Exclusive
Women shun EU-funded site for female entrepreneurs
Wegate.eu, which received €1.2m in EU money since its launch almost two years ago, has less than a thousand registered users - from a possible target audience of at least 10 million.
News in Brief
- Germany and Greece strike deal on taking back migrants
- Merkel confronts far-right critics: '2015 will not be repeated'
- UN: Predictable disembarkation process urgently needed
- Slovenia set to select former comedian as prime minister
- Polish president to veto election rule helping big parties
- MEPs blast UK 'alphabetical approach' on citizens rights
- EU hits back over Salvini's blame for bridge collapse
- Poll: Sweden's social democrat-led government set to win again
Opinion
Separation of powers instead of 'Spitzenkandidat' process
The relatively-new Spitzenkandidat process means the commission will be led by a political candidate, and thus it instantly becomes more political. But is that the desired effect?
Media and commission object to Belgium's EU summit 'fee'
A plan to charge journalists up to €100 a year to cover summits in Brussels has been rejected as a violation of press freedom. "We don't like it," says the EU executive.
Opinion
How long can Bulgaria keep facing both East and West?
Sofia may be wearing out its welcome with Western democracies by playing both sides - seeking closer integration in Europe while cosying up to Moscow and Beijing, claiming to work towards hitting EU targets while putting its own interests first.
Spain and France to share EU naval mission after Brexit
EU states have decided to move the HQ of their Atalanta anti-piracy mission from the UK to Spain and France due to Brexit.
US Congress has stronger ethics oversight than EU Parliament
US lawmakers are banned from holding second jobs due to possible conflicts of interest. Yet MEPs in the European Parliament have earned up to €41m from side jobs since 2014.
EU court to hear citizens' climate case against EU
Some 37 citizens, from Europe and elsewhere, are suing the European Parliament and Council for adopting climate laws that they say are not ambitious enough.
EU commission steps up legal case against Poland
Commission says it is not convinced by Warsaw's defence of a new law on Poland's Supreme Court, which forces the early retirement of some 27 judges.
Exclusive
Revealed: ExxonMobil's private dinner with Cyprus' top EU brass
The US oil and gas giant hosted Cypriot MEPs, Cyprus' highest EU diplomat and EU commissioner Christos Stylianides at a dinner in a private club in Brussels.
Exclusive
14 lobbyist meetings with Oettinger and Canete went unminuted
EUobserver has asked for any minutes relating to 14 meetings with lobbyists held by commissioners Guenther Oettinger and Miguel Arias Canete. None exist.
Exclusive
EU official proposed covering up wifi portal flaw
Director of Electronic Communications Networks and Services Anthony Whelan says in an internal document that he wanted to eliminate "possible criticisms" and "marginalise questions".
Investigation
EU Commission paying too much for iPhones and IT
EUobserver has obtained internal documents and emails from within the European Commission that outline questionable contracts with outside suppliers who appear to be overcharging for goods and services.
Exclusive
Documents on new rules for MEP expenses kept secret
European Parliament denies access to draft papers, claiming publishing them could lead to 'self-censorship' by MEPs.
Investigation
Private jets - the Achilles heel of EU air traffic security?
Private passenger jets were exempted from the EU's new Passenger Name Record directive, aimed at combating terrorism, crime and smuggling - despite the concerns of police and MEPs.
Opinion
Hill's UBS move confirms EU's 'revolving door' problem
No surprise that in the last decade at least one third of top staff at the EU Commission's financial unit have either came from the financial industry or went there after their time at the commission.
Commission defends 'intelligent' fiscal policy
The EU executive rejected a report by the Court of Auditors that said its monitoring of fiscal policies was too lax and failed to produce results.
Ex-EU auditor in 'abuse of assets' scandal
EU's anti-fraud office concluded its probe last month into Karel Pinxten, a former member of the Luxembourg-based European Court of Auditors.
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Latest News
- EU gets record response on 'summertime' consultation
- 'Nativism' and the upcoming Swedish and Bavarian elections
- Former Malta opposition leader fears for his life
- Women shun EU-funded site for female entrepreneurs
- Building a Europe more resilient to terrorism
- Brexit talks resume as chance of 'no deal' put at 50:50
- US trial sheds light on murky Cyprus-Russia links
- Burned cars fuel Swedish election debate
EU judges examine ECB bond-buying scheme
The EU court will rule next year whether a €2.4tn 'quantitative easing' programme was in line with the eurozone central bank's mandate.
Investigation
Commission accused of cherry picking job applicants
A pilot project scheme is giving preferential treatment for interns to land highly sought-after jobs at the European Commission - bypassing the lengthy open competition for everyone else seeking the same position.
Ombudsman insists Draghi leaves G30 bankers group
The European Ombudsman says that "maladministration" in the European Central Bank continues to exist as long as its president remains member of the secretive 'Group of Thirty'.
MEPs side with Fry over McCartney on copyright
The European Parliament decided to take more time studying proposed changes to the EU's copyright regime, amidst fears of 'upload filters' - and accusations of scaremongering.
Exclusive
How eight MEPs overruled 540 colleagues on office expenses
The EU parliament spends €40m a year on a lump sum for MEPs' expenses with barely any scrutiny. A majority of parliamentarians called for more transparency - but a handful of powerful MEPs mostly dismissed that request.
Opinion
How I was convinced we need a federal EU
The former PM of Slovakia sets out why he has changed his mind on a federal Europe. "This would mean the central, federal level would manage all competences related to foreign and security policy, the single market and single currency."
Poland defiant as new court law comes into effect
"Irreparable" harm threatens Polish courts if the government gets its way, EU authorities have warned, while opening a new front against Warsaw.
EU parliament to keep public in dark on MEP expenses
Every year, MEPs spend some €40m of taxpayer money on things like restaurants and hotels amid public pressure for accountability, given numerous scandals. On Monday, EU parliament leaders decided to keep the public in the dark.
MEPs may be forced to return 'unused' office expenses
MEPs receive a monthly €4,416 "general expenditure allowance" without any scrutiny. An internal working group has come up with a way to reform the system.
EU's €23bn for high-speed rail had 'low added value'
Court of Auditors says in critical report that Europe does not have a high-speed rail 'network', "only a patchwork of national high-speed lines, planned and built by the member states in isolation".
Orban allies divided in vote on Hungary sanctions probe
The EU parliament's civil liberties committee in a draft report calls on member states to deal with Hungary's backsliding on EU rules. Lawmakers from the centre-right European People's Party were split over the critical report.
Opinion
Rutte - from 'Mr No' to 'next Tusk'?
Make no mistake – Rutte, sometimes considered as a potential candidate to succeed Donald Tusk, is one of the toughest of the EU's current heads of state.
Interview
Ponytailed green MEP joins 'the other side of the table'
Claude Turmes was a green MEP for almost 18 years. On Monday he will attend the Environment Council representing Luxembourg as state secretary.
Opinion
European People's Party faces moment of truth over Hungary
This is a real moment of truth for Europe's centre-right and its adherence to EU's values of democratic pluralism and the rule of law.
Dutch PM urges 'less is more' EU model
It was Mark Rutte's Dutch premier's turn to share his vision on the future of Europe with MEPs. An emerging EU leader in the post-Brexit bloc called for a more united, but less centralised Europe.
Interview
Academic to probe EU's secret law-making
A German PhD candidate has recently started conducting interviews about how the EU's behind-closed-doors 'trilogues' actually work. "Now the fun work starts," he says.
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- Green Stadiums at the 2018 Fifa World Cup
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- European Ombudsman Requests More Lending Transparency from European Investment Bank
- Recycling at the FIFA World Cup in Russia
- OECD Report: Gender Equality Boosts GDP Growth in Nordic Region
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- Premier Li Confirms China Will Continue to Open Up
- Calls on Brussels University to Revoke Decision to Honour Ken Loach
- 12 Recommendations for Nordic Leadership on Climate and Environment
- Oxford Professor Calls for an End to the Anti-Macedonian Name Negotiations
- People Who Speak-Up Should Feel Safe to Do So
- Progress on China-EU Cooperation
