European Union

Regulators are set to exercise their new powers by handing out fines and even temporary bans on companies that breach a new EU privacy law, with the first round of sanctions expected by the end of the year, the bloc’s privacy chief said.

European paranoia about Chinese dominance on the African continent was one of the underlying themes at the Financial Times’ Africa summit this week.

Kazakhstan has succeeded where the EU has failed - creating a society based on multiculturalism, Saginaty Berdaulova told EURACTIV in an interview.

Election interference. Fake news. Hyper-partisanship. Ransomware. Denial of service attacks. Cyber-terrorism. Welcome to Europe’s new normal, writes Philippe Cotelle.

The European healthcare sector is divided over the “actual value” EU governments pay for the authorised and partly public-funded novel drugs, compared to medicines already on the market.

European Parliament transport committee chair Karima Delli has warned about the “disastrous” consequences of a hard Brexit, especially on the transport sector. EURACTIV France’s partner La Tribune reports.

Plastic pollution is increasingly in the spotlight but Europe could learn a thing or two from one of the cities leading the charge to curb unnecessary waste, write the governing mayor of Oslo.

EU environment ministers took until nearly midnight on Tuesday (9 October) to agree on a common position for car and van CO2 emission cuts for 2030 but several member states were left “disappointed” with the final agreement. In an attempt...

The European Commission should consider increasing the proposed rates in the controversial digital tax plans, MEPs from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs committee suggested on Tuesday (9 October).

The Council adopted conclusions on biodiversity in view of negotiations at CBD COP14.

The Council adopted conclusions on climate change in view of negotiations at COP24.

On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the Council of Europe and the EU reiterate their strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and for all cases. They underline that the death penalty is an affront to human dignity and that it has no established deterrent effect and makes judicial errors irreversible.

The Council today endorsed a new EU customs action plan to combat infringements of intellectual property rights (IPR).

Written by Cemal Karakas (1st edition),

© EtiAmmos / Fotolia

In June 2018, the European Commission proposed a total budget allocation of €100 billion to finance science, research and innovation projects during the 2021-2027 period, of which the vast majority, €94.1 billion in current prices, would be allocated to the Horizon Europe framework programme. The main aims are to strengthen science and technology, to foster industrial competiveness, and to implement the sustainable development goals in the EU. Horizon Europe would introduce new features such as the European Innovation Council, missions to promote research results, and new forms of partnerships. Horizon Europe also aims at reducing administrative burdens and promoting the concept of open science. More operational synergies are expected through better linkage with other EU programmes, such as cohesion policy (e.g. the European Social Fund), the Digital Europe programme, and the new European Defence Fund.

Versions

• October 2018: ‘Horizon Europe: Framework programme for research and innovation 2021–2027‘ (1st edition)

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the framework programme for research and innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination Committee responsible: Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) COM(2018) 435
7.6.2018 Rapporteur: Dan Nica (S&D, Romania) 2018/0224 (COD) Shadow rapporteurs:

 

  Christian Ehler (EPP, Germany)
Evžen Tošenovský (ECR, Czech Republic)
Lieve Wierinck (ALDE, Belgium)
Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE/NGL, Cyprus)
Jakop Dalunde (Greens/EFA, Sweden)
Rosa D’Amato (EFDD, Italy)
Barbara Kappel (ENF, Austria) Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Committee vote

Dutch European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans wants to become the Party of European Socialists' candidate to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the commission. His candidacy was reported by Dutch media on Tuesday, as well as by Politico, which published a letter from the German Social Democrats supporting Timmermans' candidacy. Timmermans is currently Juncker's right-hand man, and in charge of rule of law issues.

The president of the European Committee of the Regions warned on Tuesday (9 October) that Cohesion policy plays an important role in the European Union and should not be cut in the EU's next long-term budget.

Italy's 5 Star Movement, which has 14 MEPs, has ruled out an alliance with the far right after next year's EU elections.

EU interior ministers are meeting in Luxembourg this Friday to discuss migration. The Austrian EU presidency is hoping to reach a consensus on Dublin reforms and a concept of 'mandatory solidarity' after briefing 27 EU states bilaterally over the summer.

Economic matters matter again, as the Italian government wants to showcase its battle against the European Commission over its spending plan as a renewed European crusade against austerity. But who are the real enemies of Europe?

The success of Europe’s low carbon energy transition relies on achieving high level of investments in a well-balanced mix of technological and natural decarbonisation measures, writes Jannik Lindbæk.