European Union

The UN Security Council condemned yesterday (6 June) "continuous violations of the ceasefire" in Ukraine's east and called for an immediate withdrawal of heavy weapons.

Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday unveiled a new pro-EU government with the most women in modern history, with 11 female and six male ministers.

The European Commission put forward a proposal on Wednesday (6 June) to bring all of the EU's existing investment instruments under the banner of a new fund called "InvestEU" which will formally succeed the Juncker Plan.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte comfortably won a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament yesterday (6 June), but divisions inside his coalition put at risk a major gas pipeline project, seen by Brussels as a cornerstone of EU’s energy security.

The European Commission’s proposal for new car CO2 limits left many disappointed. But a spate of new governments in Europe – and shifting positions in Berlin – means those who want higher targets and an electric vehicle mandate have everything to play for.

Despite the fact that Austria’s government, in which the far right is represented, has plans for a tough anti-immigration agenda for its upcoming EU presidency, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he trusts its “European” credentials.

German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer will seal a $63-billion merger with US-based Monsanto Thursday, creating an agrichemical juggernaut with lofty ambitions to feed the world but feared by environmentalists.

After being postponed three times, Germany’s government has appointed the long-awaited commission which is to define a roadmap for the country’s coal phase-out. It will have a double mandate: to protect both the climate and jobs.

The European Parliament has adopted an initiative report this week about the conformity of fisheries products that have access to the EU market. The EU is the largest market for fish in the world and it may need to be even more vigilant to keep illegally caught fish from arriving in the EU indirectly, writes Linnéa Engström.

The issue of how the EU's External Investment Plan can help empower women and girls dominated the agenda at the European Development Days on Tuesday (5 June), as some panellists voiced concern that it might be marginalised in the final big picture.

The 2018 European Youth Event was home to one of the most unusual European Parliament happenings of the year - an MEP rap battle.

Relocating the European Parliament to Strasbourg every month is a waste of time and money. You know it, I know it, we all know it. But France refuses to let go. Instead of holding on to it, Macron should start using it as a bargaining chip.

Over the past months, discussion has heated up regarding the use and safety of pesticides in Europe. All stakeholders are calling for a transparent and science-based approach. But how can policy-makers ensure that the authorisation procedure really is based on sound research?

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The European External Action Service was established following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon in late 2009. It serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the EU, under the authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

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The EU is set to impose €2.8billion worth in tariffs on US exports in early July in response to duties Donald Trump's administration has levied on European steel and aluminium, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday (6 June).

Information about accreditation requirements for the European Council in June

"Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?" The quote is associated with Henry Kissinger but he never actually said it. He knew very well who to call if he wanted to. Similarly, European institutions have no problem with reaching out to European philanthropy, Felix Oldenburg writes.

The European Commission as of 4 June is allowing Oxfam access to EU funding, which it froze following media revelations of a sex abuse scandal by the Times newspaper earlier this year. The commission says Oxfam has put in place "adequate mechanisms" to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of sexual misconduct. It says "resumption will be done on a case by case basis, contract by contract with strict monitoring."

The European Commission adopted Wednesday an update of the Blocking Statute, a 1996 regulation that allows EU companies to dodge US extraterritorial sanctions. It added to the regulation's scope sanctions the US would impose on EU companies that do business with Iran after the US pulled of the Iran nuclear deal. The EU executive also modified the European Investment Bank's mandate to allow it to support projects in Iran.

The European Commission confirmed on Wednesday that the EU will start to impose in July extra duties on US products valued at up to €2.8bn of trade, in reaction to tariffs on EU steel and aluminium that the US launched on 1 June. Member states will have to agree on which products will taxed, from a list that was prepared in March.