Slovenia and Croatia reignite border dispute
Croatia said it would not apply a ruling to be delivered by the international arbitration court on Thursday. Slovenia appeals to the EU to pressure its neighbour.
Opinion
EU parliament should befriend transparency
Despite many MEPs in the EU parliament striving for more openness and transparency, others don't appear to see it that way.
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.
News in Brief
- EU extended Russia sanctions until 2018
- Netherlands partially liable for Srebrenica massacre, court rules
- Cyprus reunification talks resume in Switzerland
- Cyberattack cripples Europe, spreads worldwide
- Scotland puts second referendum on hold
- EU commission fines Google €2.4 bn
- EU warns US over steel tariffs
- French court orders water for Calais migrants
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.
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.
Political conditions for EU funds prompt debate
Ahead of negotiations for the 2021-2027 EU budget, the question of linking funds to EU policies and values has come to the forefront.
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.
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.
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.
First Brexit meeting to focus on organisation
Before focusing on citizens' rights, negotiators Barnier and Davis will discuss - in French and English - about the structure of talks in their first official negotiating session in Brussels on Monday.
Focus
Trust is 'gold' in digital age
Trust is perhaps the most important resource and the key to building successes, but new Nordic research indicates that challenges may lie ahead in the digital age.
Security and defence to top EU summit
Pressure is mounting for social media platforms to remove any online content deemed to incite terrorism. Draft conclusions, seen by EUobserver, have made the issue a top priority in leaders' talks next week.
MEPs snub Pacific leader, but strengthen climate measures
Only 50 of 751 members showed up at a speech by the president of one of the nations most threatened by climate change.
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Latest News
- Nato using extra funds to buy 'more armour'
- EU mulls post-Brexit budget options
- Slovenia and Croatia reignite border dispute
- EU ringed by human trafficking offenders
- Taking back control at home, not from EU
- Luxembourg not a tax haven, claims PM
- Nordics consider alternative to EU emissions trading system
- 'USB condoms' and migration on Estonia's EU agenda
Voting record belies DUP's radical EU image
Northern Irish unionists are called "nuts" in the EU parliament, but the DUP's voting record is close to that of the Conservatives, as the UK tries to forge its Brexit coalition.
EU parliament holds off on makeover of its building
Top MEPs discussed a possible renovation or even a complete reconstruction, but decided not to make any decisions yet.
EU fixes own mistake on 'confusing' energy labels
UPDATED: MEPs approved a new system to inform consumers about the energy efficiency of products. The most important change is abolishing the most recent change to a scale that goes up to A+++.
Four MEPs elected in UK, one loses by 21 votes
Two Conservative and two Labour members will leave the European Parliament for the House of Commons. The chair of the committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection is now open.
EU environment and science money moved to military fund
EU commission defends shifting money from research and energy baskets to defence fund, saying projects will not be delayed as a consequence.
French MEPs in fresh fake jobs scandal
Revelations in France are surfacing that centrist MEPs from the Democratic Movement may have unlawfully used EU parliament funds to pay assistants working for the national political party.
MEPs say Panama Papers probe more difficult than Dieselgate
The European Parliament inquiry committee on tax evasion and money laundering had its one-year anniversary.
Feature
Simplification of EU farm policy: a never-ending story
Everyone agrees that the Common Agricultural Policy should be simpler, but it is complex by design. Brexit will complicate things even more.
Column / Health Matters
Is Brexit a risk to our health?
People seem more worried in the Brexit debate about the relocation of the European Medicines Agency building, than the more important issue of risks to European public health.
Opinion
Why Schengen deserves to be saved
Far-right parties around Europe have managed to turn the passport-free Schengen area into a game of political hot potato despite its numerous benefits.
Focus
Nordic leaders outline visions for European security
All five Nordic leaders told EUobserver that Europe needs to invest more in its security. Sweden and Finland want to do it via the EU, but Norway wants to keep Nato centre stage.
EU mulls joint defence spending
The EU budget should be used for military research and the bloc could become a defence alliance akin to Nato, the European Commission is poised to say.
Focus
Cigarette tracking rules risk being derailed by lobbyists
Anti-smoking activists fear that tobacco lobbyists will neuter an EU tracking requirement to counter illicit trade, by trying to influence technical talks in Brussels.
Opinion
Are MEPs too 'free' to be accountable?
The European Parliament is currently fine-tuning its negotiating position on the Commission's proposal from September 2016 for a mandatory transparency register. Sadly, so far it seems to prefer empty statements to bold action.
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