EUobserved
MEPs in Strasbourg: everywhere but the plenary
Three EU leaders and the president of the ECB travelled to Strasbourg this week to debate with MEPs, but attendance was poor.
News in Brief
- EU trade commissioner asks for green light for US talks
- Slovakia's commissioner takes unpaid leave to run for presidency
- Minority elects Lofven as prime minister of Sweden
- Putin opposes EU prospects of Serbia and Kosovo
- Tsipras launches campaign to ratify Macedonia deal
- US-EU meeting in doubt after Trump cancels plane
- Germany and China to sign pact on finance cooperation
- Labour divided on second Brexit vote plan
Agenda
Aachen treaty and Brexit endgame This WEEK
Germany and France are set to reinforce their alliance as the engine-house of European integration, while Britain continues to struggle to leave the EU.
Opinion
How to troll the European Parliament elections
The May 2019 European parliament elections will take place in a context which make a very promising ground for protest votes and extreme views, aided by bots and algorithms.
Germany led way on EU rights protection
Germany led the way on protection of human rights this year, but Hungary, Italy, and Poland "undermined the EU's moral standing" on the world stage, a leading NGO said.
MEPs allow Draghi's membership of secretive bank group
A large majority rejected an amendment which would have called on the ECB to "put an end to the president's membership of the G30".
German spies to monitor far-right AfD party
Germany's domestic spy agency, the BfV, is to start monitoring the far-right AfD party in a move endorsed by the government, but decried as a witch-hunt by the party's leaders.
Brexit delay 'reasonable', as May tries cross-party talks
EU countries have signalled they might accept a delay to Brexit as British prime minister Theresa May began cross-party talks on how to avoid a no-deal outcome.
EU parliament backs Morocco deal despite row
A trade deal with Morocco was endorsed by the European Parliament but is likely to end up challenged at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
Barnier open to 'future relations' talks if UK red lines shift
In an apparent effort to help the British PM build some form of coalition with opposition MPs for a Brexit deal, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the bloc was ready to talk about the future relations part of the deal.
Opinion
On Morocco, will the EU ignore its own court?
If the European parliament votes in favour of the new Morocco agreement without knowing that it complies with the European Court of Justice judgement, how can it demand that other countries respect international law and their own courts?
UK parliament rejects May's Brexit deal in historic defeat
British MPs vote down Theresa May's hard-fought Brexit withdrawal agreement by 432 to 202 votes. The opposition immediately called for a vote of no-confidence in the government on Wednesday.
EU suggests majority vote on digital tax by 2025
The European Commission hopes to push member states to accept that globalisation and recent tax scandals make majority voting on tax issues unavoidable.
MEPs redouble appeal on sexual harassment
The EU parliament's internal chiefs have so far refused to introduce mandatory training on dealing with sexual harassment. MEPs have now asked for it again.
Opinion
Trump's wall vs Europe's sea
Though we would never admit it, the only difference between Trump and the EU is we don't need a wall - because we're 'fortunate' enough to have the Mediterranean.
Centre-right MEPs want transparency vote to be secret
A number of centre-right MEPs are pushing for a secret ballot on a plenary vote that would make EU lawmakers more transparent and accountable to the public - in a move described as "absurd" by Transparency International.
Germany scorns 'unusual' US threat on Russia pipeline
Germany has reacted with disdain after America's "unusual" ambassador to Berlin threatened sanctions against its new Russian gas pipeline.
UK parliament vote expected to prompt Brexit delay
British MPs on Tuesday night are expected to reject Theresa May's deal on leaving the European Union amid calls that the 29 March Brexit deadline could be pushed back.
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Latest News
- Aachen treaty and Brexit endgame This WEEK
- Germany led way on EU rights protection
- How to troll the European Parliament elections
- MEPs in Strasbourg: everywhere but the plenary
- Brexit delay 'reasonable', as May tries cross-party talks
- MEPs allow Draghi's membership of secretive bank group
- EU parliament backs Morocco deal despite row
- Barnier open to 'future relations' talks if UK red lines shift
Pro-EU MEPs still see room for stopping Brexit
'If there is a very last chance to keep Britain in the EU, any effort is worthwhile doing it,' says centre-left German MEP Jo Leinen.
Macron and Le Pen compete for 'yellow vest' votes
French leader Macron and far-right leader Le Pen have reached out to 'yellow vest' protesters, as debate on the EU elections heats up in France and Germany.
Liberal leader blocks public debate on EU-Morocco deal
The leader of the liberal Alde group, Guy Verhofstadt, has denied the public a debate on a controversial trade deal between the EU and Morocco, EUobserver has learned.
Agenda
Brexit vote at heart of EU affairs This WEEK
Britain and the EU will find out on Tuesday in London if they are heading for an orderly split or further turbulence.
EU warns Romania over corruption amnesty
Juncker warned Romania's government not to move ahead with plans to grant amnesty for corruption, as more than 200 EU laws await decisions during Bucharest's presidency.
EU and Romanian leaders quarrel at presidency launch
Romania's first-ever EU presidency saw Tusk issue warnings on rule of law, as Romanians complained about EU "misconceptions".
EU bleeding untold billions to fraud
Over €6bn of EU taxpayers' money was stolen by criminals in recent years and over €130m is still being lost each year, EU auditors said.
Romania mired in corruption woes as presidency begins
With the country's de facto leader filing a lawsuit at the EU's top court over report accusing him of corruption, and concerns of the country's rule of law, Romania's EU presidency kicked off in Bucharest to a rocky start.
Salvini invokes God and Russia on Poland trip
Orthodox values, opposition to EU institutions, and friendship with Russia should form the backbone of a new Italian-Polish league, Italy's Matteo Salvini has said.
Eight EU states take migrants stranded on NGO boats
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Romania have agreed to relocate the 49 migrants stuck on two NGO boats moored, for almost three weeks, off Malta's coast.
Iran blamed for four terror plots in EU
Iran ordered four terrorist attacks in Europe in recent times, the EU has said, while imposing new sanctions.
Italian leaders get behind French yellow vest revolt
Italy's populist rulers have lent vocal and technological support to the yellow vest movement after eight weeks of riots in France.
Commission: stalemate on migrants off Malta due to swelling numbers
The European Commission says EU states have yet to help the 49 people stranded on the Sea-Watch and Sea Eye rescue boats - because solutions have not yet been found for the 249 people already rescued by Malta.
Opinion
Migration and May elections - time to get facts right
If misinformation in the field of migration can bring a government down, as in the recent case of Belgium following the country's adoption of the UN migration pact, then it can doubtless produce a populist majority in the European parliament.
Italy and Poland in talks on anti-EU league
Poland and Italy's right-wing rulers are to cement their "special relations" in Warsaw, in what could make Salvini's anti-EU group a major force in the EP.
Agenda
Romania takes over the EU This WEEK
Romania will officially take over the EU's presidency this week, with commissioners and senior EU officials kicking off the testing next six-month period with meetings in Bucharest.
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Stakeholders' Highlights
- Nordics Could Be First Carbon-Negative Region in World
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- Green Stadiums at the 2018 Fifa World Cup
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- European Ombudsman Requests More Lending Transparency from European Investment Bank
- Recycling at the FIFA World Cup in Russia
- European Parliament takes incoherent steps on climate in future EU investments
