The EU and the UK want to strengthen their bilateral relations again. To this end, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa on May 19. It is the start of “annual summits” to realign relations between London and the EU, announced Starmer’s […]
That was quick: just two hours after being sworn in as Prime Minister by the Belgian King, Bart De Wever arrived at the informal EU summit in Brussels on Monday. “I suppose I’ll have to introduce myself here first,” said the new Belgian head of government. He also announced several important decisions.For example, De Wever […]
The five-point plan on asylum and migration policy, which CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz pushed through the Bundestag with the votes of the FDP and AfD, is also causing lively discussions in Brussels. The focus is on the question of whether Merz’s proclaimed national solo effort is covered by European law – and whether it […]
At the extraordinary EU summit on Feb. 3 at the Château de Limont near Liège, there is a threat of a dispute over defense policy. There are differences of opinion among the heads of state and government on the financing of possible future armaments projects – but also on the question of what capacities the […]
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called on the EU Commission to do more for qualified employees and high-quality jobs. “Quality jobs” are a central component of the European economy and must therefore also be included in the planned “compass” for competitiveness, said ETUC President Esther Lynch in Brussels on Thursday.Lynch added that she […]
Punctual start, early finish: The first EU summit under the leadership of the new permanent Council President Antonio Costa went smoothly and according to plan. “We’ve never had such a constructive discussion,” remarked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the conclusion of the one-day meeting in Brussels. “It has proven highly effective to focus on political […]
During a visit to Ankara, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a further rapprochement with Turkey and the payment of one billion euros for refugees. The money is to be disbursed this year, she said after a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The EU aid will contribute to “migration and border management, […]
“We have never had such extreme challenges,” said Polish EU Ambassador Agnieszka Bartol in Brussels on Thursday. And State Secretary Paweł Karbownik explained in an interview with Table.Briefings: “These are probably the most difficult months in the history of European integration.”In just under three weeks, Poland will take over the Council Presidency amid geopolitical crises […]
The journalists’ expectations were high. Less blah blah blah, more useful answers. Less lecturing, more respect. Less top-down, more dialog. It was the hope of a break with the outdated practices of the spokesperson’s service that had recently made the EU Commission’s “Midday Briefing“ difficult to bear.At first, everything looked quite good. Paula Pinho, the […]
The topic was not even on the agenda. Instead of talking about US ATACMS and now possible Ukrainian military strikes deep in the Russian hinterland, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wanted to focus on diplomatic sanctions against Israel at what was probably his last meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.The EU must […]