crisis.
France keen to pause EU enlargement
France wants to pause EU enlargement pending major reforms, in what some fear could "destabilise" the Western Balkans.
Opinion
Threat to Unesco park mars Montenegro's EU bid
The site contains Europe's second largest natural pasture and hundreds of local families depend on it, but part of it has been slated to become a military training ground.
EU countries to halt arms sales to Turkey
EU states have agreed to stop arms sales to Turkey over its invasion of Syria, marking a nadir in relations with their Nato ally. In response, Ankara mocked the decision as a "joke".
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- Soft Drinks Europe welcomes Tim Brett as its new president
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