Czech presidency to fortify EU embrace of Ukraine
The Czech Republic took over the EU's rotating presidency on Friday (1 July), which will be dominated by the economic and humanitarian outfall of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Blacklist to stop fraudsters getting EU funds not working
The European Commission manages a blacklist that aims to prevent fraudsters from accessing EU funds. But it is not being implemented properly, says an EU watchdog.
Opinion
Romania — latest EU hotspot in backlash against LGBT rights
Romania isn't the only country portraying lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people as a threat to children. From Poland and Hungary in EU, to reactionary movements around the world are prohibiting portrayals of LGBT people and families in schools.
News in Brief
- EU Parliament 'photographs protesting interpreters'
- Poland still failing to meet EU judicial criteria
- Report: Polish president fishing for UN job
- Auditors raise alarm on EU Commission use of consultants
- Kaliningrad talks needed with Russia, says Polish PM
- Report: EU to curb state-backed foreign takeovers
- EU announces trade deal with New Zealand
- Russia threatens Norway over goods transit
Kiwis are my slavery — the hellish life of a Sikh labourer in Italy
Thousands of Asian workers are picking fruit in slave-like conditions under Italy's agro-mafia "masters", who send the produce all over Europe.
Interview
EU prosecutor opened almost 1,000 investigations in first year
The EU's first chief prosecutor's office opened 929 investigations, handed down 28 indictments, secured four convictions and froze €259m in assets — over four times the size of its annual budget — in its first year of operation.
Orbán's new state of emergency under fire
Hungary's premier Viktor Orbán declared a state of emergency due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine hours after pushing a constitutional amendment through parliament, where two-thirds of MPs are controlled by his Fidesz party, allowing his government special powers.
Israel smeared Palestinian activists, EU admits
The EU has overturned a funding ban on two Palestinian NGOs, effectively debunking an Israeli campaign to smear them as "terrorists".
EU's post-Covid billions flowing into black hole
Member states blame data privacy laws for lack of transparency in the bloc's biggest economic stimulus package.
Hungary's global-tax veto seen as 'blackmail'
In Brussels, both diplomats and MEPs think Hungary is opposing the tax agreement to put pressure on the EU over ongoing rule-of-law conflicts.
Court casts doubt on EU's flight-data regime
The EU court in Luxembourg has struck a blow against Europe's data-collection regime on flight passengers in the name of civil liberties.
Pegasus spyware makers grilled by MEPs
"We will not continue to work with a customer that is targeting a journalist illegally," Chaim Gelfand, chief compliance officer of NSO Group told MEPs — but shed little light on EU governments' use of its Pegasus spyware.
MEPs want EU Commission to reveal vaccine prices
MEPs in a sometimes agitated hearing on Tuesday with EU transparency commissioner Věra Jourová called on her to reveal Covid-19 vaccine prices.
Czech coalition rocked by scandal on eve of EU presidency
Sleaze affair in Prague will raise questions about the Czech Republic's moral authority to lead a bloc which is more concerned than ever about the rule-of-law in central Europe.
Media watchdogs blast EU funds for Balkans 'mouthpieces'
Media freedom advocates have criticised the European Commission over funding for a joint newsroom of European press agencies.
Anti-Muslim hatred ignored by EU, activists say
The EU has a problem with anti-Muslim hatred and its institutions are doing little to help, some 41 civil society groups have said.
MEPs call on EU countries to wait for Poland's rule-of-law reform
MEPs also called on national governments only to approve the recovery plan once Poland has implemented previous rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on scrapping the disciplinary regime for judges, and reinstating sacked judges.
No money to Poland without rule of law, von der Leyen says
"[The commission's] three commitments must be fulfilled before any payment can be made," EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said as criticism of the EU executive mounts for approving Poland's recovery plan.
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Latest News
- Nato's Madrid summit — key takeaways
- Czech presidency to fortify EU embrace of Ukraine
- Covid-profiting super rich should fight hunger, says UN food chief
- EU pollution and cancer — it doesn't have to be this way
- Israel smeared Palestinian activists, EU admits
- MEPs boycott awards over controversial sponsorship
- If Russia collapses — which states will break away?
- EU Parliament interpreters stage strike
'Systemic' lack of scrutiny on EU's €723.7bn recovery fund
Researchers from EU-funded environmental organisations warn the portion of the €723.8bn recovery fund money to be spent on climate is being misused and hurts biodiversity and the environment — and the EU lacks monitoring tools to prevent it.
Russian oligarchs spam EU court with sanctions cases
At least 18 cases appear to have been lodged in the EU court in Luxembourg by Russian oligarchs or relatives since the Ukraine war began.
EU approved Poland's recovery fund despite criticism
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is expected to travel to Warsaw on Thursday to announce the move — which comes after a year-long debate over the release of Covid-19 recovery financing.
Opinion
Are Orban's Covid powers now the 'new normal' in Hungary?
As the world continues to seek productive ways to provide assistance to the beleaguered citizens of Ukraine, the Hungarian government is now using the humanitarian crisis to further its own authoritarian ambitions.
Feature
Remembering Falcone: How Italy almost became a narco-state
On the 30th anniversary of the Falcone murder by the Sicilian mafia, Italy remembers how one of the EU's founding members almost became a Mediterranean narco-state.
Catalan leader slams Pegasus use: 'Perhaps I'm still spied on'
The leader of the Catalan government, Pere Aragonès, denounced the use of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware against Catalan politicians and MEPs during a visit to Brussels.
Hungary turned into 'hybrid regime', MEPs say
The new draft European Parliament report is an update to the 2018 report which triggered the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, a sanctions probe aiming to rein in member states that break EU rules and values.
Slovak ex-PM narrowly stays out of jail in corruption fiasco
In a major blow to the anti-corruption rhetoric of the ruling coalition, the Slovak parliament has rejected a request for the arrest of ex-prime minister Robert Fico.
Opinion
Europe Day: Reminder EU needs to care for democracy watchdogs
Europe Day should remind us that the values we share can only thrive when they are nurtured, and that the EU needs to help protect those who tend to our democracies.
Exclusive
EU to clean house of Russia lobbyists
Brussels is to wave goodbye to Russian lobbyists under new sanctions, ending a 20-year era of influence peddling in Europe.
MEPs urge EU not to relax policing rule-of-law amid war
European lawmakers debated the lack of progress in the EU sanctions probe against Poland and Hungary, and warned Russia's invasion of Ukraine should not be a reason to turn away from rule-breaking within the bloc.
Opinion
On World Press Freedom Day, new threats to journalists surge
World Press Freedom Day: two sinister and distinct trends in harassment against reporters have emerged: the onslaught of online abuse targeting — in particular — women journalists, and the weaponisation of laws against media practitioners.
Violence stalks Europe's journalists
The internal EU gulf on press freedom has widened, as France prepares new measures to protect journalists.
EU starts unprecedented rule-of-law probe against Hungary
The so-called conditionality mechanism has been invoked, for the first time in EU history, over long-standing concerns of corruption, amid allegations Viktor Orbán's allies syphoned off EU money, and over how Budapest ignored commission concerns.
Relief in Slovenia following 'Mini-Orbán' election defeat
Green liberal newcomer Robert Golob took advantage of Slovenian prime minister Janez Janša unpopular illiberal image and soundly defeated him in the Slovenian elections on Sunday.
Magazine
Magic Magid: The paradox at the heart of EU's Green Deal
Former Green MEP Magic Magid talks about organising more evidence-based research to help tackle the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on European communities of colour.
