European Union

The World Trade Organisation authorised the United States on Wednesday (2 October) to impose tariffs on EU goods worth up to $7.5 billion (€6.8 billion), as a response to illegal subsidies given by European governments to aerospace giant Airbus.

France's European Commissioner-designate, Sylvie Goulard, faced a European Parliament hearing on Wednesday (2 October), where she was mostly questioned on issues of integrity, rather than the substance of the job on the table. EURACTIV France reports.

Since the 16th century, the Gosset family has been passing on vineyards from generation to generation in the Champagne region. Today, the incoming generation is starting to implement more environmentally friendly practices. EURACTIV France reports.

A new Brexit plan from Prime Minister Boris Johnson would likely win enough support to be approved by Britain’s Parliament, senior minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday (2 October), adding that Brussels should take confidence from that. The British Parliament...

European lawmaker Guy Verhofstadt said his initial reaction to Brexit proposals set out by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were not positive, and thought they were possibly designed to shift blame on to Brussels if talks fail. Verhofstadt, head of...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will ask Queen Elizabeth to suspend, or prorogue, parliament from next Tuesday 8 October until the following Monday when it will launch its new legislative agenda.

A breakthrough at talks between Moscow and Kyiv has opened the way to the first international summit in three years being convened on ending fighting in east Ukraine.

Europe’s adversaries are constantly developing new airborne capabilities – from swarming drones to long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Left unchecked, these threaten millions of lives in Europe, as well as NATO’s strategic networks across the continent.

The Regional Development Committee questioned Elisa Ferreira, candidate for the Cohesion and Reforms portfolio.
Committee on Regional Development

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Regional Development Committee questioned Elisa Ferreira, candidate for the Cohesion and Reforms portfolio.
Committee on Regional Development

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Development Committee questioned the Slovene Commission candidate for the crisis management portfolio.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Development Committee questioned the Slovene Commission candidate for the crisis management portfolio.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Many in the European Commission were taken by surprise when their incoming president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced bold new climate objectives for 2030 and 2050, sending officials working on a draft gas package of legislation back to the drawing board.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday (2 October) the launch of negotiations with the five-nation Eastern and Southern African community on a new wide-ranging trade agreement.

Written by Christiaan Van Lierop,

Drawing over 6 000 participants to Brussels for four days of discussion and discovery from 7 to 10 October 2019, the European Week of Regions and Cities is the world’s largest annual gathering of local and regional representatives. Already a firm fixture on the calendar of Europe’s regional movers and shakers, this year’s event looks set to be another showstopper, with well over 200 sessions planned as part of the official programme. Building on the success of last year’s move to downtown Brussels, the EWRC will once again be held at the Square conference centre – and the EPRS is thrilled to be taking part again this year.

Taking place under the headline banner of Regions and Cities: Pillars of the EU’s future, the 2019 EWRC provides a unique platform for EU regions and cities to share their ideas on how best to translate the Commission’s cohesion proposals into concrete projects. With discussions at this year’s event also covering topics such as a Europe closer to citizens, a greener Europe and a smarter Europe, among others, participants will certainly have plenty to talk about.

As in past years, the EPRS has also published a Topical Digest to tie in with the event. Prepared exclusively for the 2019 EWRC, the publication features a selection of briefings and studies published by the European Parliament on many of the key topics up for discussion at the EWRC, such as regional inequalities in the EU, the Urban Agenda or financial instruments in cohesion policy among many others. Our experts will also be present at a special information stand during the whole week to provide more information about EPRS research activities, and to distribute some of our specialist publications on regional policy and beyond.

But there’s much more to our participation than just swapping business cards with visitors. For the fifth year running, EPRS will also be organising a workshop on research as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities’ Master Class on EU cohesion policy for students and early career researchers. To help put participants in the picture, we will be looking at how EPRS supports the work of the European Parliament during the policy making process, and consider how closer links may be established between researchers in the academic world and policy-makers in the EU institutions. As in previous years, we will be encouraging participants to get actively involved in the discussions, which will also examine how to enhance the communication of cohesion policy and consider future trends and topics for cohesion policy research. Above all, we want to hear what they have to say – and this is no empty promise on our part. After the event, we will commit to publishing participants’ findings on our website, staying true to the words of our EPRS motto, ‘Empowering through knowledge’.

Women’s Rights and Employment committees quizzed Ms Dalli, Maltese candidate for the equality portfolio, on EU Gender Strategy and the fight against discrimination.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Women’s Rights and Employment committees quizzed Ms Dalli, Maltese candidate for the equality portfolio, on EU Gender Strategy and the fight against discrimination.
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Internal Market and the Industry, Research and Energy committees questioned Sylvie Goulard, French candidate for the Internal Market portfolio.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Internal Market and the Industry, Research and Energy committees questioned Sylvie Goulard, French candidate for the Internal Market portfolio.
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The European Parliament is grilling the proposed members of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission in a series of hearings between 30 September and 8 October. On Thursday (3 October), the hearings will be held with Commissioners-designate Paolo Gentiloni (Italy, Economy),...