European Union

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. Today’s Special Edition of the Capitals will focus on the reactions across Europe regarding the deadlock in...

It is too easy only to criticise the rightists and their fixation with barbed wire, Trump for his wall on the border with Mexico, Orban for his xenophobia.

Catalan pro-independence supporters clashed with police and right-wing parties on Thursday, during the fourth and worst night of violence in Barcelona. Earlier that day the Catalan president, Quim Torra, condemned the violent protests but blamed "infiltrators" for the disturbances. "We cannot allow groups of infiltrators and provocateurs to destroy the image of the independence movement," Torra said, insisting that the "protests should be peaceful".

After a long night of inconclusive discussions, EU heads of state are set to return to the EU enlargement issue today (18 October). All eyes are on France, as Emmanuel Macron's position has so far been the major stumbling block for opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

The United States imposed tariffs on a record $7.5-billion worth of European Union goods on Friday (18 October), despite threats of retaliation, with Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies among the high-profile targets.

The United States have imposed new tariffs on European products starting on Friday. The tariffs of in total $7.5bn [€6.7bn] are in place on a list of products including airplanes (Airbus), French wine, Italian cheese and Scottish whisky. French minister of economy, Bruno Le Maire warned that "these decisions would have very negative consequences both from an economic and a political point of view".

A report by a G7 task force states that no digital currencies, including Facebook's Libra, should begin operations until they are proven safe and secure, Reuters reported. "Private sector entities that design stablecoin arrangements are expected to address a wide array of legal, regulatory and oversight challenges and risks," the report added. The text warns that cryptocurrencies could hinder efforts to fight money laundering, terror financing, cybersecurity, taxation or privacy.

US president Donald Trump tweeted "Great news out of Turkey!" after vice-president Mike Pence and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed a five-day ceasefire in northern Syria and a 32-km safe-zone from the Turkish border. This would allow the Syrian Kurdish forces to withdraw peacefully. Kurdish political leader Saleh Muslim welcomed the ceasefire but rejected the Turkish "occupation of northern Syria", adding they would defend themselves.

US president Donald Trump's acting chief of staff, Mike Mulvaney, announced the US will host the 2020 G7 summit at the Trump National Doral Miami resort in Florida, Deutsche Welle reports. The decision drew immediate criticism as Trump would financially benefit from his presidency. Mulvaney also said Russia might be invited, which would be a first since it was excluded from the G8 after its invasion in Ukraine in 2014.

Turkey's army-linked pension fund has purchased a 70-percent stake in a major Finnish defence manufacturer, which makes products such as reinforced steel for armoured vehicles, Finnish media Uutiset writes. The ministries of employment and economy closed the deal in April. Last year, Turkey was Finland's most important arms sales partner. Earlier this week EU states agreed to stop arms sales to Turkey over its invasion of Syria.

Brexit negotiations drive everyone mad, there was not a wink of sleep to be had and in the end is ANYONE glad? It’s a Brexit special this week.

It accounts for around 75% of all rechargeable energy storage around the world. It is in just about every car and truck, regardless of whether the vehicle has an internal-combustion engine, uses hybrid technology or is pure electric. Its proven...

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday (17 October) as a draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels sparked both hope and skepticism in a volatile forex market.

Euroheat & Power has come forward with a commitment to full decarbonisation of Europe’s district heating and cooling networks before 2050 but Managing Director Paul Voss wants everyone to know he’s not proud of it.

Boris Johnson got his Brexit deal in Brussels on Thursday (17 October), but this appears to have been the easy part. Now he has to sell it at home.

EU leaders on Thursday night endorsed the deal reach by EU and UK negotiators - now it is up to British PM Boris Johnson to convince a majority of MPs to ratify the agreement in a showdown on Saturday.

Turkey has agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria between its forces and their allied rebels and Syrian Kurds. The agreement followed a meeting between US vice-president Mike Pence and Turkish president Recep Erdogan. Pence said there will be a pause in military operations for 120 hours after which "Turkey has then agreed to a permanent ceasefire." EU leaders in Brussels are set to discuss Turkey at an EU summit.

The EU-27 leaders endorsed the revised Brexit deal agreed earlier on Thursday at the EU summit in Brussels. The deal now needs to be ratified by the British parliament on Saturday and the European parliament possibly next week to enter into force. "I am happy and relieved that we reached a deal, but I am also sad because Brexit is happening," EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said.

Time and again, across the world, efforts to "decapitate" non-violent movements, and refusals to engage in political dialogue with them, have led to situations like we are seeing today in Catalonia.

Boris Johnson is naturally a cheery individual, but he truly had every reason to smile on Thursday. First, he secured a Brexit deal that even a week ago nobody thought he could. Then he got Jean-Claude Juncker to do his...