European Union

A Swedish engineer living in the UK found he was unable to convert his "pre-settled status" to "settled status" through the country's official app, the Guardian reported Monday. "From the end of July, it will be possible for people with pre-settled status to convert to settled status as soon as they become eligible," the UK Home Office said. The UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October.

The Italian ruling parties, the League and the Five Star Movement (5MS), have clashed over audio tapes showing League talks with Russians on secret funding. The Deputy prime minister and 5MS leader, Luigi di Maio, wants to create a parliamentary investigation committee to look into the financing of "all parties". But League chief Matteo Salvini asked if from now on all private "dinners should be discussed in parliament?".

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said over the weekend that a "coalition of the willing" should redistribute migrants saved in the Mediterranean. Italian foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said on Sunday "the system works only if a sufficient and significant number of EU countries join". On Monday in Brussels, EU foreign affairs ministers will discuss migration, a topic which has deeply divided EU states since 2015.

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network.

Part of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) has serious doubts about Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for President of the European Commission and may not support her, Bulgarian MEP Radan Kanev told news website EUelectionsBulgaria.com.

If Ursula von der Leyen is approved as European Commission president this week, her own centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) may actually lose influence in the next EU executive, given the political affiliation of the candidates likely to form the bulk of her senior staff.

The exit strategy from Rome’s current garbage crisis involves re-routing thousands of tonnes of junk to Sweden and other EU countries, with a huge financial and environmental cost in terms of CO2 emissions.

I will not lament the decision-making process that resulted in a package deal on the new leadership in Europe. I respect this result, which was in accordance with the treaties and therefore not undemocratic, albeit unsatisfactory.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday (13 July) said that France’s air force will set up a space command centre and be renamed the Air and Space force, to better protect outer space interests.

The European Union fully backs Iraq's efforts to de-escalate growing tensions between the United States and Iran because conflict will have dire consequences for all sides, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday (13 July).

Ryanair in April became the first airline to be included among Europe’s top ten polluters, with some calling the airline company ‘the new coal’ industry. Large economies like France and Germany have begun seeking impact-reducing alternatives to air travel by imposing new taxes.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı on Saturday (13 July) proposed creating a joint committee across the divided Mediterranean island, to address tensions over offshore energy reserves.

Graves at a Serbian Orthodox cemetery in Kosovo have been vandalised, police said on Sunday (14 July), in an incident that comes at a time of rising tension between Belgrade and Pristina.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (14 July) sought to showcase European military cooperation in France's annual Bastille Day parade that included representatives of nine other European armies in a show of unity at a time of growing tensions between Europe and the United States.

Digitalisation is reshaping the borders of traditional industry sectors (e.g. automotive, energy, retail). It is also impacting our regulations that need to be smarter to uphold the competitiveness of Europe’s industry. New industry coalitions that combine verticals with tech sectors can help.

Will it be business as usual or a summer of stalemate?

In spite of EU leaders’ opposition to measures to make the Commission more functional, the rise of three ‘super-commissioners’ to support the next EU executive chief would improve Europe’s response to the turbulent world. The death of the Spitzenkandidaten process...

The Romanian anti corruption prosecutor, Laura Kovesi, is poised to become the first European public prosecutor. Her only opponent, the French Jean-François Bonhert, pulled out of the race after being nominated for another function in France. Kovesi was the preferred candidate of the European Parliament, while Bonhert was supported by the European Council. However, the decision remains complicated, as according to the council rules, there must be two candidates.

On Friday, the first parts of Russian S400 missiles arrived in Turkey, the Turkish minister of defence announced. Turkey says it needs the missile system as defence to protect the country against possible attacks from Syria or Iran. It has soured relations between Turkey and the US. The US already announced it would cancel the delivery of 100 F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

MEPs will vote to confirm - or not - on Tuesday the new commission president, Ursula von der Leyen - a candidate put forward at the last minute by the EU leaders, and grilled by lawmakers recently in Brussels.