European Union

Der Aufsichtsratschef und Mitbegründer der estnischen Bank Pocopay, Indrek Neivelt, hat eine Kampagne gestartet, um insbesondere skandinavische Banken in Estland unter Druck zu setzen. Er wirft ihnen vor, dass sie in Estland zwei Mal mehr Gewinn erwirtschaften als zu Hause, ihre Rentenfonds aber den estnischen Kunden viel weniger bringen als in Schweden. Dies hat in Estland eine Debatte um das Bankenwesen entfacht.

Hungary is threatening to block a common EU position for cooperation with the Arab League. The reason, once again, is migration policy. EURACTIV Germany's media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

EU and US economic sanctions on Russia had a much bigger impact than previously thought, Ukraine's spy chief has told EUobserver.

French leader Emmanuel Macron is considering holding a referendum 26 May on social and economic reforms in order to quell the 'yellow vest' protests, French weekly Journal du Dimanche has said, citing government sources. If it happened, it would be the first of its kind in France and would coincide with the European Parliament elections. "The chances of a May 26 referendum happening are very high", a government source said.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has rejected calls by Germany, France, Britain, Spain and other EU states to hold snap elections in view of mass protests against his rule. "They [EU countries] are trying to corner us with ultimatums to force us into an extreme situation of confrontation," he said. He added he was open to talks with EU powers at a meeting of EU and Latin American countries on Thursday.

Italy's 'marriage of convenience' coalition government likes picking battles with Brussels. But with the economy now in recession, and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini needing to keep the business lobby on board, expect Rome to blink first.

An 'Alternative Arrangements Working Group', including Leave and Remain Conservative MPs, will start three days of talks on Monday on alternative arrangements to the Irish backstop. Prime minister Theresa May appointed Brexiteers Steve Baker, Owen Patterson and Marcus Fysh as well as Remainer former ministers Damian Green and Nicky Morgan to the group. The BBC reported that the working group would consider extending the Brexit transition period for a year.

Polish politician Robert Biedron launched a new party on Sunday called Spring. He promised to phase out coal power, end state subsidies for the church and to legalise abortion and same-sex marriage. He also promised to boost welfare spending in a programme dubbed "populist" by his opponents. "I will be prime minister," Biedron told supporters at a rally in Warsaw ahead of elections in the autumn.

The European Union's Irish agriculture commissioner, Phil Hogan, has said that Brussels is "ready for all eventualities" and has "tools available that we are able to put into effect fairly quickly," should Irish farmers suffer a collapse in food prices in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, the Irish Times reported. The Irish agri-food sector could be hit by €1.7bn tariffs in a no-deal scenario.

US President Donald Trump said military intervention in Venezuela was “an option” as Western nations boost pressure on socialist leader Nicolás Maduro to step down, while the troubled OPEC nation’s ally Russia warned against “destructive meddling.”

A Japanese village aims to be the first zero waste municipality in the world by 2020 and has already reached an 81% recycling rate. A member of the Japanese Zero Waste Academy told EURACTIV that the feat is replicable elsewhere.

CECE calls on all candidates in the European elections to push for a European Commission mandate that puts Industrial Policy as a priority in their political agenda.

President Emmanuel Macron is considering organising what would be the first referendum in France in 14 years as part of his response to the "yellow vest" protests, a report said on Sunday (3 February).

French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire wants to introduce legislation to ensure that heads of large French businesses living abroad pay more taxes in France. EURACTIV France’s partner La Tribune reports.

Global trade tensions are scaring investors globally. In Asia, despite the huge needs to finance large projects, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is “concerned” about stagnant and even fall of private capital being attracted, its vice-president told EURACTIV.com.

The European Union needs to revise its 2030 CO2 reduction target from 40% to 55% if it wants to meet the 1.5°C global warming objective of the Paris Agreement, says Joyce Msuya.

Poland's first openly gay politician on Sunday (3 February) launched "Spring", a progressive political party aimed at challenging the EU country's governing right-wing party accused by critics and the EU of passing reforms that threaten the rule of law.