Bavarian election puts Merkel on defensive
Voters in Germany's largest state hived off to the left and right of the ruling conservatives in Sunday's elections - posing questions for Merkel's authority.
News in Brief
- Le Pen warms towards cooperation with Bannon
- Bettel set to stay in power in Luxembourg after election
- EU-UK Brexit deal talks paused
- Macedonian parliament to vote on name change Monday
- Swedish opposition leader gives up on forming government
- Commission confirms: no record of Juncker speech seminar
- Ukraine splits from Russian orthodox church
- Polish doctor wins landmark pro-life case in Norway
Magazine
Tug of war between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' cohesion money
The European Commission has promised greater flexibility for local authorities when it comes to delivering on-the-ground results - but it has also tied cohesion policy to the European Semester, a tool used to coordinate macroeconomic policies.
Agenda
Brexit and sanctions at EU summit This WEEK
EU leaders hope to clinch a UK exit deal at this week's summit. Migrants, chemical weapons, and fish quotas also on this week's agenda.
Opinion
It's time for the EU to stand up to transnational corporations
A new treaty, to be negotiated this week at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, aims to put an end to the 'organised irresponsibility' of transnational corporations on human rights and labour abuses. Time for EU to take note.
Analysis
A post-Brexit rival to Galileo? Possible, but expensive
The United Kingdom and the EU need to figure out how much access the UK will have to the EU-funded satellite navigation system after Brexit. Now the UK will study whether to set up its own system.
Polish veto blocks EU on rights of gays and Christians
Poland has vetoed an EU human rights statement on grounds it covered gay people but not Christians and Jews.
Feature
'Macron vs Orban' is no quick fix for EU democracy
A Macron versus Orbans styled election battle might lift turnout in next year's European Parliament elections, but under laying democratic problems would remain, warn experts.
Opinion
Daily reality in Western Sahara - and how EU can protect it
If my region in the Sahara were excluded, it would strongly undermine our development, with a risk of opening the door to radicalisation and undermining the stability of the whole Mediterranean region, especially with respect to security and migration.
EU looks at Morocco and Tunisia to offload migrants
EU member states and the European Commission are pressing ahead with plans to possibly use Morocco and Tunisia as countries to offload asylum seekers and migrants - part of larger bid to create a so-called "safe third country" list.
EU urged to seize assets of foreign hackers
The EU should impose asset freezes and visa bans on people guilty of cyber attacks, a group of member states has urged.
Seehofer's CSU faces historic flop at Bavarian polls
Merkel's key coalition ally, the Bavarian Christian Social Union is expected to suffer a major loss at Sunday elections, as voters flee to either the far-right or the Greens.
Magazine
The big European budget battle - who is fighting for what?
EU member states are set for bitter negotiations over the next long-term budget for the bloc - where several issues pit eastern and western European countries against each other.
Opinion
Interpol, China and the EU
China joins a long list of countries - including Russia - accused of abusing Interpol's 'Red Notice' system to harras activists and dissidents.
Putin has lost Ukraine, US diplomat says
Vladimir Putin's Ukraine "operation" has backfired by making its former vassal state more pro-Western than ever, a US diplomat has said.
AI experts tell MEPs ban on 'killer robots' is unrealistic
Wendy Anderson, a former civil servant from the Obama administration, said a ban would not work. "The AI train has left the station. However we feel about it is actually irrelevant," she said.
Brexit deal 'within reach' says Barnier
Michel Barnier said the UK and the EU can close the withdrawal deal next week - if British prime minister Theresa May agrees to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union.
Opinion
MEP: Reality of my three days in occupied Western Sahara
The harassment I saw of Western Sahara human rights defenders will not make it into the official report.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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Latest News
- Daily reality in Western Sahara - and how EU can protect it
- Bavarian election puts Merkel on defensive
- It's time for the EU to stand up to transnational corporations
- Tug of war between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' cohesion money
- 'Macron vs Orban' is no quick fix for EU democracy
- Brexit and sanctions at EU summit This WEEK
- EU looks at Morocco and Tunisia to offload migrants
- EU urged to seize assets of foreign hackers
Exclusive
Despite pledge, Katainen met lobbyists without taking notes
Finland's EU commissioner, Jyrki Katainen told EUobserver in February his cabinet members "always" takes notes when he meets lobbyists. They did not on at least seven occasions, when talking about artificial intelligence.
EU passport sales create 'proud Maltese citizens'
Malta says its 'Golden Visas' scheme attracts families that want to become "proud Maltese citizens". Meanwhile the sales to Russian nationals, and others, have generated over €700m in revenue.
Opinion
Nationalism and polarisation in Macedonia's referendum
In an attempt to bury a three-decade-long dispute with Greece over the country's name, Macedonia's referendum has thrown open as many issues as it sought to overcome.
MEP proposes €1bn for NGOs supporting 'EU values'
The MEP in charge of a new 'EU values' fund in the next budget wants to double the money available for protecting European values.
Opinion
Poland abusing Schengen for political reasons
The authorities of four EU member states have already concluded that Kozlovska does not pose any threat to them, despite Poland's ban.
EU ministers seek slightly more ambition in CO2 cars bill
Shortly before midnight, compromise was reached among environment ministers. Of the EU's 28 states, 20 supported the deal drafted by Austria.
Opinion
Six ways EU can reform its election observation missions
By getting the politics of electoral observation right, the EU can prevent it electoral observation missions becoming a tool for regime survival.
Italian coalition split on EU elections
Italy's 5 Star Movement, which has 14 MEPs, has ruled out an alliance with the far right after next year's EU elections.
Austria EU presidency seeks 'mandatory solidarity' on Dublin
EU interior ministers are meeting in Luxembourg this Friday to discuss migration. The Austrian EU presidency is hoping to reach a consensus on Dublin reforms and a concept of 'mandatory solidarity' after briefing 27 EU states bilaterally over the summer.
EU and US risk 'negative shocks' to economy, IMF warns
France and Germany will be among the hardest hit by a global trade slowdown created by US protectionism, the IMF has warned.
Opinion
Crunch time to end overfishing in the EU
What happens when a difficult deadline hits? This is precisely what is being played out in EU fisheries as we approach the landmark legal commitment under the Common Fisheries Policy to end overfishing by 2020.
EU offers to help find killer of Bulgarian journalist
Commissioners voiced "shock" and pledged help after killing of Bulgarian journalist who reported on alleged fraud in European funds.
Opinion
Kosovo's Interpol bid - and its ramifications for EU
Interpol's fight against cross-border crime demands cooperation, not politics - be it from Serbia or China.
EU tug of war over Prague-based space agency
A possible institutional battle is looming over a proposal to give the EU's agency in charge of the Galileo satellites more powers in the field of space.
Interview
Commissioner Cretu: the EU budget is 'very emotional'
Despite Brexit and new priorities, it is important to keep EU funds for all regions - rich and poor - argues the regions commissioner. But more controls, including a link to rule of law issues, are part of the discussion.
Agenda
Brexit, Bono and Bavaria top This WEEK
Crunch time in Brexit talks dominate the EU's agenda as a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK could be within reach - after months of lack of progress in negotiations. Plus, Bono's in Brussels.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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- What Kind of Europe Do Children Want? Unicef & Eurochild Launch Survey on the Europe Kids Want
- Nordic Countries Take a Stand for Climate-Smart Energy Solutions
- China: Work Together for a Better Globalisation
- Nordics Could Be First Carbon-Negative Region in World
- Life Is Possible for Patients with Severe Asthma
- Common-Sense Approach Needed for EU Energy Reform
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- China-EU Economic and Trade Relations Enjoy a Bright Future
- Empowering Businesses to Engage with Sustainable Finance and the SDGs
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Cooperation in Nordic Electricity Market Considered World Class Model
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- OECD Report: Gender Equality Boosts GDP Growth in Nordic Region
- “Peace and Reconciliation Is a Process That Takes Decades” Dr. Anthony Soares on #Brexit and Northern Ireland
- MEPs Positive on China’s New Measures of Opening Up
- Old White Men are Destroying Macedonia by Romanticizing Greece
- Controversial EIB-Backed Project Under Fire at European Parliament
- Income Inequality Increasing in Nordic Countries
- EU Leaders to Cease Contact with Mahmoud Abbas Until He Apologizes for Antisemitic Comments
