European Union

EUobserver has appointed Koert Debeuf as its new interim editor-in-chief, starting 1 July. Debeuf is a former spokesman for the Belgian prime minister, an EUobserver blogger from Cairo, and worked in the European Parliament. He was also a contributing editor at the Daily Beast and a columnist in several European and Middle East newspapers.

The Council of the EU should publish not only a list of lobby meetings held by Donald Tusk, the European Council president, but also when his cabinet members meet lobbyists, the European Ombudsman said in a recommendation. NGO Corporate Europe Observatory, which had asked the ombudsman to investigate, said Tusk's successor should be more transparent. It had also complained the public agenda of Tusk was "not user-friendly".

EU Council president Donald Tusk toned down expectations at the start of the EU summit on whether leaders would be able to agree on the next EU leadership, including the commission presidency. "Yesterday I was cautiously optimistic. Today I'm more cautious than optimistic," Tusk tweeted after he held consultations with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel, who are split over who should lead the EU executive.

Federica Mogherini, the head of the EU's foreign policy branch the European External Action Service, said her future replacement will need to be someone who has a background in defence and security. She told reporters the person needs to come "with a strong foreign and security background." She had also mentioned defence.

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar warned on Thursday there was "enormous hostility" in the EU to any further Brexit extension beyond October, adding Ireland has "endless patience". EU leaders gathering in Brussels will take stock of the latest on Brexit developments on Friday. Varadkar also said it was unlikely EU leaders would agree on the new EU leadership on Thursday, and an extra summit will be needed.

Industrial policy is back in vogue. At European and national level, lawmakers express many ideas on how to ensure the future competitiveness of EU industry.

German chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that EU leaders' goal should be to agree on a commission president by the time the new parliament convenes in early July. "We need a joint solution, so it would be unacceptable to me for the European Council to make a recommendation that in the end isn't supported by the European Parliament," Merkel said, adding that a decision might not be made on Thursday.

French president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called the so-called Spitzenkandidaten process, whereby the strongest party emerging from EU elections should get the commission presidency, a fiction. "There isn't a European democratic legitimacy so I think we need to escape from this trap," he was quoted by Bloomberg. Macron said leaders might not agree on a name on Thursday, but will have to decide before the new parliament convenes early July.

Leaders of the 28 EU national governments will discuss on Thursday afternoon by when Europe should be 'climate-neutral'. A draft text of the conclusions said the transition to an economy which has net zero greenhouse gas emissions should be done by 2050. Austria has suggested the more vague 'by mid-century', according to a text seen by EUobserver. Some of the poorer eastern EU countries are worried for their economies.

EU competition commissioner and the liberals' frontrunner for the commission presidency, Margrethe Vestager said Thursday she hoped that EU leaders will hear the calls from voters for something new at EU elections when they chose the new EU leadership in Brussels. She added that she was not confident that she will get the commission presidency, Bloomberg reported.

British home secretary Sajid Javid was knocked out of the race to replace Theresa May as Conservative leader and British prime minister on Thursday, leaving three candidates remaining. The three, in a vote by Conservative MPs, were Boris Johnson, environment secretary Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt, foreign secretary. A further round on Thursday will narrow the field to two, who then are voted on by the Conservative party members.

Ireland's prime minister Leo Varadkar told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday that he expects an agreement among EU heads of state and government on the 2050 'net zero' emissions target. "I anticipate that there is going to be an agreement," he said. The bulk of EU states support the measure but some, like coal producer Poland, remain wary.

Alper Küçük and Nils Grede provide insight into the use of the EU’s Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which enables much-needed cash transfers to one and a half million vulnerable refugees living in host communities in Turkey.

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “Any further concentration of personal data poses additional risks to the rights and freedoms of individuals.” – European Data Protection...

The heads of S&D and the centrist Renew Europe have told the EPP's lead candidate, Manfred Weber, that there is no majority to support him for the position of president of the Commission, sources have told EURACTIV.com.

Almost five years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down arrest warrants have been issued against three Russians and a Ukrainian accused of murdering 298 people. Moscow rejects the charges. The trial against the four men is slated to begin in March 2020. Commentators say the pressure on the Kremlin must be increased.