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".
News in Brief
- No EUobserver newsletter on Friday 14 May
- Germany stops Facebook gathering WhatsApp data
- Italy rebuts reports of EU deal with Libya
- MEPs demand EU states protect women's reproductive rights
- At least nine dead in Russia school shooting
- Bulgaria interim government appointed until July election
- German priests defy pope to bless same-sex couples
- New EU public prosecutor faults Slovenia
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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Latest News
- EU aims at 'zero pollution' in air, water and soil by 2050
- French police arrest Luxembourg former top spy
- Vaccine drives spur better-than-expected EU economic recovery
- Slovenia causing headaches for new EU anti-graft office
- 'No place to hide' in Gaza, as fighting escalates
- EU chases 90m AstraZeneca vaccines in fresh legal battle
- Fidesz MEP oversees FOI appeals on disgraced Fidesz MEP
- Belgium outlines summer Covid relaxation plans
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?
Greek prisons accused of abusing detainees
Prison conditions deteriorated last year, due to budget cuts and the pandemic, amid accusations of severe abuse in some EU states, says Council of Europe's anti-torture committee.
EU and US join up against China on Taiwan
The EU and its leading powers voiced strident criticism of China at a G7 meeting in London on Wednesday, even as Hungary, once again, tried to gag Europe in Brussels.
Conservatives' Covid-strategy wins in lockdown-fatigue Madrid
Madrid conservative leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso has become a political phenomenon mainly because of her success in keeping Madrid open during the worst moments of the pandemic. However, critics accuse her of neglecting health services - while only protecting businesses.
Commission drafts new rules targeting foreign state aid
As the EU wants to assert its "strategic autonomy" from China and the US, the EU Commission has put forward proposals on how to tackle foreign subsidies that harm fair competition within the bloc.
Opinion
Why Europe should stop worrying about 'sportswashing'
The UAE's international reputation is steadily being shredded by its own leadership, in moves so blatant that no amount of sporting spin can hide them. Like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, China will also discover that sportswashing never works.
Opinion
Conference on Future of Europe must listen to local voices
The Conference on the Future of Europe must concretely involve our local communities, regions, cities and villages. This is key to avoid a top-down exercise that would only feed the demagogic and anti-European false narrative of populists and eurosceptics.
