European Union

Covid-19 has shown the people of Europe the importance of having a state with a functioning public health service, education sector, government and agencies. Most countries have coped quite well with the crisis, commentators say, and examine whether this could lead to a long-term change in the relationship between citizens and the state.

A group of around 20 members of the French Nationl Assembly, most of whom belong to Emmanuel Macron's LREM party, have announced the creation of a group they claim is more committed to environmental protection, democracy and solidarity. In the midst of the corona crisis the president is now faced with a new challenge. Will it sap his strength?

Self-proclaimed “faceless” EU civil servants have decided to put their hands in their pockets to build a European solidarity fund for people in COVID-hit regions like Spain and northern Italy.

The Green Deal is Europe’s growth strategy. Making it the backbone of the recovery plan is not only necessary in a climate perspective, but also from an economic point of view – in order to create growth and work opportunities that are sustainable in the long run, argue Nordic energy CEOs and top executives.

France will tax big digital businesses this year whether there is progress or not towards an international deal on a levy, its finance minister said on Thursday (13 May), adding such a tax had never been more legitimate or more necessary.

The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) presented on Thursday (14 May) its report on the state of the country's environmental policy. With Germany's carbon budget now almost exhausted, researchers urge stronger climate action in all areas. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The UK says that the EU is in danger of breaching the terms of the Brexit agreement by failing to uphold the rights of British expats. In a letter to European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove...

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about French pharma company Sanofi saying the US would be the first country to obtain its COVID-19 vaccine if it develops one, Bulgarians having restriction fatigue, and so much more.

 The Kolabura mine is the heart of the country’s energy system and a new open-pit mine will provide coal for the next 60 years, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday (14 May). “Nearly €500 will be invested in this mine,...

Croatia’s government has announced a finance package for people who have lost their homes in the Zagreb earthquake, which shook the city on 22 March and caused major material damage. A maximum of HRK70 (approximately €10) per square metre will...

While judges confirmed that the government’s ‘state of alert’, set to begin on Friday (15 May), can only be enforced by parliament, by sending the draft law to parliament too late, the government appears to have now botched the transition from...

Nearly 60% of Bulgarians say they observe only part of the measures for physical distance or do not observe them at all despite calls for voluntary social distancing, according to a study conducted by social and market research agency Afis....

After Slovakia’s ombudswoman, Mária Patakyová, presented her annual report of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights before the country’s parliament, only 34 MPs voted for the motion to formally acknowledge the report, while 50 voted against and 46 abstained....

An EU Strategic Stockpile will need €5 billion to realistically tackle climate change and pandemics, Nicolae Ștefănuță, member of the European Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee, has told EURACTIV.com. “None of us, no matter how rich we are, will...

The Hungarian government discussed the German constitutional court’s ruling that the country is not bound by the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling on ECB bond-buying. “We do not think that this court decision is a victory of Central over Western...

It remains unclear whether Polish students will return to regular school classes for this school year, particularly as the government’s guidance on their re-opening appears to be conflicting. While the existing school closure regulation is still valid until 24 May,...