EU Institutions Archives

A 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.

Sunday (1 November) marked the first-year anniversary of the Juncker Commission. The EURACTIV team has looked over its achievements over the past twelve months, and written the executive’s end-of-year school report, grading it from A-F on different issues. 

Financial transactions using shares, or other assets, to secure credit, will come under greater scrutiny after the European Parliament approved a new law on Thursday (29 October) on the 'shadow banking' sector.

The European Parliament on Wednesday (28 October) confirmed that no money from the EU budget will be used to fund bullfighting activities that involve the death of the animal. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.

The European Parliament today (28 October) backed proposed caps on methane and ammonia in draft legislation to reduce air pollution, setting up tough negotiations with the Council of Ministers over the bill. 

Portugal's president accepted yesterday (27 October) the line-up of a new minority government that will be sworn in on Friday, starting the countdown on persuading the opposition-dominated parliament to accept its program or face the collapse of the cabinet.

The European Commission welcomed the end of the bailout programme for Spanish banks, but now may be putting the country’s financial stability at risk, as it seeks further action against 'abusive' mortgage clauses, it was reported on Tuesday (27 October).

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made an appeal to the European Parliament, and to member states, to find innovative ways of financing the migrant crisis, as the EU coffers are running dry.

The Portuguese parliament is likely to reject the program of the centre-right government of Pedro Passos Coelho, plunging the country into uncertainty.

EXCLUSIVE / Europe’s farming lobby has warned MEPs the industry will quit the European Union if they vote to cap agricultural gas emissions in a crunch vote this Wednesday (28 October) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

EU Council President Donald Tusk and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán indirectly rebuked German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (22 October), calling arguments over how to accommodate refugees "naïve" as long as Europe fails to stop them.

The European institutions and the IMF are increasing their demands on Greece, despite the recent reforms adopted by the Greek parliament. Athens can hardly afford to resist. Our partner La Tribune reports.

Leaders from the European Peoples Party (EPP) meeting in Madrid on Thursday (22 October) warned that populism was a “disease” spreading “like a cancer” in the EU.

Portugal's centre-right prime minister, and the head of the opposition Socialists, made rival offers yesterday (20 October) to form the next government, exacerbating the country's political stalemate following this month's inconclusive election.

As Ankara and Brussels hash out a deal to stem the flow of Syrians to Europe, the factors which drive them beyond their first safe haven show how difficult that task will be.

The 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. 

EXCLUSIVE / 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.

EXCLUSIVE / Centre right EU leaders will demand the European Commission ensures its new 'circular economy' package of waste, recycling and incineration laws is based on a light regulatory touch and is driven by market forces.

Follow EURACTIV's rolling coverage of the European Council taking place in Brussels on 15-16 October 2015.

The head of Portugal's main opposition Socialists on Monday (12 October) raised the prospect of forming an "alternative government" with two other leftist parties, after inconclusive elections saw the ruling centre-right fall short of an outright victory.

Romania's ruling Social Democrats (PSD) have elected a former minister convicted of electoral fraud as their new leader, to replace a previous chief now facing a corruption probe, vote returns showed today (12 October).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday (11 October) ruled out tax increases to help deal with the biggest influx of refugees since World War Two.

Thailand’s military junta came under cross-party attack at the European parliament on Thursday (8 October), with MEPs demanding a return to democratic rule, the release of political detainees, and an end to human rights and labour abuses.

In a rare address to the European Parliament on Wednesday (7 October), French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel,  acknowledged that the refugee crisis was a “test of historic proportions” putting the EU at risk, and warned against the destructive power of nationalism.