“Protect, strengthen, prepare” is the motto Belgium has chosen for its six-month EU Council Presidency. The planned expansion by 2030, including Ukraine, Moldova and other Western Balkan countries, is intended to make the European Union larger and stronger, according to the program of the new Council Presidency.However, the lengthy and intricate accession process could initially […]
Their relief was palpable: After two days of marathon negotiations, the negotiators from the European Parliament, the member states, and the EU Commission agreed on a fundamental reform of the common asylum policy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “historic agreement”.The reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is intended to […]
Until now, the re-election of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was considered a formality: if the German CDU politician were to run for a second term of office – which almost everyone in Brussels assumes – she would easily get a majority in both the European Council and the European Parliament. But now […]
Surprise at the EU summit in Brussels: The heads of state and government have spoken out in favor of opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova. The decision was made by consensus without the Hungarian head of government Viktor Orbán. He subsequently distanced himself from it. However, this has no political or legal significance, […]
The EU is preparing sanctions against radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The work has begun, said EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. The existing sanctions instrument for punishing serious human rights violations serves as the basis. It would allow entry bans and the […]
It is supposed to be a “strategic” summit with groundbreaking decisions on Ukraine and EU funding. But two weeks before the meeting of heads of state and government in Brussels, Council President Charles Michel is struggling with unexpected problems. Hungary’s head of government Viktor Orbán is threatening to veto new financial aid for Ukraine. He […]
Conspicuous silence in Brussels – jubilation in Budapest, Paris, and Rome: Geert Wilders’ election success was mainly commented on by the right-wing parties in Europe. EU politicians, on the other hand, kept a low profile, even in the usually talkative European Parliament it took a long time to recover from the election shock in the […]
The debate on future EU reform is gathering pace. Two weeks after the EU Commission’s recommendation to start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, the European Parliament wants to make a big move today in Strasbourg and call for a reform convention. The majority of member states reject such a convention. In contrast, they are […]
The German construction industry warns of regulatory gaps in important EU projects. Alexander Tesche, Chairman of the Foreign Construction Committee of the Federation of the German Construction Industry, said at a press conference in Brussels that there was a risk of double standards in the Buildings Directive, which is currently being negotiated in the trilogue.It […]
Following massive criticism, particularly from Germany, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wants to take a more active role in the Middle East war. “I will be traveling to Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan on Tuesday”, the Spaniard announced at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. However, his […]