European Union

Germany's foreign minister called for the European Union to become a more self-confident global actor, prepared to take counter-measures when the United States crosses "red lines" and able to respond to Russian threats and Chinese growth.

Talks on renewable energy policy in Europe reached un unexpected breakthrough early this morning after negotiators from the European Parliament and  EU member states were able to reach a compromise on a 32% headline objective and a complete phase out of palm oil use in transport by 2030.

The EU wants to pay for military equipment, including lethal weaponry, for partner countries in crisis zones such as Africa's Sahel region as part of a €10.5-billion "peace facility" launched on Wednesday (13 June).

The representatives of the governments of the member states appointed two judges to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

On 13 June 2018, EU ambassadors agreed on the Council's stance on the proposed regulation on screening of investments.

During their meeting, European Council President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the solution to the name issue and the agreement reached by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev.

Prime Minister Theresa May defeated the final challenges to her EU Withdrawal Bill in parliament on Wednesday (13 June) after 48 hours of drama in Westminster.

EU countries have been encouraged to name and shame foreign states that sponsor cybersecurity attacks, in an unusually outspoken announcement from the European Commission.

The European Commission will set out its plans to dramatically increase spending on migration control on Thursday (14 June), as part of its overhaul of EU development spending between 2021 and 2027.

Written by Irina Popescu (1st edition),

© isaac74 / Fotolia

On 8 March 2018, the European Commission proposed a multiannual plan for the western Mediterranean fisheries exploiting several stocks of fish and crustaceans living close to the sea bottom (i.e. ‘demersal fisheries’). Most of these stocks have long been overfished and are now in an alarming state. The proposed plan aims to reverse this trend and ensure that fishing activities are environmentally sustainable and capable of securing economic and social benefits. The plan concerns fishing fleets from Italy, Spain and France, totalling almost 10 900 vessels.

The proposal would introduce a fishing-effort regime for all trawlers operating in the region, and reduce fishing activities in the first year of application, in line with the scientific advice. In addition, it would restrict trawlers from operating in waters shallower than 100 m for three months each year, to reserve the coastal zone for more selective fishing gear. The plan would also establish regional cooperation among the Member States concerned, with a view to developing provisions on the obligation to land all catches and on the conservation of resources through technical measures.

Versions

• June 2018: ‘Multiannual plan for demersal fisheries in the western Mediterranean‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multi-annual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea Committee responsible: Fisheries (PECH) COM(2018) 115
8.3.2018 Rapporteur: Clara Eugenia Aguilera García (S&D, Spain) 2018/0050(COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Carlos Iturgaiz (EPP, Spain)
Ruža Tomašić (ECR, Croatia)
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE, Spain)
João Ferreira (GUE/NGL, Portugal)
Marco Affronte (Greens/EFA, Italy)
Rosa D’Amato (EFDD, Italy) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Publication of draft report

 

Landings of the main demersal species exploited in the western Mediterranean Sea in 2014 by value (million €)

Polish authorities need to address key concerns of the Commission over the independence of the country's judiciary by the end of the month, Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday (13 June).

Council confirms agreement with the EP on the audiovisual media services directive

Council confirms an agreement with the EP on veterinary medicinal products.

President Tusk received the letters of credentials from two new ambassadors to the European Union.

On the same day, 12 June 2018, anti-system politicians in two wildly different spots of the globe did their best to solve the world’s most complicated conundrums.

A broad majority of EU lawmakers backed the resolution on Wednesday (13 June), which sets the European Parliament’s approach to a European cyber defence policy, an area where EU institutions have been moving to step up their work.

The hardline interior ministers of Austria, Germany, and Italy formed an "axis of the willing" to combat illegal migration, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday, after he met with German interior minister Horst Seehofer. Seehofer is at loggerheads with chancellor Angela Merkel over Germany's migration policy. Seehofer said he and his far-right Austrian and Italian counterparts formed their alliance this week, saying they would also deal with security and terrorism.

European expertise agencies, the kingpins of solidarity policy, want to work more together in order to establish themselves as true competitors in the face of United Nations agencies, especially in the field of security. EURACTIV.fr reports.

The refusal of Italy and Malta to take in the rescue ship Aquarius packed with migrants this week has shone a light on the flaws of European solidarity and underlined the urgent need to reform the Dublin asylum system. EURACTIV.fr reports.

It was Mark Rutte's Dutch premier's turn to share his vision on the future of Europe with MEPs. An emerging EU leader in the post-Brexit bloc called for a more united, but less centralised Europe.