Interview
EU impunity for Israel creating 'horror' in Gaza
Impunity from international sanctions is allowing Israel to create "horror" in Gaza, Hanan Ashrawi, a former top Palestinian official has said.
News in Brief
- Pandemic conspiracies pose security threat in France
- EU laws on vans and CO2 too weak, NGO says
- Unicef urges rich countries to donate vaccines
- Belgium voices Chinese spy fears over airport hub
- EU: Over 5 million people risk 'starvation' in Ethiopia
- EU 'deplores' Russian ban on Czech diplomats
- UK to stop locking up EU travellers without visas
- Karadžić being moved from Hague to UK jail
Internal paper lays out EU splits on 'returning' migrants
An internal document from January outlines the divisions among EU states when it comes the European Commission's proposal on "return sponsorships". Although positions may have since shifted, the document provides a glimpse into the Council's thinking.
Opinion
Online privacy for adults means more internet child abuse
The impact of the EU's e-privacy directive was not theoretical. Since the rule passed, there was a 58 percent decrease in EU-related reports of child sexual exploitation online.
Agenda
Israel-Palestine and travel certificates in focus This WEEK
Negotiators from the European Parliament, the council of member states, and the EU Commission will push for an agreement this week on the Covid-19 travel certificate so that safe travel can pick up during the summer.
MEPs rethink EU Parliament future after Covid-19 pandemic
The European Parliament president David Sassoli has invited MEPs to reflect on the institution's future, opening a broad debate about the best way forward after the Covid-19 pandemic. What will the post-Covid-19 parliament be like?
Feature
The activists calling out racism In Italy's media
Italian activists are collating a growing Instagram collection of racist, sexist and homophobic content in the media. But their battle to stop the use of the n-word, blackface and offensive content on Italian TV means standing up to ingrained racism.
EU aims at 'zero pollution' in air, water and soil by 2050
The European Commission unveiled a plan to reduce pollution to levels that are no longer harmful to human health and natural ecosystems by 2050 - including reducing the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution by 55 percent.
French police arrest Luxembourg former top spy
French police have arrested a former Luxembourg spy chief, who was suing EUobserver for libel, in an unrelated US fraud case.
Vaccine drives spur better-than-expected EU economic recovery
Economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni warned that despite the economic rebound, the risk of worsening poverty, social exclusion, and inequality "is very real".
Slovenia causing headaches for new EU anti-graft office
Slovenia was supposed to nominate a delegated prosecutor for the new European Public Prosecutor Office, in charge of cracking down on corruption of EU funds. Ljubljana finalised procedures in December but has yet to send nominations, causing headaches.
'No place to hide' in Gaza, as fighting escalates
UN workers in Gaza feel at risk from airstrikes, as violence continues to spread across Israel and occupied territories.
EU chases 90m AstraZeneca vaccines in fresh legal battle
The European Union has launched a second legal action against AstraZeneca - in a bid to oblige the company to deliver 90 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to EU member states by the end of June.
Fidesz MEP oversees FOI appeals on disgraced Fidesz MEP
Disgraced former Fidesz MEP József Szájer is entitled to a transitional allowance. The European Parliament won't say if he took one. An appeal on a freedom of information request is delayed - while appeals are overseen by another Fidesz MEP.
Belgium outlines summer Covid relaxation plans
Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo announced that from 9 June restaurants, cinemas, theatres and fitness centres will be able to open their doors again. Indoor and outdoor events will steadily be able to host more people.
Column
EU needs good diplomats in Indo-Pacific, not people in uniforms
EU policymakers are right to resist pressure to emulate the hard security stance and implicit anti-China bias of 'Quad' members: the US, Japan, Australia and India.
Opinion
Expelling diplomats won't fix central Europe's Russia problem
The pro-Kremlin affiliation of various radical paramilitary organisations is a significant cause for concern throughout central Europe.
First recovery euros could be paid out in July
Economy commissioner Paolo Gentoloni said the real challenge is whether member states can stick to their national plans and timelines. However, more than a dozen EU countries still need to ratify legislation to start the funding.
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Latest News
- EU impunity for Israel creating 'horror' in Gaza
- Internal paper lays out EU splits on 'returning' migrants
- Israel-Palestine and travel certificates in focus This WEEK
- MEPs rethink EU Parliament future after Covid-19 pandemic
- The activists calling out racism In Italy's media
- Online privacy for adults means more internet child abuse
- EU aims at 'zero pollution' in air, water and soil by 2050
- French police arrest Luxembourg former top spy
Commission wants help for Italy after weekend's migrant arrivals
Italian media have reported some 1,400 migrants arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday. EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson is asking EU states to help relocate some in a bid to help Italy.
Mercosur trade deal will fuel 'poison pesticides' back into EU
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement, as it stands, would exacerbate the 'boomerang effect' of pesticides banned in the EU re-entering the bloc on food imports.
Opinion
Can new Iran talks avoid mistakes of the original JCPOA?
The question remains whether the EU can take advantage of the latest talks, and other shifts in the Middle East, to reverse its own diplomatic marginalisation.
EU and US urge Israel to defuse Jerusalem violence
The EU and US have voiced alarm over growing violence in Jerusalem, while urging Israel to curb settlement expansion.
Feature
Frontex 'mislabelling minors as adults' on Greek islands
Lawyers in Greece accuse Frontex of incorrectly labeling minors as 'adults', a violation. Among them was 17-year old William, sent to the adult section of Moria, where he says he was abused. He was later able to prove his age.
Agenda
Vaccine fairness plus Russia on table This WEEK
Attention will return to vaccines, after US president Joe Biden put the EU in a tight spot when he backed waiving the Covid-19 vaccine patent.
EU ambassadors flock to Red Square for Putin's parade
Most EU states are sending ambassadors to Russia's WW2 victory parade on Sunday despite tense relations.
MEPs win battle for bigger citizens' voice at Conference
After long negotiations, the European Parliament finally managed to convince EU member states and the European Commission of the need to include citizens proposals in the outcome of the conference.
Exclusive
Hungary gags EU ministers on China
EU countries have shelved plans to issue a statement of moral support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong - due to a veto by Hungary, a major beneficiary of Chinese investment.
Poland and Hungary push back on 'gender equality' pre-summit
The latest compromise is part of a trend within the EU, with usually Hungary and Poland pushing for "gender equality" to be deleted from different EU texts - causing worry among other member states.
EU preparing to send soldiers to Mozambique
The EU is preparing to help train Mozambique's armed forces, amid wider ambitions for a stronger European military capacity.
EU now 'open' to vaccine waiver, after Biden U-turn
The European Union is now ready to discuss the proposal to waive temporarily intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines - following the historic decision by Washington in favour of easing patent rules.
Exclusive
EU mulls using new 'peace' fund to help Libyan coast guard
The Libyans are demanding more assets, such as patrol boats and planes, for their coast guard. The EU has now floated the idea of tapping into its new European Peace Facility to supply them.
Poland 'breaks EU law' over judges, EU court opinion says
The legal opinion came as the Polish disciplinary chamber discussed removing the immunity of a supreme court judge critical of the government's judicial overhaul.
11 EU states want to cut fossil-fuels from cross-border projects
A group of 11 member states, led by Denmark, wants EU rules for cross-border energy projects to exclude funding for fossil fuels infrastructure. However, member states remain divided on the role of gas in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Opinion
The Porto EU-India summit - let's not forget south Asia
Will this weekend's EU-India summit help translate the recently approved Council conclusions on the Indo-Pacific strategy into more pragmatic set of actions able to elevate Europe in the Asia-Pacific region?
