European Union

The Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid will travel to Moscow on 18 April for the inauguration of the restored Estonian embassy. While there she will also meet with Vladimir Putin. Is a rapprochement with Russia foolish or wise?

Frans Timmermans, lead candidate in the European Elections for the PES group meets with EURACTIV’s Brian Maguire over a coffee.

Belgium’s centre for cybersecurity has found no evidence that telecoms equipment supplied by Huawei Technology could be used for spying. The news comes as US authorities renew their campaign in Europe against the Chinese telecoms giant. 

Romania stands on the edge of an EU sanctions procedure, the EU commission has warned, amid concern that law and order is being dismantled in the interest of its ruling elite.

European Council chief Donald Tusk on Tuesday told MEPs in the Strasbourg plenary that the United Kingdom will not be treated as a "second category" EU state until its final departure from the European Union. "I have strongly opposed the idea that during the further extension, the UK should be treated as a second category member state. No it cannot," he said.

The European Commission and Poland signed an agreement Monday under which the EU provides the eastern European country with a €214.9m grant to invest in a natural gas pipeline between Denmark and Poland, to import Norwegian gas. The project benefits from fast-track procedures as a project of common interest. The pipeline is due to become operational in 2022 and is aimed at making the region less dependent on Russia.

The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, has asked MEPs to donate funds towards the reconstruction of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, after it burnt down on Monday. He said MEPs could put their donations "as a sign of solidarity" in a box outside the plenary in Strasbourg.

French president Emmanuel Macron promised the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris would be rebuilt after a devastating fire Monday, adding that "the worst had been avoided". Macron called the 12th-century cathedral "our history, our literature, part of our psyche ... So I solemnly say tonight: we will rebuild it together." European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker released a statement on Monday evening about the fire, saying: "What a sad spectacle."

The EU cannot extend the Brexit process a third time, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said in an interview with the Financial Times newspaper. "They will have to decide what they want by October," Maas said about the UK. "You cannot drag out Brexit for a decade." He said another UK request for an extension "could send the signal that they plan to stay in the EU after all".

French far-right leader said Brexit party was welcome to join anti-EU movement in EU parliament.

The performance of the far-right in Finland’s elections has shown the strength of anti-immigrant parties across the continent, just over a month before the European parliament elections. The Finns Party strengthened their position in the country’s Parliament under the leadership...

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIV’s media network. In this edition: Government reshuffle rumoured in Germany, Notre Dame blaze shocks Paris, Italian government under investigation and much more...

The bosses of BMW and Deutsche Telekom have urged the German government to take action to block a European Commission proposal that would set a Wi-Fi-based standard for connected cars.