European Union

With the appointment of François de Rugy as minister of ecological transition, the French government has not moved an inch from its course despite a plunge in President Macron’s popularity and calls for changes from environmental experts. EURACTIV France reports.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney is set to extend his term at the helm to ensure a 'smooth' Brexit, as pressure mounts on Theresa May’s administration to ramp up preparations for leaving the EU.

Project-selection procedures in the EU's Cohesion policy remain oriented towards outputs and spending rather than driven by expected results, a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) underlined.

A new legislation has been passed in France that prohibits the use of mobile phones in the classroom, in a move by the government aimed at combatting distraction and cases of online bullying.

Only a few contributions from the ranks of the Bavarian CSU in recent months suggested their competence on European issues. Now one of them is aiming for the highest post Brussels has to offer. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Every year, almost 100,000 Europeans seek asylum in EU countries. The number of applications continues to grow, but the issue remains on the margins of political debate.

Czech and Slovenian authorities have voiced alarm over the emergence of armed anti-migrant militias in the two central European countries.

Austrian far-right FPO interior minister, Herbert Kickl, has come under growing pressure in a parliamentary inquiry opening on Tuesday into raids of private homes and offices of security officers in Austria's domestic BVT intelligence agency. The searches, which took place on 28 February, were carried out by a police street crime unit run by an FPO official and seized files that reportedly related to investigations into far-right extremist groups.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban will participate in person when the European Parliament on 11 September discusses a report on rule of law in Hungary prepared by Green MEP Judith Sargentini, reports Hungarian media. The report calls for the launch of an 'Article 7' procedure against Hungary, which could ultimately strip the country of EU voting rights. It was approved by the European Parliament's civil liberties committee in June.

Germany's government has begun preparations for a hard Brexit, with a set of measures to be adopted Wednesday, reports German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung. "This includes eventual legislative measures, but also the hiring and training of additional staff, such as in customs," one official said. German chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday the government is doing all it can to ensure a divorce deal, but success was not guaranteed.

German conservative EPP group leader, Manfred Weber, is expected to announce on Wednesday his candidacy to run as the center-right parties' spitzenkandidat in European Parliament elections next May. Weber was last week backed by German chancellor Angela Merkel for the post. If his party wins the European elections in May, Weber could succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president provided the spitzenkandidat, or "top candidate", process continues.

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Russian and Syrian jets hammered a major rebel stronghold on Tuesday (4 September), days before leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey meet to discuss an expected Syrian government offensive that could spark a humanitarian disaster.

Britain on Tuesday (4 September) said it agreed with France's decision to send its navy to waters in the English Channel where UK and French fishing boats clashed last week over access to scallop-rich waters.

Latvian bank Rietumu has been hit with a fine of €80 million by French judges for having laundered hundreds of millions of euros. EURACTIV France reports in the second part of its Special Report on Latvia.

Catalan leader Quim Torra relaunched a campaign to split his region from Spain on Tuesday (4 September), calling on the central government in Madrid to agree to a referendum on independence and rebuffing a vote that could only offer greater autonomy.

The European Commission is considering amending legislation relating to “supplementary protection certificates” (SPC) in order to support production of medicinal products in the EU.

In next year's European election, many politicians will preach about the need to "reform" the European Union but few will know what they are talking about. Two who do know are Viktor Orban and Emmanuel Macron, writes Andrew Duff.