Investigation
Obscurity surrounds EU military fund's expert groups
Two groups are meant to provide expert advice on how to spend EU money on a new military research programme - but much is unclear about how and even if they operate.
Analysis
New EU party finance rules short circuit accountability
The EU's latest funding rules for European political parties and their think tanks fails to address the underlying problems of abuse. Instead of tackling the loans and donations culture, it has simply made access to EU funds a lot easier.
Getting secret EU trilogue documents: a case study
On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on a political deal on organic farming, following 19 months of behind-closed-doors negotiations. EUobserver here details a five-month odyssey to get access to the secret documents that led to the deal.
News in Brief
- MEPs urge better protection for journalists
- Dieselgate: MEPs back greater role for EU in car approvals
- European parliament adopts new organic farming rules
- EU granted protection to half million people in 2017
- Report: Facebook to carve 1.5bn users out of EU privacy law
- Greek court ruling permits migrants to travel to mainland
- Commonwealth summit hopes for trade boost after Brexit
- Merkel and Macron meet to finetune eurozone reform plans
Draghi to stay in secretive 'lobby' group
Eurozone bank chief Mario Draghi will stay part of an opaque "lobbyist" group despite transparency complaints.
Opinion
Bulgaria offers lesson in tackling radical-right populists
Fundamental freedoms are under attack across the EU but the case of Bulgaria presents unique challenges, and opportunities to learn, for left-wing forces throughout Europe.
Analysis
Beyond macho: Turkish-EU ties
Turkey has belittled the EU in a week of macho posturing, but strategic relations go deeper than the rhetoric.
Selmayr case scars Parliament and Commission
A resolution condemning the appointment of the EU executive secretary general has left frustrated MEPs and a bruised EU executive.
Feature
'Flobert' guns - Europe's latest terror loophole
Project Safte, an international research project funded by the European Commission, has revealed a loophole in the EU firearms directive that is being exploited by criminals and possibly terrorists.
EU investment bank confirms secrecy of VW fraud report
Secretary general of the EIB says in response to EUobserver's appeal that there is no overriding public interest in releasing the document.
Opinion
More commitment to renewables from Council, please
More and more consumers are likely to invest in solar panels in the future as it becomes simpler to produce one's own electricity, writes Monique Goyens, director general of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation.
MEPs set limits to Macron's ambitions
The French president tried to woo the European Parliament but found that his quest for leadership will have to abide by the rules set by the European political groups.
Poland urged to settle EU rule of law concerns next month
EU member states welcomed the dialogue between Poland and the EU Commission on rule of law, but insist that more progress is needed to bring Warsaw's judicial overhaul in line with EU values.
Investigation
EU passes new rules to prevent far-right funding abuses
Political funding of European parties is being overhauled ahead of the European parliament elections next year. The latest rules will cut funding for smaller parties, with an aim to squeeze out duplication and over-representation of the far right.
EU ponders new sanctions on Syria, Iran, Russia
EU foreign ministers have discussed new sanctions on Syria, Iran, and Russia in light of the chemical warfare in Syria.
Analysis
Macron relaunches his bid for EU leadership
In a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday and then at a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, the French president will try to get support for his EU reform proposals.
Opinion
UK participation in Syrian missile strike on shaky legal ground
British prime minister Theresa May claims that "there is no practicable alternative' to the use of force in Syria following another chemical weapons attack. However, this is simply not true.
EU toes the line on Syria air strikes
EU foreign ministers to back Western air strikes on Syria, the same way they backed the UK over Russia's chemical attack on an ex-spy in Britain.
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Latest News
- Obscurity surrounds EU military fund's expert groups
- New EU party finance rules short circuit accountability
- Draghi to stay in secretive 'lobby' group
- Bulgaria offers lesson in tackling radical-right populists
- Getting secret EU trilogue documents: a case study
- Selmayr case scars Parliament and Commission
- Beyond macho: Turkish-EU ties
- 'Flobert' guns - Europe's latest terror loophole
EU enlargement: Albania advances, Turkey backslides
Albania and Macedonia should start accession talks, but human rights abuses mean Turkey should stay on hold, EU says in draft report seen by EUobserver.
Analysis
Is Germany more hawkish on Russia?
Germany's socialist foreign minister just said the EU should "step up pressure" on Russia. Merkel aired "political" doubts on a Russian pipeline.
Agenda
Macron and Syria top EU agenda This WEEK
French president to deliver speech on EU democratic model after populist victories in Hungary and Italy and amid an escalation of the Syria crisis.
Germany pours cold water on euro reforms
Germany is proving less keen than the European Commission had hoped to share its wealth with poorer EU states.
EU commissioners left no paper trail on car lobby talks
Oettinger and Canete spoke to representatives of the German carmakers 15 days before the commission presented a bill o CO2 emission standards.
Investigation
Tory and National Front websites hid Facebook tracking pixel
At least 11 European political parties, two EU agencies, and the Nordic Council have a controversial tracking pixel on their website.
Magazine
A sustainable death wish
No one can escape death. But choices over how one's body is disposed of could either lessen or increase your carbon footprint.
Interview
Facebook chief 'surprisingly naive', says EU data lawmaker
A German MEP who steered the EU general data protection law through the European Parliament says the Facebook chief was only beginning to realise his firm's impact on people's privacy.
Draft EU report calls for sanctions on Hungary
A draft report by the civil liberties committe says Hungary is at risk of breaching EU values. Orban's government claims this is an attack on his electoral victory.
Opinion
EU should ensure sustainable Cohesion Policy
As the EU Council kicks off negotiations over the post-2020 budget, ministers have have an opportunity to create a framework that will unlock innovative financing and scale up the citizen-led clean energy transformation
EU documents lay bare Russian energy abuse
Russian firm Gazprom has been strangling EU energy markets for years, documents show, as the EU commission takes aim at a new Russian pipeline.
EU admits to problems in penalty regime
Fines in the EU are often divergent and low. The European Commission proposes to change EU consumer rules to make fines more deterrent.
Revolving doors at the EU commission's finance unit
A high proportion of former commissioners and top civil servants in charge of banking and financial regulation during the crisis have joined the sector, a report shows.
Magazine
Bioeconomy is a win-win strategy for Finland
"The big problem in the world today is a lack of resources and a lack of bio-diversity," says Finnish environment minister Kimmo Tiilikainen. His country plans to produce what the world needs the most.
What to do with Orban? EU centre-right ponders
While the majority of the centre-right group in the European Parliament want Orban's Fidesz party to stay, some MEPs argue the xenophobic tone of Fidesz's election campaign is a red line.
EU watchdogs to protect farmers
The European Commission is due to unveil a legislative proposal that will should help farmers get paid on time for their products.
Stakeholders' Highlights
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- Controversial Turkish Azerbaijani Gas Pipeline Gets Major EU Loan
- Syria’s Children ‘At Risk of Never Fully Recovering', New Study Finds
- Meets with US Congress Member to Denounce Anti-Macedonian Name Negotiations
- European Defence Union: Time to Aim High?
- Watch UNESDA’s President Toast Its 60th Anniversary Year
- AJC Condemns MEP Ana Gomes’s Anti-Semitic Remark, Calls for Disciplinary Action
- EU Commissioners Deny 9.8 Million Workers Legal Minimum Standards on Information Rights
- Appropriate Risk Management is Crucial for Effective Strategic Leadership
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Will the Circular Economy be an Economy With no Workers?
- The 2018 European Medal of Tolerance Goes to Prince Albert II of Monaco
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- Promoting Human Rights and Democracy in the Next Eu Multiannual Financial Framework
- Digital Cooperation a Priority for China-EU Relations
- Competition must prevail in the quest for telecoms investment
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- EU Court: EU Commission Correct to Issue Guidelines for Online Gambling Services
- China Hopes for More Exchanges With Nordic, Baltic Countries
- Condemns Facebook for Actively Promoting Anti-Macedonian Racism
