European Union

Three members of the European Commission have reacted positively to a public petition requesting the phase-out of cage rearing in the EU, expressing support to the initiative.

The European Commission has decided to postpose the decision on whether to label natural gas as a "sustainable investment", under the EU classification for sustainable finance, Reuters reported on Thursday. Member states remain divided on the role of gas in cutting emissions, while experts urge Brussels to resist political pressure and listen to science. A separate proposal addressing gas and nuclear is expected now in the fourth quarter.

A cross-party group of 40 MEPs called on Thursday on the European Commission to ban biometric identification technology in public spaces. A leak of the forthcoming EU artificial intelligence (AI) regulation states systems used for "indiscriminate surveillance" would be prohibited in the EU. However, this would not apply to public authorities when justified "in order to safeguard public security". The legislative proposal is expected to be published next week.

On the occasion of EURACTIV's launch of its new 'Digital & Media' hub, Editor Samuel Stolton caught up with the Commission's Vice President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, to discuss the wide range of issues currently impacting the European media landscape. 

Post COVID-19 recovery, the situation in Belarus, and countering energy security threats in the Eastern Partnership on the agenda for 19-20 April.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Post COVID-19 recovery, the situation in Belarus, and countering energy security threats in the Eastern Partnership on the agenda for 19-20 April.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Europe's highest court has dismissed the latest Dutch attempt to halt the ban on the controversial practice of pulse trawling, in a ruling that put boundaries to the science-oriented approach of EU lawmaking.

Google has said it backs the need for a derogation from the ePrivacy directive and supports the notion of creating a European centre that would cover law enforcement, prevention and victim support at the EU level.

The Council added one person to the EU sanctions regime against ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.

Readout of the telephone conversation between President Charles Michel and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The EU issued a declaration expressing its solidarity with the United States on the impact of malicious cyber activities, notably the SolarWinds cyber operation, which, the United States assesses, has been conducted by the Russian Federation.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Cooperation between the EU and India has increased significantly in recent years. Discover how links could improve even further.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Cooperation between the EU and India has increased significantly in recent years. Discover how links could improve even further.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Bulgaria must find a way to allow the stateless baby of a same-sex couple from Bulgaria and Gibraltar to travel, a legal adviser of EU's top court said Thursday (15 April).

"You come out here, and try to accuse Turkey, to give a message to your country. It is not possible for me to accept this," Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told Greek foreign minister Nikos Dendias in Ankara Thursday, at a meeting designed to mend relations. Dendias had accused Turkish warplanes of violating Greek airspace and of spreading "fake news" over their confrontation on Turkish gas-drilling in Greek-claimed waters.

US president Joe Biden has reiterated his enmity to Russian-German gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. "I've been opposed to Nord Stream 2 for a long time ... that issue is still in play," he said Thursday, amid US sanctions threats. "The only way Germany will give up Nord Stream 2 is if the GRU [Russian intelligence] breaks into the Bundestag and crucifies [German chancellor Angela] Merkel," an EU diplomat joked.

The European Commission plans to delay a decision on whether to label nuclear and natural gas power plants as a sustainable investment under green finance rules due to be published next week, according to a leaked document seen by EURACTIV.

The European Parliament’s committees on relations with Britain on Thursday (15 April) voted overwhelmingly in favour of the post-Brexit trade and cooperation agreement, clearing the path to its final ratification.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov resigning and immediately taking leave, Baltic ministers in Kyiv saying the EU should be prepared to impose new sanctions against Russia, and so much more.