European Union

A leading MEP has proposed revenues from the forthcoming EU carbon border tax should be used to support the decarbonisation of least-developed countries, as well as the phase-out of free allowances by end of 2028.

The EU's top diplomat warned Russia against military intervention in its neighbouring Kazakhstan, where protestors have been calling for a change in government.

France's data privacy watchdog has fined Google and Facebook a total of €210m for making it difficult for users to reject cookies, the Guardian reports. Google was fined €150m and Facebook €60m. "Rejecting cookies should be as easy as accepting them" said Karin Kiefer of the agency. But on Facebook "several clicks are required to refuse all cookies, as opposed to a single one to accept them."

The UK has added its voice to warnings from Washington and the EU that Russia will face "high-impact" sanctions if Vladimir Putin decides on another military invasion of Ukraine, the Guardian reports. British foreign secretary Liz Truss told MPs on Thursday that the response would hit Russia's abilities to carry out international financial transactions. Truss said: "The UK is working with our partners on these sanctions."

Swedish environmental activist Geta Thunberg has attacked the growing practice of airlines flying empty or near empty flights during the Covid pandemic to keep their airport slots, AP reports. "The EU surely is in a climate emergency mode," Thunberg tweeted sarcastically this week, following a story about Brussels Airlines making some 3,000 unnecessary flights. Lufthansa may fly an additional 18,000 "unnecessary" flights through the winter to keep landing slots.

Some 200 military personnel, including 40 army doctors, have been drafted in to London hospitals to help with the Omicron Covid surge, the Guardian reports. The extra support follows huge hospital staff absences due to the disease. The other 160 personnel, who have no medical training, will check in patients, ensure stocks are maintained and would also be "conducting basic checks", the Ministry of Defence said.

Macron swearing makes translators twitch, Taxonomy overhaul is a difficult pitch and Australia says clear-off to Novak Djokovic.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Italian government pushing for in-person classes despite schools opposing it, the Polish PM defending the far-right Confederation Party after the part's Facebook page was taken down, and so much more.

Bulgaria continues to be depleted of revenue because of persistent delays in completing the gas interconnector with Greece, energy minister Alexander Nikolov said in parliament on Thursday (6 January).

The late-December resignation of the Secretary of State for the EU, Juan González-Barba, has led to accusations of disloyalty from disgruntled labour groups. A year and a half ahead of the Spanish presidency of the Council in 2023, the change...

“If they think they will discipline me in this way, they are very wrong. I have now only got a motive to fight for the rights that have been taken away from us for 26 years”, said Milorad Dodik, the...

A statement from Greek Minister of Development Adonis Georgiadis, who described some PCR tests in Cyprus as “Chinese” and of “very low reliability” because their prices are low, has caused outrage in Cyprus. The issue of PCR tests in Greece...

Albania’s specialised corruption prosecutors (SPAK) have launched investigations into €3.6 million in transactions made by the company that constructed the electricity interconnector to Kosovo, to a company based in the United Arab Emirates. The Pandora Papers was a leak of...

The Kosovo government plans to vet all the country’s judges and prosecutors despite the European Union’s objections. In an interview for Euronews Albania, Kosovo’s Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu confirmed that Kurti’s government considers justice reform indispensable. In September last year, a first...

Serbia will in no way implement sanctions against Serbs in BiH and Republika Srpska or their representatives said President Aleksandar Vučić, who expressed concern over the US Treasury imposing sanctions against BiH’s Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik. “I am very concerned...

Croatia recorded 9,058 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a record-high for the second day in a row. Meanwhile, 33 COVID-19 patients died, the national crisis management team said. In the past 24 hours, 19,975 persons tested for the virus and...

Romania’s government adopted new restrictions on Thursday, as the state of alert was prolonged by another 30 days. The most significant change is that textile and plastic face coverings will no longer be permitted as of 8 January. The Romanian...

Bulgaria saw its population drop 11.5% within the past ten years, meaning there are now 844,000 fewer people, preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute’s (NSI) national census states. The NSI’s final results will not be available until the end of...

The agriculture ministry has opened a national consultation for its national strategic plan to implement the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) before it is sent to the European Commission. But stakeholders and the public will only have five days to go...

After a months-long grace period, the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) launched proceedings against Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and beer producers Dreher, Borsodi and Heineken to enforce the new beverage procurements regulations, Telex reported via state news agency MTI. Restaurants had until 1 August...