European Union

Public transport in Luxembourg has been free of charge since the beginning of March. With this step the country hopes to convince its citizens - many of whom are car lovers - to use buses, trains and trams instead. But the media are less than enthusiastic and criticise the government's self-congratulatory attitude.

The Latvian parliament decided this week to stop adoptions of Latvian children by individuals or couples from other countries. A change in the law is intended to prevent such adoptions completely in the future. Around 1,400 Latvian children have been adopted by non-Latvian parents living abroad in the past ten years. A debate has broken out in the country about whether this is a disgrace for Latvia or a necessity in terms of child welfare.

After the dissolution of the Romanian minority government under PNL leader Ludovic Orban at the beginning of February, there should finally be a new government. But on Thursday, Prime Minister designate Florin Cîțu withdrew his mandate shortly before the parliamentary vote. Do President Klaus Iohannis and the PNL want early elections at any cost, as some commentators in Romania suspect, or what is behind the move?

The Romanian government has entered auto-isolation mode after a senator was confirmed positive with novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The travel ban is proving tricky as Italy is home to over 1.3 million Romania migrants, who, mostly, are expected to come home for the Easter holiday next month.

The Netherlands says it will not take from Greece any unaccompanied children and teenagers seeking asylum and refuge. "We are not willing to take over children," said Dutch migration minister Ankie Broekers-Knol. Instead, she said the country was willing to send Greece experts to help with migrant registration and identification. Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal have pledged to take 1,600 minors from Greece.

Changes made to Parliament’s calendar

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Cases of contagion with coronavirus rose to almost 3,000 cases and 84 deaths on Thursday (12 March),  compared to the  2,100 cases and 49 deaths, on which EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported on Wednesday (11 March). Those affected are mostly elderly...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision not to cancel public events to contain the outbreak has been described as “concerning” by ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt. Hunt, who stood against Johnson for the Conservative party leadership last summer, criticised the pace of...