The EU is preparing to pay direct and permanent budget support to Ukraine. They are to follow the announced US payments of $1.5 billion per month, according to EU circles in Brussels. However, a decision has not yet been made, stresses the EU Commission, which is working hard on a proposal. The Brussels authority’s draft […]
The clock is ticking: By October 10 at the latest, EU states must take legal action before the European Court of Justice against the controversial taxonomy used by the EU Commission to classify nuclear power and gas as “sustainable” under certain conditions. Germany has already announced that it will not take legal action against the […]
Following the shift to the right in Italy, leading politicians warn of consequences for the EU’s ability to act. “These are going to be difficult times for Europe,” tweeted Katarina Barley (SPD), vice president of the European Parliament. Nicola Beer, EP vice president from the FDP, speaks of a “difficult moment for Europe that we […]
The German government has initiated a debate on the expansion of majority voting in Brussels. The so-called Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) should also be introduced in foreign policy and sanctions decisions, said Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe, on the sidelines of the General Council in Brussels. She added that discussions with like-minded countries […]
It’s one of Belgium’s best-known and most controversial landmarks: the highway network, which is well lit at night. Now the lights are switched off: The southern Belgian region of Wallonia is turning off 20,000 of 22,000 light fixtures to save electricity. The Grand Place in Brussels, which is popular with tourists, is now also dark […]
The EU Commission has not sufficiently addressed the shortcomings in the procurement of Covid vaccines. This is the conclusion of the European Court of Auditors in a special report that reviews the experience of the Covid years 2020 and 2021.The EU Commission did manage to build up a broad range of Covid vaccines and secure […]
As Secretary of State, Liz Truss introduced a bill back in June that would undermine parts of the Brexit treaty. Specifically, it concerns the Northern Ireland Protocol, which regulates border traffic between the British island and EU member Ireland. Relations between Brussels and London have been strained since the introduction of this bill.Truss’ position on […]
The summer break of the EU foreign ministers ends as it began: with a tug-of-war over Ukraine policy. The ongoing dispute over arms deliveries and sanctions has now been joined by a conflict over entry restrictions for Russian citizens. The emotionally charged debate is likely to dominate the informal Gymnich meeting in Prague on Tuesday […]
After several years of slumber, European enlargement policy continues to gain momentum. Around four weeks after the decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status, the European Union began formal accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in Brussels on Tuesday.Originally, negotiations were supposed to begin two years ago. However, Bulgaria had repeatedly delayed the […]
The EU fears being put on the defensive by disinformation and manipulation from Russia. The foreign ministers now want to take countermeasures – with a new toolbox, they decided on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The EU Commission and Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, were […]