EU Priorities 2020

INFOGRAPHIC: Who are the EU summit champions?
The EU summit today (7 March) will be the 101st for Jean-Claude Juncker, as premier of Luxembourg and president of the European Commission. Second comes German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with 66 summits Third is Donald Tusk, with 57 summits as premier of Poland and president of the European Council.

Merkel takes centre stage in EU’s year of crises
Est. 5minIn a year of crises for Europe, from the Ukraine war to Greece's debt turmoil to the historic refugee influx, Germany's Angela Merkel emerged as the continent's de facto leader, drawing more praise and fire than ever.

Summit achieves minor progress on banking union deposit scheme
Est. 4minGerman chancellor Angela Merkel reluctantly accepted on Friday (18 December) giving a green light to start discussions on the European deposit insurance scheme, the remaining part of the banking union.

Election failure a potential springboard for Le Pen presidential campaign
Est. 5minThe French regional election campaigns were fought largely on national issues, which has given the mainstream parties a foretaste of the battle to come in the presidential 2017 elections. EURACTIV France reports.

National Front’s record scores a ‘defeat for all’
Est. 5minThe extreme right party collected 6.8 million votes in Sunday's regional elections (13 December). With 27.39% of all votes cast, it beat its performance in the 2014 European elections by 2%. EURACTIV France reports.

Marine Le Pen caught in voting fraud scandal
Est. 2minAfter the French regional elections last Sunday (13 December), the National Front’s leader will have to answer to accusations of voting fraud in the European Parliament, according to information acquired by the French daily Les Échos.

Denmark rejects further EU integration in referendum
Est. 5minDanes voted against adopting a 'flexible' opt-in arrangement on EU justice legislation in a referendum on Thursday (3 December). Parties said the 'No' result was due to a Danish refusal to give up more sovereignty to the EU.

Regions push for ‘bottom-up’ approach to climate change mitigation
Est. 5minSPECIAL REPORT / Ahead of COP21, EU cities and regions are seeking a bigger role and an expanded toolbox to implement any climate agreement reached in Paris.

Euro at risk if Schengen collapses, says Juncker
Est. 3minEuropean Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday (25 November) Europe's single currency will be at risk if the Schengen passport-free travel zone unravels due to member states reimposing border controls to keep refugees out.

Schulz on collision course with Cameron over national parliaments’ role
Est. 5minEuropean Parliament President Martin Schulz has said he is in favour of giving a greater role to national parliaments in EU decision-making, one of the key demands of David Cameron seeking a renegotiation of the UK’s EU membership, but it has to be exercised towards national governments not EU institutions.

LIVE: Terror in Paris, shockwaves in Europe
Est. 1minIslamists killed more than 120 people in multiple Paris attacks Friday evening (13 November). French President François Hollande called the attacks "an act of war" organised from abroad by the Islamic State with internal help. EURACTIV brings you the latest updates.

Paris killings overshadow Danish EU referendum
Est. 3minThe terror attacks in Paris on Friday (13 November) could play a role when Danes go the polls on 3 December, to vote on Denmark's opt-out on Justice and Home Affairs.

EU ‘brains’ warn about end of free capital markets by 2030
Est. 5minEurope faces daunting years ahead, according to a report by the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS), which looks at major global developments until 2030.

Catalan parliament takes first steps towards independence
Est. 7minThe Catalan parliament has this week adopted a resolution calling for the process of "disconnection" from Spain to be launched. But disunity in the separatist camp could derail the process. Our partner La Tribune reports.

Cameron sketches out EU reform demands, stays quiet on timing
Est. 6minBritish Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped to make good progress with reforms of the European Union when leaders from the bloc meet next month, but he gave no fresh sign of when he plans to hold Britain's EU membership referendum.

EU auditors urge new thinking on spending
Est. 4minSigning off on the 2014 accounts, the European Court of Auditors seemed to lose patience and urged the European Commission to come up with a whole new approach on spending.

Germany’s Schäuble and Weidmann on collision course over migrants
Est. 4minGermany needs to send a message to the world that it is reaching the limit of its capacity to help Europe's flood of migrants, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said on Sunday - while the head of the Bundesbank said the country can handle the costs of the refugee crisis without risking its balanced budget.

Juncker backs Schulz bid for Parliament chair
Est. 5minEXCLUSIVE / Martin Schulz has launched a discreet campaign to remain President of the European Parliament for a third consecutive term. One of his most fervent supporters is Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President.

Germany second only to Luxembourg in money laundering risk, says report
Est. 7minGermany’s secretive financial sector is second only to Luxembourg in its vulnerability to money laundering, and is one of the worst member states for tax dodging, according to an analysis of EU nations published a year after the Luxleaks scandal.

A year on, challenges remain for Europe’s single banking supervisor
Est. 5minA year after it took up its duties as Europe's banking watchdog, observers say the Single Supervisory Mechanism is doing a good job, but challenges nevertheless remain.

Eurosceptics claim victory in landmark Poland election
Est. 5minPoland's eurosceptic Law and Justice party (PiS) claimed victory on Sunday (25 October) in a watershed election that risks putting the ex-Communist state on a collision course with key European Union allies.

Enough with the souk in the European Council, says Bettel
Est. 3minIn the midst of the crises Europe is facing, EU leaders need to act swiftly and stop behaving “like if they were in a souk,” said Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, at a dinner in Brussels, on Wednesday evening (21 October).

National Front stung in attempt to ban bee pesticide
Est. 5minThe main groups in the European Parliament have rejected a proposal from the French National Front to ban a bee-killing pesticide, in an attempt to shut the extreme right out of the legislative process. EURACTIV France reports.

EPP leaders bang drum for European army
Est. 5minEXCLUSIVE / Centre-right leaders will greenlight a plan to move towards an EU defence union at the European People's Party congress in Madrid next week, EURACTIV.com has learned.