Thursday
26th Apr 2018
By EUOBSERVER
German chancellor Angela Merkel has offered US president-elect Donald Trump "close cooperation" on the basis of common transatlantic values. Merkel told reporters in Berlin: "Germany and America are connected by values: democracy, freedom, respect for the law and for the dignity of human beings, independently of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political views."
The European Commission wants results by October against fake news - or it may impose regulations targeting "a few platforms." But its current plans are not acceptable to everyone, with civil groups saying more evidence is needed to shape policy.
The space for civil society is shrinking in Europe, but it is still crucial to address Europe's challenges, says Luca Jahier, the new head of the EU's Social and Economic Committee.
British tabloids roared in disapproval after EU diplomats advanced plans for new border checks and fees.
The Commission wants the next EU budget to prove the bloc has survived Brexit unscathed. However, some net payers disagree. The EU executive plans to put out an overall budget figure of 1.13 to 1.18 percent of EU GNI.
The proposal by the European Commission for a directive protecting whistleblowers could be a true turning point in how corruption and abuse of law is fought in the EU.
The European Commission's new strategy on artificial intelligence contains nothing that resembles French president's idea for a US-inspired agency for disruptive innovation.
