EU countries push for new rule of law surveillance
Germany and Belgium have put forward a proposal for a "peer review" of EU countries' legal systems as member states and EU institutions struggle with disciplining member states that break EU rules.
News in Brief
- North Macedonia EU-membership talks set for June
- EU ups benefits rights for mobile workers
- Chinese leader visits Italy, France as Rome joins 'Silk Road'
- EU agrees to sanction political parties breaching data rules
- EPP votes Wednesday on future of Orban's party
- Nordic MEP candidates in first ever joint EU election debate
- Merkel: I will fight to the 'last hour' for orderly Brexit
- EU affairs ministers demand Brexit clarity from London
Opinion
Catalan independence trial is widening Spain's divides
What is really needed is not the theatre of a rebellion trial, but a forensic examination of whether public funds were misused, and a process of dialogue and negotiation on how the Catalan peoples' right to self-determination can be satisfied.
Orban hosts Weber in Budapest for EPP showdown
The future of the Viktor Orban's Fidesz party inside the European Parliament's centre-right EPP political group hangs in the balance. On Tuesday, Orban and EPP chief Manfred Weber meet in Budapest in a final effort to iron out differences.
Germany's CDU lukewarm on Macron's EU vision
Germany's anointed new leader has echoed France in calling for EU reform to combat populism - but with a stronger role for national governments and with little prospect of sharing German wealth.
Magazine
The gender gap at EU elections
Proportionally, more men vote in the European elections than women - in a trend that has widened since 2009. Yet the European parliament's outreach strategy to voters targets only young people, students and "people who exert a certain influence".
Opinion
Italy-Russia links highlight threat to EU democracy
Senior figures in Italy's far-right League party have interests in a mysterious Russian firm, amid wider questions on the safety of European democracy.
Opinion
It is high time to exclude Fidesz from the EPP
"We have made our choice: we choose democracy and rule of law," write the leaders of the National Coalition Party in Finland and the Moderate Party in Sweden.
Finnish government collapses ahead of EU presidency
Finland's centrist prime minister Juha Sipila's surprise resignation kicks off a busy political spring in the Nordic country, with national and EU elections as well as preparing to head the EU' rotating six-month presidency from 1 July.
Weber threatens to expel Hungary's Fidesz from EPP
EU centre-right's figurehead, Manfred Weber, gave Hungary's controversial leader an ultimatum to curb anti-European behaviour or face expulsion from EPP club.
Macron unveils new EU vision to tackle populist surge
Europe should reopen its treaties on migration and defence, French leader Emmanuel Macron has said, calling for an EU "renaissance" amid the "danger" posed by nationalists.
Orban rejects Weber's plea to stop anti-EU posters
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has pledged to put up new anti-migrant posters - despite hopes in his centre-right EU family that he might "apologise and put an end" to the campaign.
EPP hits threshold to trigger Orban expulsion probe
At least seven national parties from Europe's biggest political alliance, the centre-right European People's Party, want the group's 'enfant terrible', Hungary's nationalist and authoritarian Fidesz kicked out - following Budapest's latest anti-EU campaign.
EU commission's counter-Orban claims unlikely to work, NGO says
Public space in Hungary to carry out open debates on migration and refugees is increasingly restricted, as the Fidesz-led government smear campaign targets the European Commission.
Exclusive
Sefcovic campaign videos feature fellow commissioners
Maros Sefcovic, commission vice-president in charge of Energy Union, is running to be president of Slovakia. Now two of his fellow EU commissioners have endorsed him - raising questions about their independence.
Feature
'Swexit' off menu at election for first time in 24 years
The Swedish Left Party have abandoned euroscepticism to campaign on climate change - whilst the hard-right Sweden Democrats spy possibilities of a link up with Matteo Salvini of Italy and France's Marine Le Pen.
EU college defends Saudi-style visits, attacks 'sloppy' media
College of Europe rector Jorg Monar says the surplus money made from setting up closed-door meetings between the Saudi government and EU officials, including MEPs, "would barely cover the replacement costs of a beamer in a College seminar room."
Romanian prosecutor fights back critics for EU top job
The European Parliament's budget control committee backs Laura Codruta Kovesi for the EU chief prosecutor post after Tuesday's hearing, despite being the second-favourite of member states. The main committee in the case will vote on Wednesday.
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Latest News
- US glyphosate verdict gives ammunition to EU activists
- Have a good reason for Brexit extension, Barnier tells UK
- EU countries push for new rule of law surveillance
- EU rolls out €525m for military projects, but bars illegal tech
- May to seek Brexit extension amid UK 'constitutional crisis'
- Catalan independence trial is widening Spain's divides
- My plan for defending rule of law in EU
- Anti-corruption lawyer wins first round of Slovak elections
Romanian candidate faces battle for EU prosecutor job
After member states voted for their preferred candidates for the EU's new top prosecutor, MEPs will now hear from the candidates. Romania's former chief prosecutor was the frontrunner - until her own country started to campaign against her.
Exposed: How Russia offered to fund Italy's Salvini
Russia reportedly offered Italy's far-right League party €3m to help contest the EU election in May, in a deal which "shames" Rome if confirmed.
Juncker: Orban should leave Europe's centre-right
EU commission president said EPP should expel Hungary's Fidesz, after Orban's government ran a campaign accusing Juncker of migration "conspiracy theories".
EU says Hungary's anti-Juncker campaign is fake news
The European Commission has branded the latest campaign by the Hungarian government as 'fake news', after Orban's government accused Juncker of pressing ahead with migration proposals that threaten the country's security.
Italian populists could be second biggest force in EU parliament
The next EU parliament will better reflect the political reality in member states: more populists, and fewer traditional, centrist MEPs, according to new data.
Opinion
EU's chance to step up on Hungary and Poland
Viktor Orban of Hungary and Poland's Jaroslaw Kaczynski seem to share the idea that the rights of some may come at the expense of the rights of others, and public institutions should serve the majority, and not all citizens.
Sluggish procedure against Hungary back on table
EU probes into Hungary and Poland on rule of law and democracy are back on the agenda of EU affairs ministers - but with little guidance from the Romanian presidency, without a clear idea where the procedures are headed.
EU agrees draft copyright reform, riling tech giants
After marathon talks, EU negotiators agree on provisional copyright reform, requiring companies to filter content to prevent unauthorized work on their platform. Online platforms and open-internet advocates warn it will hurt the free flow of information.
Calls for Tajani's resignation over Slovenia, Croatia row
The European Parliament's Italian president referred to Croatia and Slovenia as former Italian regions at the weekend, sparking outrage. Although Antonio Tajani apologised, somer former leaders and MEPs are now calling for his resignation.
MEPs maul Italian leader for 'ugly' politics
Italy's new leaders have behaved in an "idiotic ... spiteful ... [and] ugly" way, MEPs told "puppet" prime minister Giuseppe Conte in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
EU leaders out of touch with normal people, Poland says
The European Parliament elections in May will show that EU officials in Brussels, and French president Emmanuel Macron, are out of touch with average Europeans, according to the Polish prime minister.
France warns Italy over 'yellow vests' interference
The rift between Italy and France appears to be widening after a meeting held between 'yellow vest' leadership and Italy's deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio.
Opinion
Italy will keep blinking in 2019
Italy's 'marriage of convenience' coalition government likes picking battles with Brussels. But with the economy now in recession, and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini needing to keep the business lobby on board, expect Rome to blink first.
MEPs vote for transparency, despite EPP secret ballot
MEPs voted in favour of transparency - despite a German-led effort in the centre-right EPP group to block the reforms via a rare secret ballot.
Secret ballot on transparency is no secret, says EPP
Daniel Caspary, a German centre-right MEP, says the EPP's demand for a secret ballot on transparency is needed to defend the rights of EU lawmakers.
MEPs call on EU countries to deal with Hungary
MEPs who launched a procedure examining the democratic situation in Hungary last year now want member states to step up efforts. The government in Budapest meanwhile accuses MEPs of attacking Hungary over migration.
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