European Union

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday (19 July) warned NATO against cultivating closer ties with Ukraine and Georgia, saying such a policy was irresponsible and would have unspecified consequences for the alliance.

The European Commission yesterday (19 July) stepped up a legal battle with Hungary over EU migration rules and denounced as illegal its "Stop Soros" law that criminalises support for asylum seekers.

British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived yesterday (19 July) in Northern Ireland, whose border with EU-member Ireland has become one of the biggest impediments to reaching a deal to leave the European Union.

Europe's market for recycled plastics will never pick up unless regulators make a decisive move and impose a minimum amount of recycled materials into new products, said a wide coalition of businesses, local authorities and environmental NGOs.

Italy has asked the European Commission to set up an agency to oversee the distribution of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, Prime Minister Giovanni Conte said yesterday (19 July).

Spain's Supreme Court dropped a European arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Thursday (19 July) after Germany refused to extradite him to face a charge of rebellion for declaring Catalonia an independent state last year.

The EU is open to palm oil and there is no ban on the commodity, the head of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia, ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez, said on 16 July in an apparent attempt to appease Asian producers.

Montenegro defended yesterday (19 July) its contribution to peace in response to US President Donald Trump, who said the tiny Balkan nation's "aggressive" people were capable of triggering "World War III".

US President Donald Trump yesterday (19 July) criticized the European Union over a record $5 billion fine EU antitrust regulators imposed on Google, saying the bloc was taking advantage of the United States. EU officials on Wednesday also ordered Google...

In separate statements on the same day (19 July) US President Donald Trump and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin blamed forces within the United States for marring what they called the success of their first summit.

Welcome to EU Tweets of the Week. This week, Google hit with massive fine, Japan and EU sign on the line and Trump-Europe relationship in serious decline.

From mobility services to recycling applications, the sharing economy holds many promises. Whether to regulate it at European level remains a disputed question, however.

While a coordinated operation of all building systems can achieve significant energy savings, those systems are too often installed in siloes hindering to unlock the full potential, writes Tom Machinchick.

In the capital of Chad, N'Djamena, the Chad-China Friendship Hospital treats cases of acute malnutrition in young children, a countryside phenomena that has taken over the city in the past few years. EURACTIV.fr reports.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Bakhtadze, President Tusk confirmed the EU determination to further deepen the cooperation between EU and Georgia.

High Representative Federica Mogherini issued a declaration on behalf of the EU on President Omar Al-Bashir visit to Russia on 14 July 2018.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Written by Agnieszka Widuto (1st edition),

© waku / Fotolia

In preparation for the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) on 29 May 2018. The new single regulation on the ERDF and CF (previously covered by two separate regulations) identifies the specific objectives and scope of support for both funds, including non-eligible activities. In line with evidence regarding impact, investments will focus on activities with the highest added value, such as support for SMEs, smart specialisation, the low carbon economy, sustainable urban development and regional cooperation. The ERDF will focus mainly on smart growth and the green economy, and the CF on environmental and transport infrastructure. A special approach is adopted for territories such as urban areas and outermost regions. The indicator framework for monitoring progress will include new common results indicators. At the European Parliament, the file has been allocated to the Committee on Regional Development, with Andrea Cozzolino (S&D, Italy) as rapporteur. The rapporteur’s draft report is expected in the autumn.

Versions

• July 2018: ‘European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund 2021-2027‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund Committee responsible: Regional Development (REGI) COM(2018) 372
29.5.2018 Rapporteur: Andrea Cozzolino (S&D, Italy) 2018/0197(COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (EPP, Spain)
Raffaele Fitto (ECR, Italy)
Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE, Bulgaria)
Martina Michels (GUE/NGL, Germany)
Davor Škrlec (Greens/EFA, Croatia)
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

EU member states will suffer long-term damage equivalent to about 1.5% of annual economic output by 2030 if Britain leaves the bloc without a free trade deal next year, the International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday (19 July).

The EU Commission urged companies, citizens, and member states to prepare in case the UK next March crashes out of the EU without a deal - on the day the new UK Brexit minister arrived in Brussels.