European Union

Two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the UK on Friday, according to a statement of the chief medical officer Chris Whitty. "The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and we are using tried-and-tested infection-control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus," the statement read. Germany, France, Italy and Finland have also confirmed a few cases. The World Health Organization has declared a global emergency.

Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday that she did not rule out testing the power of the Scottish parliament to hold a non-binding vote on independence after prime minister Boris Johnson's government opposed granting a referendum, Reuters reported. "Now, should the UK government continue to deny Scotland's right to choose, we may reach the point where it is necessary for this issue to be tested," she said.

Speaking in the European Parliament on 31 January, hours before the UK leaves the European Union, Parliament President David Sassoli asked a question which he said was fundamental during the last three years: “Why does everybody want to divide the EU”.

French oil giant Total's failure to respect France's 'corporate vigilance' law has led to human rights violations in Uganda, according to a group of French and Ugandan NGOs who are suing the company. But the court procedure has taken an unexpected turn that did not please the plaintiffs. EURACTIV France reports.

EP President Sassoli: “Without rules, the strongest will prevail and the weakest will be excluded”.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

EP President Sassoli: “Without rules, the strongest will prevail and the weakest will be excluded”.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Union's top court has no jurisdiction to settle a long-running border dispute between EU members Slovenia and Croatia, the European Court of Justice ruled on Friday (31 January), possibly complicating Zagreb's plan to join the passport-free Schengen area.

The European Commission will aim to “absolutely decouple” economic growth from natural resource use in a draft circular economy action plan due to be unveiled in March.

The EU's top court ruled on Friday that it had no jurisdiction to settle a border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia. Slovenia had argued that its fellow EU member could be sued under EU law because it was not implementing a 2017 border ruling by the intergovernmental arbitration court in The Hague. The European Court of Justice said that the two states were required to find a solution between themselves.

The distribution of seats in the Parliament has been modified following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Check out the numbers in our infographic.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The distribution of seats in the Parliament has been modified following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Check out the numbers in our infographic.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

On 5 February, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi will present proposals for a revised enlargement methodology to the foreign affairs MEPs. The new methodology comes amid disappointment with the Council's failure to agree on opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania and is expected to enhance credibility and give new impetus to the enlargement process.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

As of February 1, Britain will officially no longer be a member of the EU. This also means that the United Kingdom ceases to have any say in Brussels. During the transition period which lasts until the end of 2020, much will remain the same as regards border traffic and trade. European media discuss what stance the EU should adopt vis-à-vis Britain and which party will suffer most in the aftermath.