European Union

Joe Biden rolled to commanding victories in pivotal Michigan and two other states on Tuesday (10 March), taking a big step toward the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination and dealing a stinging blow to rival Bernie Sanders’ fading White House bid.

EU institutions and member states agreed on Tuesday (10 March) to ease EU spending rules and mobilise at least €25 billion of EU funds to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

The European Commission will not look into the possibility of revising the bloc's competition rules until at least 2021, despite recent pressure from a group of EU member states.

The Russians have sent their only pipe-laying vessel equipped with dynamic positioning system – Akademik Cherskiy – to Europe. But can the tiny ship without previous experience in pipe-laying do the job, Mateusz Kubiak ponders.

The EU commission has published new ideas on how to help industry handle the digital revolution, but decarbonisation and 2050 climate goals took second place.

The jury is still out on Josep Borrell; more recruitment is under way and he has a chance to have more women channelled women towards leadership positions.

Some three million more Syrian refugees are being "deliberately" pushed by Russia toward Europe, US diplomats have warned.

The European Commission is traveling to Athens to discuss tension on the Greece-Turkey border. It wants to find a better response on getting EU states to take in unaccompanied minors. It also wants to discuss Greece's controversial asylum-suspension measures.

As Italy went into lockdown EU leaders discussed a more coordinated response to the outbreak. The commission promised financial help, as more and more meetings are cancelled in the EU institutions.

As Italy went into lockdown EU leaders discussed a more coordinated response to the outbreak. The commission promised financial help, as more and more meetings are cancelled in the EU institutions.

The New York Times newspaper has revealed a secret Greek centre used to deport arriving asylum seekers without due process in what François Crépeau, a former UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, has described as a "black site". Those detained are said to be kept in secret and without access to legal recourse.

The city council of Madrid announced on Wednesday that all education centres will be closed for two weeks, El País reported. The decision will affect over 1.5m students from early education to university. A city in the Basque region took the same measures earlier. All regions have reported cases of coronavirus, but about 60 percent of cases are concentrated in three regions: La Rioja, Madrid and the Basque Country.

A member of Russia's ruling party has proposed amending the constitution in a way that would reset president Vladimir Putin's term count back to zero, the Guardian writes. Currently, Putin is required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential presidential term ends. If the amendment is approved Putin could thus be able to remain president of Russia until 2036.

More than 100 MEPs have signed a letter asking EU Council president Charles Michel to support them in their request for a stand-in, in case they take parental leave. They write "for women this [current system] can have the effect of hampering them either in their choice to enter politics or in their choice of having children. We cannot allow that seats in the European Parliament become vacant."

Without a doubt, with its infrared light, visible light and UV light components sunlight is of central importance to all of us. However, over the last couple of years, an unjust demonization of the sun and to a similar extent of tanning beds has taken place, writes Torben König, Scientific Advisor of the European Sunlight Association (ESA).

Following EU leaders' video conference on COVID-19, European Council President Charles Michel issued these conclusions.

President Charles Michel called a video conference with the members of the European Council to coordinate EU efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The EU must help Greece manage its border with Turkey, while ensuring the right to asylum for those who need it, several MEPs said on Tuesday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The EU must help Greece manage its border with Turkey, while ensuring the right to asylum for those who need it, several MEPs said on Tuesday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Group leaders adopted a revised calendar of parliamentary activities on Tuesday, following the precautionary measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP