European Union

The UK and Poland have signed a treaty that secures the right of British and Polish citizens to stand and vote in local elections in each other’s countries following the UK’s exit from the EU.

US President Donald Trump told President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday (1 June) about his idea of holding an expanded Group of Seven summit later this year with a possible invitation for Russia, the Kremlin and the White House said.

Post-Brexit talks between the UK and EU enter a crucial phase this week - the last round before a legal deadline expires on extending a transition period.

An internal document drafted by the Council's security committee provides an analysis of hacker threats at top tier staff -presiding over the EU institution that deals with member states.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Bonn cancelled Beethoven: the much-anticipated 'Beethovenfest', as well as numerous concerts, exhibits and theatre performances were called off, some of the events were rescheduled for 2021.

The new EU pact on migration and asylum must cease the reliance on the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept and return those fleeing violence and armed conflict in Libya.

The supervisory board of German airline Lufthansa voted on Monday (1 June) in favour of the government's €9 billion aid package, after the European Commission compromised on its conditions for approving the bailout.

US President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with his top law enforcement officer behind closed doors on Monday (1 June) as cities nationwide awoke from a smoldering weekend of violent protests over race and policing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Russia’s space agency criticised Donald Trump’s “hysteria” about the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years, but also said on Sunday (31 May) it was pleased there was now another way to travel into space.

Austria opposes Europe's current €750 billion plan to help economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic and wants to negotiate changes to the proposal, the country's finance minister said on Saturday (30 May).

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide topped six million Sunday (31 May), with Brazil registering another record surge in daily infections as divisions deepened on how to deal with the pandemic.

For hundreds of Belgians hoping to spend time with French friends and relatives after almost three months of lockdown, the sunny holiday weekend proved a grim disappointment.

European trade commissioner Phil Hogan is considering putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, his spokesman said on Sunday (31 May).

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban paid a 3,000 lei fine (€617) on Saturday (30 May) for breaking his own coronavirus restrictions by not wearing a face mask and smoking indoors, state news agency Agerpres said.

The European Union urged the United States on Saturday (30 May) to reconsider its decision to cut ties with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The EU issued a declaration expressing its grave concern at the steps taken by China on 28 May, which are not in conformity with its international commitments and the Hong Kong Basic Law.

The Council adopted conclusions reaffirming the EU's political commitment to support the people of Afghanistan on their path towards peace, security, stability, democracy, prosperity and self-reliance.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 1-7 June 2020

Carmaker Renault said Friday (29 May) that it would cut nearly 15,000 jobs, including 4,600 at its core French operations, as it seeks to steer out of a cash crunch exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.

The UK may be moving closer to trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms, but that could carry a major additional economic hit as London faces up to the costs of the coronavirus pandemic.