European Union

The Romanian government has withdrawn its controversial decree decriminalising certain corruption offences. At the same time Prime Minister Grindeanu announced that a new bill with similar content would be presented to parliament. Despite the government's climbdown hundreds of thousands across Romania demonstrated against corruption on Sunday. The press also takes the view that the Romanians can no longer trust their government.

Air pollution levels have reached record levels in several Central and Eastern European countries during this bitterly cold winter. Smog alerts have been issued several times in Budapest, Warsaw, Sofia and other European cities in recent weeks. Poverty is inducing people to use anything they can get their hands on for heating, journalists explain, and criticise the politicians for failing to take effective action.

A federal judge has overturned Trump's entry ban for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Trump criticised the decision by the "so-called judge" as "ridiculous". A legal challenge filed by the Department of Justice with a US appeals court has failed, meaning that the ban will remain blocked. Journalists voice relief that the courts have put Trump in his place.

The EU wants to limit migration from Northern Africa by intensifying cooperation with Libya. Stepped-up controls of the Libyan coastline are to dissuade refugees from crossing the Mediterranean and encourage them to remain at reception centres in the country, the heads of state and government resolved at their meeting in Malta. An agreement with an unstable state will achieve nothing, commentators stress, and see Moscow taking a leading role.

General : The internal market committee votes this week on new rules to improve the quality and independence of safety and environmental tests for new cars. The economic committee discusses the latest economic and monetary developments, while the civil liberties committee debates whether to extend temporary internal border checks in some European countries with representatives from the European Commission.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : The internal market committee votes this week on new rules to improve the quality and independence of safety and environmental tests for new cars. The economic committee discusses the latest economic and monetary developments, while the civil liberties committee debates whether to extend temporary internal border checks in some European countries with representatives from the European Commission.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Today at 15:00, the Subcommittee will exchange views with Ivanna Klympush-Tsindsadze, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, on the deterioration of the security situation in the East of Ukraine, in particular around Avdiivka.
Further information
Revised draft agenda
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

The Council discussed the situation in Libya and adopted conclusions.