Davos and Libya in focus This WEEK
The all-powerful will meet in Davos after Berlin tries to resolve the Libyan conflict over the weekend, while MEPs will set the stage for final ratification of the Brexit deal.
Boost for Right in post-Brexit EU parliament
The far-right Identity and Democracy will overtake the Greens as the fourth-largest party in the European Parliament on 1 February, after the UK's MEPs vacate their seats.
Opinion
Why EU minimum wage is actually bad idea for workers
As president of one of the largest trade union confederations in the EU, I see the need for good working conditions and decent pay in all member states - but an EU-wide minimum wage could be used to lower wages.
Green money and Iran tensions in focus This WEEK
The EU Commission will unveil the financial backbone for its Green Deal, and also debate a possible minimum wage with MEPs. Lawmakers will also hear from the Jordanian king and the EU's foreign affairs chief.
Iran, Brexit test 'geopolitical' commission This WEEK
The EU foreign affairs chief attempts to salvage whatever is left of the Iran nuclear deal by inviting the Iranian foreign minister to Brussels - while the EU commission president heads to London for Brexit talks.
EU values under scrutiny This WEEK
Rule of law, environmental protection, and minority rights will feature high on the agenda in Brussels and Strasbourg as 2019 comes to a close.
UK election plus EU summit in focus This WEEK
EU leaders will try to agree on the 2050 emission-free target - but they will deeply disagree on EU spending over the next seven years. Meanwhile the UK will elect its new political leadership.
New commission and Malta in focus This WEEK
Ursula von der Leyen and her new team of commissioners will have their first meeting on Wednesday. In the meantime, Malta descends into political turmoil over the death of an investigative journalist.
EU Parliament to vote on the Commission This WEEK
MEPs will decide on Wednesday whether to support the new EU commission as a whole during the plenary session. If approved, Ursula von der Leyen's team will finally take office on 1 December.
Key moments for new commission This WEEK
MEPs will decide on Monday if they want the Hungarian commissioner-designate to come back for a second hearing, as commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen hopes to finally take office on 1 December.
New hearings for the von der Leyen commission This WEEK
Next week will see a new round of commissioner hearings for the latest candidates from France, Hungary and Romania in the European Parliament, while crucial elections take place in Romania and Spain.
Commission still in waiting This WEEK
Romania, and now the UK, still need to name their commissioner for the new EU executive to enter into office.
Focus
How soft power built the world's 12th-largest economy
Without much ado the Nordic Council cooperation has formed the backbone of politics in the entire region for more than 60 years. It meets in Stockholm this week, to discuss sustainable Arctic tourism, and ending summertime, among other topics.
Brexit delay rolls into This WEEK
Westminster will vote on a possible election, while EU ambassadors will reconvene to decide on the length of a Brexit extension. The awkward Brexit tango continues.
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Latest News
- Davos and Libya in focus This WEEK
- China spy suspect worked for EU for 30 years
- Surge in Israeli demolition of EU-funded buildings
- Why EU subsidy schemes don't work - the evidence
- Catalan MEPs Puigdemont and Comin look for a party
- Big Oil sponsors Croatia's EU presidency
- Cloud of mistrust over Malta's new government
- Can the Green Deal – and Europe – succeed?
Crunch Brexit vote in UK This WEEK
The future of Brexit continues to hang in the balance this week, with a crunch vote in Westminster on Saturday.
Brexit nail-biter and EU nominations This WEEK
British prime minister Boris Johnson will meet the 27 other EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday to try to clinch a last-minute Brexit deal.
EP commissioner hearings resume This WEEK
EP hearings into EU nominees resume this week after bruisings in which two candidates were already knocked out and two put on the ropes.
Commissioner hearings start This WEEK
MEPs will grill the commissioner-designates for the next two weeks, while the fate of the Romanian and Hungarian candidates remain uncertain. And the Brexit chaos continues with the Conservative party conference.
Europe goes to New York This WEEK
Iran and climate change likely to dominate as French president Emmanuel Macron speaks for Europe at the UN general assembly in New York this week.
Brexit and new commission in focus This WEEK
Jean-Claude Juncker will meet Boris Johnson for the first time, but no breakthrough is expected in Brexit talks. MEPs are preparing to hear from the commission-designates, while Hungary will be grilled at the EU affairs' ministers meeting.
New commission unveiled This WEEK
After weeks of consultations, Ursula von der Leyen will put forward her commission on Tuesday, as London's Brexit drama keeps rumbling on in the background in Brussels.
Lagarde and Brexit centre stage This WEEK
The ECB's possible next chief will appear before the EU parliament, as political life resumes in Brussels. In London, MPs could mount a no-confidence vote against Johnson.
EU goes on holiday as new UK PM arrives This WEEK
Boris Johnson is almost certain to become the UK's next prime minister, and oversee Brexit until the 31 October deadline, as work in the EU bubble is winding down for the summer.
Von der Leyen vote the focus This WEEK
MEPs will vote to confirm - or not - on Tuesday the new commission president, Ursula von der Leyen - a candidate put forward at the last minute by the EU leaders, and grilled by lawmakers recently in Brussels.
Von der Leyen and Greece in focus This WEEK
The EU parliament committees will start their work, as MEPs reflect on approving Ursula von der Leyen as new commission chief. Meanwhile, Greek is about to take a conservative turn.
New EU parliament term begins This WEEK
The 'top job' debate returns on Sunday with a special EU summit, followed by the first session of the new European Parliament. If leaders fail to solve the 'jobs puzzle', MEPs may feel force to choose their parliament president unilaterally.
Deja vu as EU top jobs dominate again This WEEK
Brussels will host yet another summit on Sunday (30 June) as leaders from across the 28 EU member states return, after Thursday's failed initial bid to nominate people to take on the presidencies of the major EU institutions.
Top EU jobs summit dominates This WEEK
A summit in Belgian capital this week will host heads of government and state to discuss top EU institutional posts. But before they meet, the jockeying for the Commission presidency will have already started among the European political groups.
EU top jobs, Italy, and Western Balkans This WEEK
Talks on EP groups and top jobs in the wake of the EU election last month continue. Finance ministers also discuss whether to fine Italy, while EU commissioners promote Western Balkans enlargement.
EU election results to trigger top jobs scramble This WEEK
After EU citizens go to the polls over the weekend, the political haggling over key EU positions starts immediately next week. And the parliament and member states seem set to clash.
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