Leaders unimpressed by May’s offer to EU citizens
Leaders await further details about British prime minister Theresa May's offer for EU citizens' rights, as they express concern over possible "pitfalls".
Macron’s investment screening idea watered down by leaders
EU leaders have put the brakes on a proposal by French president Macron to hand the EU more powers to screen Chinese and other foreign investments into strategic sectors in Europe.
'Historic' defence plan gets launch date at EU summit
EU leaders have agreed to launch joint defence missions, described by French president Emmanuel Macron as a historic moment for the European Union.
News in Brief
- Merkel and Macron hold symbolic joint press conference
- Juncker has 'no' clear idea of kind of Brexit UK wants
- Belgian PM calls May's proposal on EU citizens 'vague'
- UK lacks support of EU countries in UN vote
- Spain to command anti-smuggler Mediterranean force
- Estonia confirms opposition to Nord Stream 2 pipeline
- Ireland and Denmark outside EU military plan
- EU leaders renew vows to uphold Paris climate deal
New Irish PM praises unscripted nature of EU summits
Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar had his first EU summit this week, and said it was much more informal and dynamic than expected.
Decision on post-Brexit home for EU agencies postponed
Around 1,000 staff of the European Medicines Agency and European Banking Authority will have to wait until November, instead of October, to know where they will be relocated come 2019.
EU pressures firms to tackle online terrorism
EU leaders said on Thursday that there should be a way to tackle encrypted chat services like Whatsapp when terror suspects use them.
EU extends sanctions on Russia
German chancellor Angela Merkel said that Russia hadn't done enough to implement the so-called Minsk peace process, a condition for lifting the sanctions.
Focus
UK's universities set 'Brexit wish list'
British academics want to guarantee residency and work rights for their EU staff, as well as "enhanced mobility opportunities" for UK and EU students, mostly by keeping British participation in EU funding programs.
May's offer on citizens’ rights dismissed as ‘pathetic’
May promised to create certainty as she outlined to EU leaders her offer on post-Brexit citizens' rights, but the organisation representing the EU citizens currently residing in the UK say her proposal is not serious.
Lack of eligible candidates dogs EU relocation scheme
Member states could fail to meet their refugee quotas even if they wanted to, as strict eligibility rules mean there are few candidates left in Greece and Italy. Sweden is already wondering if it will meet its pledge.
Border management going virtual
EU leaders at a summit in Brussels are set to endorse new border control measures, while the head of a Tallinn-based EU agency predicts a future where border management goes virtual.
Tusk hints UK could stay in EU, if it wanted
Donald Tusk quoted John Lennon to say he "dreams" that the UK could change its mind on Brexit. But not every prime minister agreed with that assessment.
Opinion
Merkel, Orban and the not quite closed Balkan route
EU migration policy has had a series of symbolic failures in recent years, but now could be the opportunity to set a new course.
EU set to roll over Russia sanctions amid defence talks
EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday will be discussing shoring up defence cooperation among EU states, as France and Germany give the political green light to roll over sanctions on Russia.
May to soothe EU leaders' post-election Brexit worries
The British PM will try to calm EU nerves over her fragile cabinet, as EU leaders discuss Brexit, migration, security, defence, sanctions and trade at the two-day summit.
Leaders at EU summit to reinforce Libyan coast guard
Libya's naval coastguard is likely to get a big boost following a meeting on Friday in Brussels among EU heads of state and government.
Macron reshuffles French government to ward off scandals
Three key centrist ministers have resigned over suspicions of fake assistant jobs in the European Parliament.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- On Public Services Day, Stop Austerity! Workers Need a Pay Rise!
- Online Gambling: The EU Court Rejects Closed Licensing Regimes In Member States
- Faces of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow: Join the Debate on Violence Against Girls - 29 June
- The EU Must Better Protect Industry from Unfair Competition
- Better Protection for Workers From Cancer-Causing Substances
- After 9 Years of Austerity Europe's Public Sector Workers Deserve a Pay Rise!
- Globalised Religions and the Dialogue Imperative. Join the Debate!
- EU Trust Fund Contribution to UNICEF's Syria Crisis Response Reaches Nearly €200 Million
- Bringing Buildings Into the Circular Economy. Discuss at EU Sustainable Energy Week
- Can an Ideal Body Weight Lead to Premature Death?
- End of Roaming Charges: What Does It Entail?
- World Refugee Day, a Dark Reminder of the Reality of Children on the Move
Latest News
- Macron’s investment screening idea watered down by leaders
- Leaders unimpressed by May’s offer to EU citizens
- New Irish PM praises unscripted nature of EU summits
- EU extends sanctions on Russia
- UK's universities set 'Brexit wish list'
- Decision on post-Brexit home for EU agencies postponed
- May's offer on citizens’ rights dismissed as ‘pathetic’
- 'Historic' defence plan gets launch date at EU summit
Analysis
Macron's summit debut could kickstart Franco-German motor
EU leaders will get their first chance at the summit to assess whether the Franco-German motor of European integration has been refuelled by the election of French president Emmanuel Macron.
Small EU states meet amid search to fill post-Brexit void
The Netherlands is hosting a meeting for nine small EU member states on the eve of this week's European summit. After Brexit, the Dutch will lose one of their key allies.
Turkey received €1bn in EU money to develop democracy
The EU is paying out large sums of money to Turkey amid a government led crackdown on opposition and constitutional changes that concentrate power into the presidency.
Bulgarian commissioner fields easy questions at MEP hearing
Outgoing MEP Mariya Gabriel made mostly general remarks about the need to “complete the digital single market”, but did not bump into any trouble.
Analysis
EU agencies relocation could still end in political bargaining
EU ministers are due to discuss the “objective criteria” for where to relocate the two London-based EU agencies after Brexit, but there is nothing to prevent horse-trading.
French minister resigns over EU parliament assistant case
Sylvie Goulard - as well as two other former centrist MEPs, who are now ministers - is suspected of having paid party members with European Parliament money.
Four EU states pass on post-Brexit agency spoils
The Baltics and Slovenes will not attempt to host the currently London-based European Medicines Agency or European Banking Authority.
UK agrees to EU conditions on Brexit talks
In their first meeting, the EU's Michel Barnier and Brexit minister David Davis agreed that talks on future relations will start only when "sufficient progress" has been made on divorce proceedings.
Heated words as EU tries to limit Africa migration
EU efforts to help migrants stay put in Africa starting to see "first results", as Austria, Hungary and Germany fall out over how to handle the flows.
EU steps up global counter-terrorism drive
EU foreign ministers vowed to increase the number of projects and financial support in different parts of the world ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, where leaders will focus on security and defence.
Row between EU ministers halts e-book tax rate
A bill to reduce VAT rates on e-books and e-publications has become the latest victim of a row between the Czech Republic and its partners over its own plan to collect VAT.
Focus
MEPs to grill youngest ever EU commissioner
Mariya Gabriel, a Bulgarian MEP, is designated to take up the EU commission's digital affairs portfolio, although she has little experience with that file.
Brexit talks begin amid uncertainty
As Brexit negotiations start today with the first EU member ever to leave the bloc, the level of uncertainty on what comes next remains as high as on Brexit referendum day almost one year ago.
Agenda
EU summit and Brexit This WEEK
Security and defence, along with Brexit and migration, are among the big issues to be discussed as leaders from all 28 EU states converge in Brussels for meetings and a summit.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Driving Innovation in the Social Sector I 26-28 June
- Muslims Have Unique Responsibility to Fight Terror: Opinon From Fethullah Gülen
- Check out This Useful Infographic on How to Stay Sustainable and Energy Efficient.
- European Parliament Criticises the Juncker Plan's Implementation
- Does Europe Really Still Need Feminism? After-Work Chat on 22 June
- Create an Energy Day Event Before the End of June. Join the Call for Clean Energy
- 1 in 5 Children in Rich Countries Lives in Relative Income Poverty, 1 in 8 Faces Food Insecurity
- 26 NGOs Call on Interpol Not to Intervene Versus Azerbaijani Human Rights Defenders
- Significant Boost in Financing for SMEs and Entrepreneurs Under New Agreement
- Young People Rise up as EU Signs Consensus for Development at EU Development Days
- LGBTI Activists and Businesses Fighting Inequality Together
- Nordic Prime Ministers Respond to Trump on Paris Agreement
