EU begins preparations for Brexit trade talks
The EU has launched internal preparations for phase two of Brexit talks, but a December breakthrough only possible if UK gives more detail on divorce issues first.
Investigation
The mysterious German behind Orban's Russian deals
Klaus Mangold, a German businessman with good connections in Russia, and who provided a jet for Commission vice-president Guenther Oettinger, played a crucial role in Hungary's controversial Paks nuclear deal with Russia, Direkt36's investigation has found.
Turkey funding cuts signal EU mood shift
EU leaders at their summit spent some three hours deliberating on relations with Turkey before asking the EU commission to come up with a plan on cutting and reorienting some €4.5 billion in pre-accession aid.
News in Brief
- Rajoy to trigger Article 155 on Saturday in Catalan crisis
- EU conducts unannounced inspection of German car firm
- Lithuania calls for new EU energy laws
- EU leaders aim for December for defence cooperation
- Juncker says hands tied on Russia pipeline
- Czechs set to elect billionaire Andrej Babis
- Italian regions hold referendums on more autonomy
- EU leaders refuse to mediate Catalonia conflict
Agenda
Posted workers top EU agenda This Week
The posted workers file will be on the table of ministers and MEPs this week, while budget, journalism, Schengen and party funding are also on the EP's plenary menu.
Opinion
Ukraine language law does not harm minorities
Some European politicians keep spreading fictitious arguments on Ukraine's language law as being an impediment to minority rights, Ukraine's education minister says.
Leaders lobby to host EU agencies at summit's margins
The official agenda point on where to relocate the EU medicines and banking agencies after Brexit was over in "one minute", but lobbying took place in the corridors.
Mogherini urged to do more on Russian propaganda
Eight member states have urged the EU's foreign service to significantly expand its work on countering Russian propaganda.
Legal tweak could extend EU control on Russia pipeline
The Commission is preparing to amend an EU energy law in order to rein in Russian plans for a new gas pipeline to Germany.
Focus
EU summit text on tech tax aims to please both sides
EU leaders have not yet decided how to make digital companies pay their fair share of taxes, but spoke of creating a "global" level-playing field.
Merkel: EU to cut Turkey pre-accession funds
Merkel has said EU states will cut pre-accession funds to Turkey, but called to maintain dialogue on the shape of future relations.
Analysis
May on mission impossible in Brussels
UK prime minister called on other EU leaders to "step forward together", but she has almost nothing to offer them except the threat of walking away.
EU seeks to shut down Libya sea route
EU leaders are aiming to reach a consensus on the Dublin asylum reforms by early next year, announced European Council chief Donald Tusk. But first, they want to shut down the Central Mediterranean route from Libya.
Focus
Digital debate will be first test of Tusk's new policy crowbar
EU leaders have warned telecommunications ministers that if they cannot reach compromises, the leaders will take over the debate at a future summit.
MEPs: EU migrant quotas do have a future
The EU Parliament's lead negotiator on the Dublin rule, a key asylum regulation that has sparked a political clash among EU states, is now demanding for an automatic and permanent relocation scheme.
EU countries praise Tusk's new summit plans
EU capitals voice support for more summits, tackling divisive issues and sometimes deciding by majority - not consensus - as outlined in the European Council president's plan.
Opinion
Commission employs double standards in Spain
The European Commission seems to accept Madrid's line on judicial independence and the constitution - whilst pushing Poland hard on the same issue.
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Latest News
- The mysterious German behind Orban's Russian deals
- Mogherini urged to do more on Russian propaganda
- Turkey funding cuts signal EU mood shift
- Posted workers top EU agenda This Week
- Leaders lobby to host EU agencies at summit's margins
- Legal tweak could extend EU control on Russia pipeline
- Ukraine language law does not harm minorities
- EU begins preparations for Brexit trade talks
Focus
Legal study sounds alarm on 'Baysanto' merger
"Even a narrow reading" of EU competition law is enough to block the controversial mega-merger between Bayer and Monsanto, according to a new legal study.
Focus
Health MEPs want to phase out glyphosate by 2020
A committee resolution said the proposal to renew the glyphosate permit for a decade "fails to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment".
Tusk: EU migrant quotas have 'no future'
EU Council chief said obligatory migrant quotas unlikely to be renewed, but warned of "consequences" for EU states that break solidarity.
Spain still wants to host EU agency in Catalan capital
Spanish and Catalan politicians came to Brussels to show their unity in their bid to move the European Medicines Agency from London to Barcelona.
Macron puts trade policy on summit table
France's president wants a "political discussion" on EU trade policies at Thursday's summit, amid domestic concerns over Canada and South America deals. But his colleagues are likely to avoid a lengthy debate.
EU gives thumbs up to US data pact
Commission gives 'thumbs-up' to controversial Privacy Shield deal with US on data sharing after a year's operation - but notes room for improvement.
EU seeks to decrypt messages in new anti-terror plan
EU commissioner for security, Julian King, has proposed a "set of techniques" to help EU states obtain encrypted data from a seized device.
EU agencies defend research ahead of glyphosate vote
As the renewal of the weedkiller glyphosate is a hot potato on the EU agenda, with a vote in the Parliament on Thursday, the role of two closely-involved EU agencies has come under scrutiny.
Spain points at elections as exit to Catalan crisis
Spanish political leaders called on Catalan separatists to organise regional elections as a way to avoid emergency measures due to be taken on Thursday. That's "not on the table", a Catalan official replied.
Opinion
How EU can ensure Daphne Caruana Galizia's legacy survives
The EU is not the right body to investigate Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder - but it can take steps to stamp out the corruption that she died fighting.
Juncker dinner to warm up relations with eastern EU
For the first time since a series of clashes the 'Visegrad' premiers and the EU Commission president will sit down for dinner together on Wednesday. Their aim: to set a new tone.
Court battles intensifies on MEPs' 'private' expenses
The EU parliament said the public does not have a right to monitor the public role of MEPs, says Natasa Pirc Musar, a lawyer representing journalists, in a transparency battle against the assembly.
Opinion
The unbearable lightness of leadership
Politicians and civic leaders need a new sense of optimism if they are to avoid mere 'sticking plaster' solutions to migration.
Europeans more positive about EU, survey shows
On balance, 55 percent of British respondents said the UK had benefited from EU membership. Among all European respondents, 47 percent said their voice counted in the EU.
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