European Union

Record-breaking temperatures recorded in France last week may have fizzled but the cars that were banned from Paris during the heatwave will remain off the road under new measures to banish smog.

Italy's recent handling of a migrant rescue ship was unbecoming of an EU founding state, Germany has said, prompting a backlash by Rome.

Finland took over the presidency of the Council of the EU for six months on Monday, replacing Romania. The Nordic nation has made climate one of its priorities. "Solving the climate crisis could be Europe's next heroic act, one that will be admired and praised by future generations," Finnish prime minister Antti Rinne said Monday. Finland will spend some €500,000 on offsetting carbon emissions from its EU presidency-linked flights.

Ministers from China, Canada and the EU met for a third annual climate summit in Brussels on Friday (28 June), in a format meant to demonstrate that the world continues the climate fight even if America is retreating.

Romania has requested the replacement of its Commissioner Corina Crețu, who was elected as MEP and has taken her seat. To avoid such a replacement, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has put forward a legislative proposal, EURACTIV has learned.

Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iranian ambassador to the UN, told CNN Sunday the EU has been "rather slow" in setting up a payment system that allows companies to trade with Iran. The so-called INSTEX mechanism, operational since this weekend, was needed to circumvent US sanctions. "It took them more than a year to establish such a mechanism," he said, adding the mechanism was "a good thing but it is not sufficient".

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. Before reading The Capitals today, take a look at our latest story on the EU Council deadlock...

In an interview with EURACTIV France, Bill Peduto speaks about Europe's good track record on climate protection, despite the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

The European Union and Vietnam on Sunday (30 June) signed a long-awaited free trade deal that will slash duties on almost all goods, an agreement that pushes back against a rising tide of global protectionism and hailed as a "milestone" by Brussels.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom signed a free trade deal with Vietnam on Sunday, after EU national governments approved the agreement last month. "As the most ambitious free trade deal between the EU and an emerging economy to date, the agreements are based on the joint commitment of the two sides to open, fair, and rules-based trade liberalisation and economic integration," EU and Vietnam said in a joint press statement.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker speaking in Japan this weekend hailed the EU deal with South-American bloc Mercosur as "a landmark agreement". Environmentalists criticised the deal because Mercosur member Brazil, under president Jair Bolsenaro, has promised to put economic profit over forest protection and climate action. But Juncker stressed that the deal bound "each and every country" to the so-called 'Paris agreement', requiring them to stop deforestation in the Amazon.

EU leaders were locked in all-night talks over the EU's to posts. They did not reach agreement, but Dutch socialist Frans Timmermans is leading the race.

As morning broke on 1 July, EU leaders were still unable to reach consensus over the distribution of top European jobs as conservatives from Central and Eastern Europe rejected a plan, endorsed by Angela Merkel, that would have installed Socialist Frans Timmermans at the helm of the new Commission.

Recurring heatwaves across Europe have been most devastating for the poor. New EU institutions have a mandate to make Europe’s energy transition a just one, but this can only be done if a European Marshall plan is implemented to fight climate change and protect the vulnerable, writes Yamina Saheb.

The current discussion about social Europe should be more forward looking and adapting labour markets to the new normal of digitalisation through social innovation.

The Angela Merkel-inspired 'Osaka plan' to nominate socialist Frans Timmermans as the commission president hit major roadblocks within her own party alliance the EU 'top jobs' summit kicked off in Brussels.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said before the EU summit that reports that France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain agreed at the Osaka G20 summit on pushing for Dutch Frans Timmermans as EU commission president are "exaggerated". "The EU countries spoke about this in Osaka, but no concrete compromise yet," Rutte said, adding "it can be a long night".

German chancellor Angela Merkel said arriving to the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday that the "discussions will not be easy". Making a brief comment, Merkel said Germany would aim to be constructive. At the G20 summit in Osaka, Germany and other key EU countries discussed choosing Frans Timmermans as the next EU commission president.

French president Emmanuel Macron said arriving at the EU summit on Sunday that the decision on Mario Draghi's successor at the helm of the European Central Bank will only be taken after the political posts such as the presidents of the EU commission and EU council. He said arriving at the summit that he is not pushing for any candidate. "I believe we can find a constructive agreement," he said.