European Union

Three Czech Nato soldiers have been killed in an attack in Afghanistan. President Zeman offered his condolences to the victims' families and called for renewed vigour in the fight against international terrorism. The Czech Republic has 250 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan as part of the international military presence in the country. Czech media lambaste commentaries that deny that the soldiers are heroes.

The Russian government decided to expel two Greek diplomats from its territory on Monday (6 August) in response to Greece’s similar “hostile” move last month, according to the Kremlin.

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The EU and New Zealand collaborate under the Joint Declaration on Relations and Cooperation, signed on 21st September 2007, in such areas as global and regional security, counter-terrorism and human rights, visas, development and economic cooperation, trade, climate change as well as science and technology.

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The world is at risk of entering “hothouse” conditions where global average temperatures will be 4-5 degrees Celsius higher even if emissions reduction targets under a global climate deal are met, scientists said in a study published on Monday (6 August).

Danish state prosecutors on Monday launched an official investigation into Danske Bank over allegations that the country's biggest lender has been involved in money laundering through its Estonian branch. Meanwhile, Bill Browder, champion of the Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitski, killed in Russia, requested a criminal investigation of 26 officials of the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, who allegedly enabled the money laundering, Estonian daily Postimees reported.

A record low of 22 percent of British voters approve of prime minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit negotiations, a drop from 55 percent in the first half of 2017, according to a survey from ORB International pollster published on Monday. The UK is posed to leave the EU in a little more than eight months, on 29 March 2019.

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon accused the British government of "talking-up" a no-deal Brexit, making it more likely the UK will just drop out of the European Union at great cost to the economy.

EU justice commissioner Vera Jourova has called for greater scrutiny by EU countries that sell citizenship, and thus passports, to non-EU nationals who pay large sums or purchase expensive real estate. "The EU Commission is very concerned about the development of so-called golden passports," she said in an interview with German daily Welt. "We do not want Trojan horses in the Union" Jourova said.

EU regulators plan to study whether there is a need for action in the push for a common mobile phone charger following a lack of progress by phone makers towards this goal, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) paid out the fifth and final tranche of financial assistance to Greece on Monday, amounting to €15bn. Managing director Klaus Regling said "Greece has come a long way during the three years of the ESM programme" ending on 20 August. From the payment, €9.5bn will be used to strengthen Greece's cash buffer and €5.5bn will be used for debt service.

An EU plan which excludes French ports from new shipping routes linking Ireland with the continent after Brexit is "scandalous and unacceptable", Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts de France region, which includes the ports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk, has told the Daily Telegraph. Adopted last week, the Commission's plan would connect Ireland to Europe via Zeebrugge, Antwerp and Rotterdam, preventing exports from being delayed by UK customs.

Since Emmanuel Macron took the French presidency in 2017, the concept of consolidating European industries to create continental 'champions', capable of competing on a global scale, has been revived.

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has called a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice on new plant-breeding techniques (NPBTs) a ‘setback’ and said Washington is ready to help EU politicians make decisions based on scientific evidence.

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for people who do not drive.

There is roughly one car for every two people in the EU, but not all Europeans drive. For people living in densely built up areas, the convenience of a car may be outweighed by the inconvenience of finding a parking spot; the cost of buying, maintaining and running a car; or health or environmental considerations. Not driving means relying on alternative forms of getting about: walking, cycling, public transport, taxis – and for longer distances, buses, trains and aeroplanes. The EU is working to improve these services on two fronts: by encouraging investment in public transport and cross-border transport links for the movement of people, goods and services; and by fostering competition on transport routes across the continent, to secure a better deal for consumers.

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The EU supports city and cross-border transport by carrying out studies and transport policy analysis; promoting the exchange of best practice between local authorities; and helping local authorities to invest in cycle infrastructure and more walkable public spaces through the European structural investment funds. Given that national transport networks often stop at national borders, the EU also invests in bridging cross-border transport links and removing bottlenecks. The EU guarantees passenger rights when travelling in Europe by air, rail, bus and coach, or ship. Finally, the EU sets air quality standards and targets, and holds countries to account when they fail to meet those targets. For Europeans travelling on foot or by bike, cleaner air means a more pleasant, healthier journey.

Further information

• EPRS publication on cleaner air for Europe, 2017, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/603237/EPRS_BRI(2017)603237_EN.pdf
• EPRS publication on moving cycling forward, 2016, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2016/582033/EPRS_IDA(2016)582033_EN.pdf
• EPRS publication on urban mobility, 2014http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2014/538224/EPRS_IDA(2014)538224_REV1_EN.pdf
• EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service: www.epthinktank.eu

Europe's prolonged extreme drought has caused the most severe problems to the EU vegetable sector in the last 40 years, according to the European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors (PROFEL).

As a result of the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, Washington's re-imposition of sanctions hit European companies operating in the country from Monday (6 August) onwards. The EU has updated its ‘blocking statute’ to temper the impact.

A sustainable and lasting settlement is attainable but Azerbaijan should commit itself to peace, writes Armenian diplomat Rima Karapetyan.  

European companies with business in Iran appear caught in a tug of war between the European Union and Washington. The US demands they leave Iran or face sanctions. The European Union says remain in Iran or face penalties a home.