European Union

All Visegrad Group countries vocally support the enlargement of the EU and NATO, with a focus on integrating the Western Balkan (WB) countries. But how can those words be transformed into deeds?

Austria v Germany
Citizenship of the Union
The German vignette for the use by passenger vehicles of federal roads is contrary to EU law

Austria v Germany
Citizenship of the Union
The German vignette for the use by passenger vehicles of federal roads is contrary to EU law

France has urged Iran to step back from nuclear threats - but declined to back US claims Tehran recently attacked two oil tankers, echoing a broader EU approach.

Former Slovak president Andrej Kiska launched a new pro-EU political party on Monday (17 June), promising to provide a voice for voters disillusioned with the ruling Smer party and to challenge it in next year’s parliamentary election. Kiska, whose five-year...

France, Germany and Spain on Monday signed a deal to develop a sixth-generation European fighter jet and air combat system, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The deal is part of a wider plan to reduce military dependency on the United States. Dassault Aviation and Airbus are set to build the jets, which will replace the Rafale and Eurofighters.

A panel of lawmakers in Poland on Monday grilled European Council president Donald Tusk over affairs during his stint as the country's prime minister from 2007-2014. The questions varied from issues dealing with tax evasion and the a 2010 plane crash that killed president Lech Kaczynski. Critics say the event was largely an attempt by the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party to discredit Tusk and his political allies.

Matteo Salvini, Italy's far-right deputy prime minister, on Monday in Washington DC said his country is "the first, most credible, most solid interlocutor of the US in the European Union." Salvini said Italy and the US under president Donald Trump share many views when it comes to foreign policy. "I'm here to open a channel that may be huge, and of extremely great interest for both," Salvini told reporters.

A meeting of EU agriculture ministers today (18 June) will be entirely dedicated to fisheries. Ministers are expected to reach a tentative deal on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) post-2020, the main EU fund that supports fishing communities.

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 daily newsletter here. /// ROME/ WARSAW Salvini, the “American”. Italy’s vice-premier Matteo Salvini flew to Washington to meet US vice-President Mike...

EU countries have said Sudan's military junta was to blame for killings and mass rapes of pro-democracy protesters on 3 June. "The responsibility lies with the Transitional Military Council as the authority in charge of protecting the population," the bloc's foreign ministers said Monday in Luxembourg. They urged attackers to be brought to justice, while praising those protesters "who bravely demanded a new path for their country".

EU states will threaten to freeze talks on an upgraded customs union with Turkey if it does not stop drilling for gas in disputed waters near Cyprus, according to draft conclusions of a General Affairs Council on Tuesday seen by the Bloomberg news agency. The EU "stands ready to respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus," the draft text said, following defiant Turkish statements over the weekend.

Commission President Jean Claude Juncker may be interested in sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka on 28-29 June, according to Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov. 

EU Council President Donald Tusk on Monday (17 June) accused the governing conservatives from his home country of Poland of exploiting state institutions for political purposes and propaganda.

Two regional summits held in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan last week had a common denominator: the support from Russia and China to Iran in the face of US threats after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman.

EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said on Monday (17 June) that a trade agreement with Mercosur countries could be concluded by the end of this mandate but “not at any price” as other trade partners await the outcome with “great attention”.

UPDATE: The European Commission warned EU countries today (18 June) that draft national plans for the coming decade are insufficient to achieve the bloc’s 2030 energy and climate targets. "Substantial" gaps have been identified on renewables and energy efficiency.

Now is the time to be bold in our approach and for leaders to take a positive and decisive stance in welcoming refugees.

Despite securing a place among the very few European leaders with a landslide victory under their belt in the EU election, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán is not celebrating, write Balázs Jarábik and Dániel Bartha.

FoodDrinkEurope is ready to step up to the plate!