Monday

21st Nov 2016

Fillon leads French right primary as Sarkozy falls

The former French president came third in the first round of the centre-right primary election on Sunday. Francois Fillon, a pro-Russia conservative, is the new favourite for next year's presidential vote.

News in Brief

  1. Cyprus leaders aim for map agreement
  2. New three-party centre-left government in Estonia
  3. New three-party government in Denmark
  4. Support for the EU on the rise
  5. Brussels to name public space after murdered UK MP Jo Cox
  6. World tells Trump climate momentum is 'irreversible'
  7. No voters in Dutch Ukraine referendum 'not anti-EU'
  8. EU states give conditional approval to visa-free travel for Ukraine
What is 'SECRET UE' anyway?

Classified files can damage EU interests if they get into the wrong hands. But where is the line between security and transparency? What is the difference between a lobbyist and a spy? EUobserver investigates.

EUobserver investigative reports

"SECRET UE" is the fourth in a series of EUobserver investigative reports. It looks at what kind of high-value information the EU institutions have, who wants it and how they are trying to protect it.

About Andrew Rettman

Andrew Rettman writes about foreign relations for EUobserver. He joined the site in 2005 and specialises in Israel, Russia, the EU foreign service and security issues. He is 37 years old and was born in Warsaw, Poland.

What is 'SECRET UE' anyway?

EU countries have a protocol for sharing official "secrets." But motives for classifying files are not always pure and the number of really hush hush papers in Brussels is tiny.

Espionage in Belgium: recent cases

With Belgium's spy-catcher-in-chief speaking out on espionage in the EU capital, TargetBRUSSELS and EUobserver profile recent cases which came out in the open.

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