European Union

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Law governing the institutions
The European Parliament may exercise some of its budgetary powers in Brussels, instead of Strasbourg, if that is required for the proper functioning of the budgetary procedure

Ministerio Fiscal
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Criminal offences that are not particularly serious may justify access to personal data retained by providers of electronic communications services provided that that access does not constitute a serious infringement of privacy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan showed a more conciliatory tone on a hugely sensitive visit to Germany but both sides still have daunting task ahead to rebuild relations and trust battered by a succession of disputes.

Months before European Parliament elections, the EU cannot afford to let the falsehoods spread by Hungary's rulers to go without response.

Iceland's financial crisis in 2008 was partly prompted by UK prime minister Gordon Brown and chancellor Alistair Darling, according to a new study by a professor at the University of Iceland, Hannes Holmsteinn Gissurarson. He concludes that decisions by the British government during the crisis were "politically motivated" and meant to divert attention from the rescue of big Scottish banks and show Scottish voters the risks of independence.

German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron are the world's most popular leaders, according to a PEW study among 26,000 people in 25 countries. Overall confidence in Merkel (52 percent) and Macron (46 percent) were highest in the northern European nations surveyed with less stellar ratings in eastern and southern Europe, while European attitudes toward US president Donald Trump were strikingly negative, it concluded.

Following more than six hours of negotiations, leaders of Germany's ruling coalition have agreed to limit emissions from diesel cars, with details of the plan to be announced later on Tuesday. A central point in the talks was whether the industry would be paying the full bill for retro-fitting of old cars, or if consumers would also have to contribute.

Four Central European countries announced Monday (1 October) a plan to build a high-speed rail link between Budapest and Warsaw, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter  Szijjártó. The planned two-track line would allow train travel at 250 kilometres (miles) per hour,...

Around 180,000 protesters marched in Barcelona on Monday to mark the anniversary of Catalonia's independence vote. A majority of voters backed independence in the referendum on 1 October 2017. When its separatist government then declared independence on 27 October Spain's constitutional court deemed the referendum illegal, and Madrid imposed direct rule. Leaders of the independence movement are still in jail and its leader, Carles Puigdemont, in exile.

Immigrants coming to Britain from the EU will be treated exactly the same as those from the rest of the world after Brexit, according to prime minister Theresa May. Unveiling on Monday the biggest shake-up to Britain's immigration system in decades, she said the new system will give priority to high-skilled workers who will be able to bring their family to the UK only if sponsored by their future employer.

Ten years after Greece was hit by financial crisis, the country still has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union, at 19.1 percent in June 2018, according to figures from Eurostat. Spain had the second-highest unemployment level, 15.2 percent, followed by Italy at 9.7 percent. The lowest unemployment rates in August 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.5 percent), Germany and Poland (both 3.4 percent).

China’s military presence in Djibouti has an impact on peace and stability in the region, which directly affects the interests of European countries in Africa, writes Yun Sun.

The United States, Sweden and Italy have filed bids to supply Bulgaria with eight fighter jets aimed at replacing its ageing Soviet-designed MiG-29s, in a tender estimated at 1.8 billion levs (€900 million), the defence ministry said on Monday (1 October).

Plenary session, Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

A war of words took place days after Rome announced a big spending boost in defiance of the European Union that has spooked the markets and has EU capitals fearing a return of the debt crisis.

The EU commission president urged Rome to rethink its budget plans to avoid a Greek-style euro crisis. Meanwhile, Italy's finance minister tried to calm his colleagues in Luxembourg.

Moscow on Monday (1 October) said low turnout in the referendum on Macedonia's name change renders it invalid, adding that lack of interest means that the population has boycotted a decision "forced" upon it.

Europe has been one of the driving forces behind the quest to make the Paris Agreement on climate change a reality. But how serious is the EU about the landmark deal and what is Brussels doing in its own backyard to keep global temperature increase ‘well below 2 degrees Celsius’?

Lithuania's EU Commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis, has given a scathing response to UK foreign affairs chief Jeremy Hunt, who compared the EU to the former Soviet Union.

Well-meaning intentions on reducing plastic waste in our seas and oceans risks leading to job losses and depriving millions of European children of joy and celebration - without tangible environmental gain.