European Union

Too lazy to read 26 National Energy & Climate Plans? No problem! WindEurope has assessed them, focusing on three crucial dimensions for the expansion of wind energy: auction schedules, electrification and permitting. Amongst these, permitting remains the biggest bottleneck in...

This summer will be different. Travelling in the time of COVID-19 is not a pleasure, even inside Europe, and especially if you live in the EU and want to go to another continent. Intercontinental travel has almost completely stopped, only...

Nearly 60 journalists have resigned from the 90-member editorial team of Index, Hungary's leading independent media outlet, in what is being described as a devastating blow to the country's free press and media plurality. 

The European Commission will propose legislation later this year and in 2021 that will force online platforms to undertake measures to stop the spread of online child abuse, the EU's home affairs chief Ylva Johansson announced on Friday (24 July).

Better cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure, doubling down on tackling terrorism and organized crime, and preparing the bloc for emerging threats in “real and digital” environments, dominated the European Commission’s new EU Security Union strategy, presented on Friday (24 July)....

The UK and Norway will begin trade talks within the coming weeks in a bid to minimise disruption and lost business after the UK leaves the EU single market at the end of 2020.

EU nations must make urgent progress on mitigating the risks to 5G telecommunications networks posed by certain high-risk suppliers, the European Commission said in a progress report published on Friday (24 July).

Over the past 30 years, the harvest of France's Languedoc wines has progressed by three weeks and the alcohol content of the wine has risen by four points. Faced with the already sensitive impact of climate change, the region's winegrowers are adapting their practices and grape varieties. EURACTIV France reports.

It is a dangerous myth to believe that maximising the role of the European Commission is  synonymous with a stronger, wealthier Europe, writes Gunnar Hökmark.

Spain's competition watchdog approved criteria on Thursday (23 July) which will allow private companies to compete with state-owned rail operator Renfe's medium-distance and local services, while safeguarding its financial stability.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan joined thousands of worshippers at Hagia Sophia on Friday for the first prayers there since he declared the monument, revered by Christians and Muslims for almost 1,500 years, a mosque once again.

Despite the considerable challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission continues to push ahead on the implementation of its ambitious European Green Deal agenda. Its latest proposals include a new 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and, most recently, the ambitious Energy...

Aerospace giant Airbus announced on Friday (24 July) that it has made changes to existing aircraft contracts in order to come into line with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on subsidies. The firm and the EU both insist that it “removes any justification for US tariffs”.

The Swedish government announced on Thursday (23 July) night train routes that will link the cities of Stockholm and Malmö with Hamburg and Brussels, in the latest indication that sleeper services are on the cusp of a renaissance in Europe.

Poland's opposition party Civic Platform on Thursday said they will be seeking a re-run in an presidential election they lost 49 percent to 51 percent against nationalist incumbent Andrzej Duda. Civic Platform's spokesperson Jan Grabiec claims government electoral wrongdoing, telling Reuters it was "comparable to campaigning in Belarus and Russia." The party petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the election result unfair and to hold a re-run.

Spain reported 971 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday - a record since the lifting of restrictions in May, El País reported. The infection rate has tripled during the last two weeks, and some experts refer to the surge in cases as the beginning of the second wave. Health care workers are calling on the government to strengthen primary health care. The most affected regions are Catalonia and Aragon.

Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov on Thursday replaced his finance minister Vladislav Goranov, economy minister Emil Karanikolov and interior minister Mladen Marinov to appease a wave of anti-corruption protests taking place across Bulgaria, Reuters reported. Borissov's tourism minister is also quitting. Parliament is expected to vote on the nominations on Friday. Thursday marked the fifteenth day of protests, which are calling for the resignation of the whole cabinet.

Croatia's parliament on Thursday voted in a new government under the former prime minister Andrej Plenkovic, head of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The new coalition government consists of the HDZ, two liberal formations and eight national minority MPs, BalkansInsight reported. When presenting his new cabinet, Plenkovic promised to ensure social security, increase minimum wages and pensions, reduce the number of local officials and increase agricultural production.

Two weeks after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan revoked the status of the Hagia Sophia as a museum, Istanbul's iconic building will host Muslim Friday prayers again. Up to 2,000 worshippers are expected to attend the first Muslim prayers in the landmark since 1934, Deutsche Welle writes. The decision was criticised around the world. Pope Frances said he was "pained" by the decision.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday that the UK had shown no willingness to break the deadlock on fair competition and fisheries issues during post-Brexit negotiations with the EU, making a new trade agreement "unlikely". After the latest round of negotiations in London, Barnier said there had been no progress on key issues. The UK is set to break off all ongoing ties with the bloc in January.