European Union

Voters in Moldova head to the polls on Sunday (24 February) for a parliamentary election reflecting the tiny ex-Soviet republic's long-standing division between pro-Russians and pro-Europeans.

European and Arab leaders are to hold their first summit Sunday (24 February), in what the top EU diplomat sees as a chance to boost cooperation across a troubled Mediterranean region.

"Every fourth euro spent within the EU budget will go towards action to mitigate climate change," European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said in Brussels at an event with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in Brussels on Thursday, referring to the bloc's 2021 to 2027 budget. He also criticised US leader Donald Trump for saying climate change was "invented" and "ideological". "Talk to the scientists, listen to them", Thunberg said.

Swedish lender Swedbank has hired external auditors EY to check its books after Swedish Television revealed at least 40bn Swedish crowns (€3.8bn) were moved between accounts at Swedbank and Danske Bank in the Baltic states between 2007 and 2015, when Dankse Bank was involved in a huge money laundering scandal there. The Swedbank revelations saw 14 percent of its share value wiped out in one day.

There are hundreds of articles about the impact of Brexit on UK businesses. What is striking is that there is virtually nothing similar about its impact on European businesses. As if Brexit would only hurt the UK side. While the EU stands to profit from it. We don’t buy that.

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the danger of Britain leaving the EU without a deal 'very serious' after a meeting Wednesday with EU negotiator Michel Barnier. Corbyn, whose Labour party lost eight MPs in protest of his Brexit policy and rising anti-semitism in the party, said he discussed the UK staying in the EU's customs union which could end the Brexit impasse, but ruled out by the UK government.

German finance minister Olaf Scholz has presented a bill for German customs to be given more employees and powers. EURACTIV Germany’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

The new eleven-member Independent Group is the latest product of a Brexit process that is dissolving British politics, writes Denis MacShane.

Relations between Bucharest and Brussels hit an all-time low on Thursday (21 February) as the Romanian press reported that the Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová have been indicted for “falsification” of the last Cooperation and Verification report (CVM).

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was in Brussels on Thursday (21 February) to take part in one of the climate school strikes that have taken place every week in Belgium since December. EURACTIV.com does not usually publish speeches. But we...

Written by Beatrix Immenkamp (1st edition),

© drstokvektor / Fotolia

In the context of the Commission’s proposal for a multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2021-2027 period, the Commission published a proposal for a Council regulation establishing a European instrument for nuclear safety complementing the neighbourhood, development and international cooperation instrument on the basis of the Euratom Treaty on 14 June 2018. The proposed regulation will replace Council Regulation (Euratom) No 237/2014 of 13 December 2013 establishing an instrument for nuclear safety cooperation (INSC). The proposed regulation will continue to fund the important activities carried out under the current regulation, namely to support the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety and radiation protection and the application of effective and efficient safeguards of nuclear materials in third countries, building on the activities under the Euratom Treaty.

Versions

• February 2019: ‘Nuclear Safety outside the EU: Proposal for a new Council regulation‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a European Instrument for Nuclear Safety complementing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument on the basis of the Euratom Treaty Committee responsible: Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) COM(2018) 462 of 14.06.2018 Rapporteur: Vladimir Urutchev (EPP, Bulgaria) 2018/0245(NLE) Shadow rapporteurs: Jens Geier (S&D, Germany)
Rupert Matthews (ECR, UK)
Pavel Telička (ALDE, Czech Republic)
Jaromir Kohliček (GUE/NGL, Czech Republic)
Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, Italy)
Dario Tamburrano (EFDD, Italy) Consultation procedure – Parliament adopts only a non-binding opinion Next steps expected: Adoption by Council

School kids are on climate strike “because we have done our homework” and listened to science, 16-year-old green activist Greta Thunberg told EU policymakers in Brussels today (21 February). “Just unite behind the science, that is our demand,” she said.

A majority of young Europeans (77%) feel well prepared for the labour market of the digital era, but they are also very critical about how their national education systems prepare them, a survey published on Thursday (21 February) revealed.

The French have finally realised that there may well be a no-deal Brexit. The Medef employers’ federation has said that French businesses are not prepared, the agricultural sector is waiting, while transporters are panicking. EURACTIV France reports.

Pope Francis is opening the first summit on the subject of abuse in the Catholic Church in the Vatican today, Thursday. After decades of systematically covering up scandals the Church is now seeking ways to prevent sexual abuse. Victim associations want concrete measures. Will their demand be met?