EU Reforms

New Circular Economy Package ‘less ambitious’ than axed predecessor
Est. 6minThe European Commission’s draft waste and incineration laws to replace the package it axed under its drive for “better regulation”, has weaker targets for recycling and landfill than its predecessor.

Verhofstadt calls for creation of EU intelligence agency
Est. 3minFaced with the failure of European security cooperation, the leader of the Liberals in the European Parliament has called for the creation of an EU intelligence agency. EURACTIV France reports.

EU ‘unanimous’ in agreeing French treaty-call for help after attacks
Est. 3minAll 28 EU member states have unanimously backed France’s call for “aid and assistance” following the Paris terror attacks, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said Tuesday (17 November).

France ‘at war’ inaugurates EU’s mutual defence clause
Est. 7minPresident François Hollande said he will invoke the European Union's ‘mutual defence clause’ for the first time to combat the perpetrators of the Paris attacks, betting on EU support over NATO in the country's fight against the Islamic State.

Hungary prepares to back Slovak legal challenge against EU refugee deal
Est. 3minHungary will ask the European Commission to call off its decision on the distribution of refugees. The motion may have little support in the EU, but it is a clear statement of Budapest's determination. EURACTIV France reports.

Europhile Brits relieved after EU judges’ decisions on welfare, prisoners’ votes
Est. 5minEuropean Union judges today (6 October) ruled that a ban on prisoners voting in European elections was legal, and suggested that checks on child migrants’ welfare payments were lawful, in decisions that have pro-EU Brits breathing a sigh of relief.

With Brexit deadlines tight, UK-EU talks begin
Est. 7minJeremy Corbyn and George Osborne have combined to remind Europe that London is now fully embarked on a turbulent, quickfire negotiation with Brussels that may see Britons vote next year to quit the European Union.

Verhofstadt slams Tusk for ‘not doing his job’
Est. 3minGuy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament, slammed Council President Donald Tusk yesterday (7 September) for not playing his role in solving the refugee crisis.

Russia tells EU to abandon ‘messianic’ project of exporting democracy
Est. 5minA prominent Russian diplomat has called on the EU to abandon his “messianic” project of exporting democracy and instead solve its problems together with Russia, and not at its expense.

UKIP goes solo on Brexit referendum campaign
Est. 4minThe UK Independence Party will launch a separate campaign fighting for Britain to leave the European Union in the 'Brexit' referendum, rather than joining either of the two existing No campaigns.

Osborne seeks non-eurozone allies in Scandinavia
Est. 2minGeorge Osborne, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Monday (24 August) asked Sweden and Denmark to help bolster the influence of non-eurozone countries in the EU.

Osborne goes to Scandinavia seeking support for EU reform
Est. 3minChancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will take the British government's campaign for EU reform to three Scandinavian capitals on Monday (24 August), hoping to drum up support from non-euro member states such as Sweden and Denmark.

Juncker makes last minute offer to Greece
Est. 5minCommission President Jean-Claude Juncker made a last-minute offer to Athens in a bid to reach a bailout agreement before the deadline expires today (30 June), European Union and Greek government sources said.

Cameron’s EU reform plea sidelined at Brussels summit
Est. 5minBritish Prime Minister David Cameron was given less than ten minutes to present his proposals for EU reform at the European summit on Thursday (25 June), as the Greek debt consumed most of the attention of EU heads of state.

Cameron’s EU reform calls to fall on deaf ears at Brussels summit
Est. 5minSignificant progress on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s push for EU reform is unlikely at today’s (24 June) summit of European leaders in Brussels.

Cameron to serve up renegotiation demands at Council dinner
Est. 5minBritish Prime Minister David Cameron will present his counterparts with a list of demands for the UK’s European Union membership renegotiation at the European Council dinner on Thursday. EURACTIV France reports.

Osborne spells out Britain’s key demands on EU reform
Est. 4minBritain wants a guarantee from the European Union that it will not be penalised for remaining outside the eurozone, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said on Wednesday (10 June), setting out one key demand in London's renegotiation with the bloc.

‘No’ campaign boosted by Tory rebellion
Est. 5minBritish Prime Minister David Cameron has been challenged by a group of over 50 lawmakers from his Conservative Party who are prepared to join a campaign backing Britain's exit from the European Union unless he achieves radical changes in the bloc.

Selmayr: Brussels, London can join hands to avert Brexit
Est. 4minIn the debate over EU reforms, the European Commission and the United Kingdom agree on many points, including the division of powers between the EU and its member states, according to the chief of staff of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. EURACTIV.de reports.

Sigmar Gabriel: Europe may have to move at different speeds
Est. 2minGerman Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said that Europe may have to move at different speeds in the future, with Germany and France taking the lead and leaving others to follow later.

Danish minister warns Cameron: Don’t pursue our EU model
Est. 4minMartin Lidegaard, Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, has warned David Cameron against copying the Danish EU opt-out model when the UK Prime Minister negotiates a reform of Britain's relations with the EU, saying "it has given us nothing but problems".

Worries mount as European Parliament sits idle
Est. 6minEXCLUSIVE / The European Parliament's legislative vacuum is frustrating both national and European politicians. While MEPs are forced to vote on hollow resolutions, France has lodged a complaint with the President Martin Schulz. EURACTIV France reports.

Commission hardens tone with Orbán
Est. 3minEuropean Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday (30 April) urged Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to make clear he has no intention of reintroducing the death penalty in his country, otherwise “there will be a fight”. A Commission spokesperson hinted that Hungary risked losing its voting rights in the Union if it went ahead with the plans.

Tusk calls Cameron’s EU reform plans ‘mission impossible’
Est. 4minEuropean Council President Donald Tusk warned yesterday (15 March) that British Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to amend the bloc's treaties to secure a new deal for Britain in Europe were virtually "mission impossible".