European Union

The European Commission on Thursday adopted Slovenia's recovery plan, as the country took over the EU Council presidency. The EU will disburse a total of €2.5bn (€1.8bn in grants, €705m in loans). "It [the plan] combines investments for the green and digital transitions, with reforms of long-term care, healthcare, and pension systems for the benefit of all Slovenian citizens," said EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

The survey, as part of a research project for the German Marshal Fund of the United States, aimed to measure how Romanians react to series of elements of the Eurosceptic and nationalist agenda.

There is a double standard at the heart of the European Commission. Women — mostly white women — benefit from affirmative action when applying for jobs. But people of colour seeking advancement do not benefit from special consideration.

As Slovenia takes over the EU Council presidency from Portugal on Thursday (1 July), it faces an avalanche of climate legislation, both inherited from its predecessor and from the European Commission which is due to table a massive legislative package on 14 July.

A government decree published on Wednesday (30 June) will end the possibility of anonymous donations to civil society in Hungary from Thursday. From now on, associations and foundations will have to indicate every year from whom they have received the...

  Packaging provides countless benefits, but has rightly come under the spotlight as an area with issues to tackle. Upcoming legislation aims to deliver on the circular economy but will it ‘close the loop’ on its’ important ambition? writes Graham Houlder.

The motion of no-confidence tabled before parliament against former Prime Minister Igor Matovič from his current position as finance minister fell short of the necessary 76 votes, as 51 MPs voted in favour, 67 against, and 17 abstained. The no-confidence...

Czech citizens living near the Polish lignite mine in Turów sent a letter to European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, asking him to join the ongoing negotiations between Czechia and Poland. Czechia and Poland are currently in a dispute over the extended...

Council of Europe’s Secretary-General Marija Pejčinović Burić has sent a letter to the Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, in which she expressed the Council’s “concern and disappointment” with the statements of the Polish government on a recent judgement of the...

A recent statement by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades that the idea of a special bracelet for the unvaccinated is being discussed has caused turmoil in Cyprus. A journalist asked Anastasiades if the government is considering making special bracelets mandatory for...

Italy has taken a number of measures before the England vs Ukraine Euro 2020 match, due to take place in Rome on Saturday, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant from UK travellers. Some of the measures include...

Four leading newspapers in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway simultaneously published a joint petition on Thursday, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, protesting the closure of the Daily Apple newspaper, and measures to control and...

“The protocol threatens the stability of the political institutions. It is the problem, and that problem needs to be resolved,” DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said in his keynote speech in Belfast on Thursday. Donaldson went on to describe the protocol...

Several leading European newspapers have refused to run a paid advertisement signed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying they do not want to give space to a politician they accuse of subverting human rights and press freedom.

Earlier in June, Belgium’s Minister of Justice and North Sea Vincent Van Quickenborne launched a legal battle against the French government’s plans for a wind farm at sea near Dunkirk. Now the region of Flanders is joining the fight. The...

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was summoned to the parliamentary investigation committee over alleged corruption in the former ÖVP-FPÖ government, which collapsed after “Ibiza-Gate” – the biggest corruption scandal in Austrian history. In his opening statement, Kurz complained that the committee was...

Germany expects the Delta variant of COVID-19 to account for up to 80% of infections this month, but health experts argue that the Delta variant would not be significantly more dangerous than others. Germany’s STIKO vaccination commission said later on...

Hosting the Euro 2020 semifinals and final at Wembley Stadium in London while cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant are soaring across the UK is a “recipe for disaster”, Pascal Canfin, chair of the European Parliament’s environment committee, said in...

Slovenia’s centre-left opposition has rejected the governing coalition’s call for a political truce during Slovenia’s EU presidency and is determined to continue to use ‘all the available means’ at their disposal, not ruling out a new attempt at a vote...

Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted.