European Union

Europe’s conservatives need a new proposal for the continent, Jarosław Kaczyński, head of Poland’s ruling party Law and Justice (PiS), said on Saturday 4 December at the Warsaw Summit of European conservative and right-wing leaders. Kaczyński also criticised recent trends favouring...

In a last-minute effort to “save Christmas” amid rising COVID-19 cases, eight Spanish regions have made COVID digital certificates mandatory. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported. The “COVID-19 pass”, which can be downloaded via a specific “app” in each of the 17 Spanish...

It is unnecessary to make  COVID-19 vaccine mandatory in Italy, Public Administration Minister Renato Brunetta said on Sunday, adding that the current measures have led to increased vaccination rates. He added that the spread of the virus is being managed better...

French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour promised on Sunday (5 December) a “reconquest” against decades of decline at his first political rally, as scuffles with anti-racism protesters broke out on its fringes. “If I win this election, it won’t be...

Ireland has brought back its Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) for those who lost jobs due to the reintroduction of restrictions. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the new Omicron variant, the government has reintroduced several measures...

Following the grand reveal of the “traffic light” government’s coalition agreement, the parties’ members had the last say this weekend on whether the social democrat SPD, the Greens and the FDP should form Germany’s first-ever three-way government. With designated Chancellor...

The president of the Île-de-France region was nominated on Saturday by right-wing Republican party members as candidate for the 2022 presidential election. Valérie Pécresse, who won against Éric Ciotti with 61% of the vote, promised to, “restore French pride and...

Belgian police fired water cannon and used tear gas Sunday (4 December) to disperse protesters opposed to compulsory health measures against the coronavirus pandemic.

MEP Nikos Androulakis (S&D) has won the first round of internal elections of the Greek socialist party (Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement – Pasok), with 37% of the vote. He will now compete for the party’s leadership in the second round with...

More than 40,000 people marched through Vienna on Saturday (4 December) to protest against a lockdown and plans to make vaccinations compulsory to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Russia’s call for guarantees against the NATO alliance expanding eastwards got a swift response from Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who released a statement emphasising Finland’s “national room to manoeuvre”, including the possibility of military alignment and applying for NATO membership. Niinistö...

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer will be sworn in as the new chancellor on Monday. His inauguration should end the governmental crisis sparked by former chancellor Sebastian Kurz’ departure from politics. Kurz’s decision to leave politics has led to a government...

A fight has been taking place in Brussels for over a year, fought publicly in the media and behind the scenes. Should Brussels grant nuclear a green investment label? A French-Eastern European coalition of nuclear power has been pushing for...

US President Joe Biden said Friday (3 December) he would make it "very, very difficult" for Russia to launch any invasion of Ukraine, which warned that a large-scale attack may be planned for next month.

Pope Francis on Sunday (5 December) returned to the island of Lesbos, the migration flashpoint he first visited in 2016, calling the neglect of migrants the "shipwreck of civilisation".

EU member states could agree on a draft regulation on roaming in the EU in the coming days, Slovenian Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik said in Brussels on Friday (3 December). Koritnik, whose country holds the rotating EU Council...

In this week’s edition: NATO's Russia worries, China on EU's (investment) mind and Croatia's border violence.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 4 - 12 December 2021

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

The Ministers of Home Affairs and Justice of Slovenia, representing the Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the European Commission, met on 1-3 December 2021 with their counterparts from the Western Balkans at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs.