European Union

Indonesia on Sunday (15 December) said it has filed a World Trade Organisation lawsuit against the European Union over plans to phase out palm oil-based biofuel for cars, the trade ministry said.

Acting socialist PM Pedro Sánchez is expected to receive some certainties from Catalan separatists of ERC on their essential support to allow the investiture, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.

Sixteen days of negotiations were not enough to find common ground on international carbon trading rules, one of the main issues of contention at the COP25 climate summit in Madrid. EURACTIV France reports.

The clock is ticking. The long-term gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine is expiring on 31 December. Chances that the two sides would reach a comprehensive agreement before this date are slim. EURACTIV looks behind the scenes of the dispute.

By building the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream gas pipelines, Russia seeks to circumvent Ukraine for the transit of billions of cubic meters of gas to European countries. EURACTIV looks at the issues Europe faces with gas transit at its border.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 16-22 December 2019

President Charles Michel presented the results of the discussions EU leaders had during the Euro summit and the European Council (Article 50). He thanked the Prime Minister of Finland for the work accomplished during their Presidency.

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

The Euro Summit adopted a statement on 13 December 2019.

On 13 December 2019 the Special European Council (Art. 50) adopted conclusions on Brexit.

After the European Council meeting on climate change, MFF and foreign relations, President Charles Michel highlighted the main results of the discussions.

EU Scream, the podcast about EU affairs co-hosted by EUobserver, has won the 'Media of the Year' award from The Good Lobby, a non-profit start-up aimed at empowering European citizens. The award recognised aim to "develop a European public space by uncovering untold stories." Recent episodes have looked at political pressure on the cultural scene in Poland and the anti-abortion lobby in eastern EU member states.

Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte claimed victory on Friday (13 December), after changing the wording of the Euro summit's conclusion postponing a final agreement on the reform of the eurozone bailout fund.

The worsening migration situation in Latin America and Europe worries parliamentarians in both regions, who also warn against increasing trade protectionism.

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The worsening migration situation in Latin America and Europe worries parliamentarians in both regions, who also warn against increasing trade protectionism.

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Parliament will award the Sakharov human rights prize, elect a new Ombudsman and debate the rule of law in Malta and the EU Summit at the final plenary session of 2019.

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Parliament will award the Sakharov human rights prize, elect a new Ombudsman and debate the rule of law in Malta and the EU Summit at the final plenary session of 2019.

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Tensions between Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, and his finance minister and Eurogroup president, Mario Centeno erupted in front of EU leaders on Friday (13 December) as the two clashed over the design of the eurozone budgetary instrument .

It is not often that we knowingly witness history in the making before our own eyes, but today we've had one of those moments.

The European Council has asked the Commission to present a mandate to start post-Brexit negotiations with the UK as soon as possible, following Thursday (12 December) UK elections results that confirmed a strong majority for Boris Johnson.