European Union

As a result of Poland's judicial reform, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Wednesday that EU member states can refuse to enforce Polish arrest warrants if they have grounds to believe that suspects extradited to Poland would not receive a fair trial. Commentators view the decision as both a source of relief and a disaster.

Ryanair cabin crews in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal started a two-day strike on Wednesday, demanding better pay and working conditions. Across Europe roughly 500 of the low-cost carrier's flights have been cancelled. Commentators back the employees' demands.

Migration to the cities and deserted rural areas can be observed in many countries of Europe. According to a recent survey, 79 percent of Finns believe the state should invest more in rural regions to counter rural exodus. But commentators doubt that trying to repopulate rural areas is a sensible strategy.

As the EU puts together a mid-century climate strategy, Carlos Calvo Ambel explains how the Commission’s choice of modelling could be severely underestimating what emission cuts can be gained from the transport sector.

In the next EU budget period, Germany is set to receive around 20% less funding from the EU’s structural funds. Instead, more regions will be entitled to funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The US will not impose tariffs on EU cars and might take back ones on steel and aluminium, according to a magical Trump-Juncker deal.

Israel's NGO Monitor replies to accusations by an NGO network that it pressured a Brussels media to "silence Palestine in EU circles".

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 local and regional civil servants.

Local and regional authorities play an important role in implementing EU policy as they work close to the public. Efficient service and a high level of expertise are crucial for the quality of public administration.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

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EU-funded programmes under the e-Government initiative have helped expand online public services and improve administrative efficiency for businesses and citizens. Local and regional authorities can use the funding to simplify procedures, improve the processing of information and statistics, implement IT systems, exchange data and establish cooperation with public administrations in other EU countries.

The European Territorial Observatory Network (ESPON) helps local and regional practitioners by conducting research and analysis on various aspects of regional development. In addition, funding from the EU’s structural funds can be used to fund specialised training for civil servants, modernise equipment and infrastructure in their working environment, organise information campaigns and events, and conduct evaluations and studies.

The European Committee of the Regions, the EU body representing local and regional authorities, cooperates with civil servants across the whole of the EU via consultations and organises numerous events throughout the year. Best known is perhaps the European Week of Regions and Cities held in Brussels, where civil servants as well as experts and academics from all over EU can attend thematic workshops free of charge on topics such as territorial development, cohesion policy, social inclusion, environment, transport, research and innovation.

Further information

• EPRS Publication on ‘eGovernment: Using technology to improve public services and democratic participation’, 2015, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_IDA%282015%29565890
• European Committee of the Regions, http://cor.europa.eu
• EPRS Publication on ‘Partnership within cohesion policy’, 2017, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/603978/EPRS_BRI(2017)603978_EN.pdf
• EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service: www.epthinktank.eu

German opposition parties have criticised Chancellor Angela Merkel for not providing more detail of her discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of Russia’s military general staff Valery Gerasimov.

At least 81 people have died in huge wildfires around Athens, Greek authorities said on Wednesday (25 July), as rescuers scoured scorched homes and burned-out cars for survivors of one of the world's deadliest fire outbreaks.

London and Brussels should be “pragmatic” and prepare to either extend Article 50 or the transition period so that Brexit talks can progress "in the right way", Mars Wrigley Confectionery's regional president for Europe, Russia, CIS and Turkey told EURACTIV.com.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) yesterday (25 July) authorised EU members to refuse arrest warrants issued by Poland if they doubt defendants will get a fair trial there.