European Union

The EU has a rare opportunity to affect change in Laos because of its upcoming ASEAN chairmanship. Call out the communist party's abuses before the EU is compelled to play nice next year.

The Council has reached a general approach on the anti-SLAPPs directive, another step towards a finalised approach on the initiative, which will tackle attempts to shut down the work of journalists, rights defenders and others. 

Recent discussions about whether or not to open a NATO liaison office in Japan showcase that the alliance is not united on how to respond to a more assertive China, writes Janne Leino.

This week was originally meant to be the moment where EU agrifood stakeholders finally find out whether the Commission has chosen to take a gamble on gene editing – but instead, the proposal has found itself on the betting table...

A parliamentary report on foreign interference in France, prepared upon demand of  Marine Le Pen's far-right party and published on Thursday (June 8), highlighted China's growing interference, pointing to its methods that are becoming increasingly aggressive.

The Green Deal must be the EU's response to both past and present crises, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV France, adding that he will continue to meet with MEPs to explain his side of the debate.

TTo tackle the railway delays plaguing Germany, the federal government plans to reform the company structure of state-owned operator Deutsche Bahn, but private railway operators and the opposition warn that the reform might fall short.

Plenary Session, Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU

A European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling published on Thursday (8 June) slammed Barcelona’s strict private hire vehicles rules as “contrary to EU law”, in a move that could have EU-wide repercussions.

After years of dispute, EU interior ministers have agreed on a significant tightening of the bloc's asylum policy. A sufficient majority of member states voted in favour of establishing reception centres with fast-track procedures on the EU's external borders for those coming from countries considered safe. In addition, EU states that are unwilling to take in refugees are to pay compensation. Is this progress?

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River has led to the flooding of vast areas of land in Ukraine and deprived thousands of people of their livelihoods. Many have sought refuge on rooftops and are waiting to be evacuated. There is also growing concern about the colossal impact on the environment, drinking water supplies, agriculture and the cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. The quest for the truth about who did this and their motives continues.

The collapse of Kakhovka Dam is widely seen in Ukraine and the West as an act of war by Russia, and the resulting devastation as an act of aggression. Among Russia's neighbours, concerns are now mounting that their own dams and other critical infrastructure may not be adequately protected.