European Union

The European Commission is “irresponsible” in not addressing the health risks associated with the future rollout of next-generation mobile network, Bulgarian MEP Ivo Hristov has said.

A group of human rights organisations has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court against German arms manufacturers and the German government for selling arms to Saudi Arabia and its allies and thus aiding war crimes in Yemen. Targeting schools and hospitals in Yemen was made possible by the German arms and technology, the complaint says. Germany restricted arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but did not stop it.

Slovenia was almost shocked by the Court of Justice's opinion regarding its border dispute with Croatia, which almost confirmed Croatia's position. In today's edition of the Capitals, also find out what has been happening across other European capitals.

Israel is heading for new elections, the third in 12 months, as the time limit to form a government expired on Wednesday (11 December) at midnight. The two candidates to become prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz, did not succeed in forming a government. Netanyahu is facing indictment in several corruptions cases and a mutiny in his Likud party.

German mobile provider Telefonica Deutschland, known under the brand O2, has chosen Finland's Nokia and China's Huawei as its "proven strategic partners" to build its 5G network, Deutsche Welle writes. The network will be divided equally between Nokia and Huawei. The German government said Huawei must prove its network is safe. The US and others have raised concerns about a possible abuse by China of the network.

Ten percent of the population in Luxembourg , and 9.2 percent in Germany showed signs of depressive symptoms, according to a Robert Koch Institute study published on Wednesday. In Portugal 9.1 percent showed such signs, in Sweden 8.8 and in Hungary 8.5 percent, while the EU average is 6.6 percent. The study referred to symptoms such as diminished interest, weight loss, insomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

European Union leaders on Thursday (12 December) will push an agreement to make their bloc climate neutral by 2050, luring reluctant eastern member states with promises of extra money for their heavily-polluting economies.

Malta's prime minister Joseph Muscat, is facing new calls to quit immediately as a coaition of 12 media and transparency groups urged EU leaders gathering in Brussels to take a stand. Muscat said he would quit in January, but is under pressure to leave now over his role in the investigation into journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder. Muscat might himself address the issue to EU leaders, an EU diplomat said.

French prime minister Edouard Philippe introduced Wednesday a plan to reform the country's complex pension system amid fierce resistance from trade unions and nationwide strikes. The aim is to create a single, points-based system instead of the current 42 separate pension schemes. Philippe told workers in sectors enjoying early retirement that the reforms would be applied gradually. Unions said they will not call off strikes unless the plans are scrapped.

EU leaders will on Thursday extend sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea and Moscow's involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, EU officials said on Wednesday. "Very probably the European Council will confirm its support for Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity," a senior EU official said, adding that the economic sanctions are linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreement and expects the sanction to be extended.

The new commission is right in saying that the EU needs renewed ambition and a comprehensive strategy for Africa. But to do that, it will need to be clearer and convincing.

EU leaders are meeting on Thursday and Friday in three different formats: a regular summit to discuss the EU's long-term budget and the 2050 climate-neutrality goal, a European Council (Article 50) meeting, and a European summit.

A US Senate committee backed legislation on Wednesday (11 December) to impose sanctions on Turkey after its offensive in Syria and purchase of a Russian S-400 missile system, seeking to push President Trump to take a harder line against Ankara.

As UN climate negotiations enter their second and decisive week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the 25th climate conference in Madrid (COP25) and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: Badges taken away, German satisfaction, French absence, and fighting in Tokyo.

After national capitals blocked a deal to force multinationals to publish the income tax they pay in the EU last month, businesses representatives argued that corporate tax should not be the sole tax transparency target during an event at EURACTIV.

Bosnia on Wednesday (11 December) dismantled tents at the makeshift migrant camp known as the "jungle" for its harsh conditions, after transferring hundreds of people who were living at the site to Sarajevo.

European leaders gathering today for an EU summit in Brussels will try to persuade Poland, Czechia and Hungary to rally the bloc's proposed carbon neutrality goal for 2050. Brook Riley explains why this is both a moment of drama and anticlimax.

An adviser at the EU Court of Justice agreed with Croatia on Wednesday (11 December) that settling the border between Slovenia and Croatia was not a matter on which EU courts should rule.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jolted the COP25 conference in Madrid when she presented her European Green Deal yesterday (11 December). But many observers, including young people, are calling for more ambition. EURACTIV France reports.

Europe will find it difficult to achieve many of its goals, such as the Green Deal, without AI. And without a fully developed, multi-party 5G ecosystem, Europe will fall further behind, writes Abraham Liu.