European Union

Finance Minister Gernot Blümel has ruled out the suspension of the Austrian digital tax that was introduced in 2020, while the European Commission announced on Monday that it would put the proposed digital levy on hold until a deal among...

Germany’s main political parties are showing clear differences when it comes to a number of European policy issues with the upcoming election in September set to focus partially on the size of the EU budget. With Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 16-year...

With coronavirus infection rates on the rise again across France, President Emmanuel Macron called for a “summer of mobilisation”, announcing the mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers in a televised address to the nation on Monday. “If the health situation remains...

The recovery plans of 12 member states are expected to be adopted by EU finance ministers at a meeting on Tuesday. For now, the atmosphere is positive but things are expected to change when the first payment requests are made...

US President Joe Biden’s decision to pull out from Afghanistan combined with the increasing advancement of Taliban insurgents has caused severe headaches in Brussels, as Europe fears a new migration wave from the east, an EU diplomat told EURACTIV. “The...

The European Union said on Monday (12 July) it wanted to agree by the end of July the legal framework for a sanctions regime targeting Lebanese leaders, but cautioned that the measure would not be immediately implemented.

Europe will need to increase the amount of carbon stored by its forests and wetlands to meet a new, more ambitious target for carbon removals in Europe, according to a leaked policy draft seen by EURACTIV.

Although agri-food sector has recovered from the worst of the pandemic, it must keep one eye on the present and one on future crisis management, Slovenia's Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Ethiopian officials involved in blocking aid to the war-torn Tigray region should face EU sanctions, EU foreign relations chief Josep Borrell said Monday. Ethiopia was using "famine as a weapon of war", with over 1.8 million people at risk of starvation, he said. "Water in the Nile can be used in a way that benefits everyone," Borrell also said, on Ethiopia's plan to launch a new dam, threatening Egypt's supplies.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday (12 July) the bloc was ready for a "fresh start" with Israel as Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visited Brussels, but urged progress on peace efforts.

France needs to push back the retirement age and the government will continue its pension reforms as soon as the Covid-19 situation is under control, French president Emmanuel Macron said in a televised speech Monday. His initial proposals for pension reforms provoked weeks of protests and strikes just before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Macron put it on hold as he ordered France into lockdown a year and a half ago.

EU foreign-affairs chief Josep Borrell said Slovenia's prime minister Janez Janša did not speak for the EU, despite holding the EU presidency, when he went on an anti-Iran regime rant in video-talks with an Iran opposition group this weekend. Janša's comments "did not represent the European Union, most definitely not ... they were certain opinions of the Slovenian prime minister," Borrell said Monday, amid sensitive, EU-chaired Iran nuclear non-proliferation talks.

The Council and European Parliament today reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal to revise the Aarhus Regulation, which aims to guarantee access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 12 July 2021 on the exchange of views with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, fiscal stance of the euro area and the digital future of the euro.

Representatives of the EU Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as representatives of the central banks of the Western Balkans and Turkey met for their annual economic policy dialogue . The dialogue aims at preparing the Western Balkans and Turkey for their future participation in the European Semester.

The Council approved conclusions setting out the EU's priorities at the United Nations during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 2021 – September 2022).

The Council approved conclusions on “A Globally Connected Europe” stressing the importance of connectivity for promoting the EU’s geostrategic interests and values globally.

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

The Council prolonged the sanctions targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation for a further six months, until 31 January 2022.

The Council has decided to set up an EU military training mission in Mozambique to support local armed forces in protecting the civilian population and restoring safety and security in Cabo Delgado.