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Verhofstadt, a former Belgian PM, was also a candidate for Commission President in 2004 but Tony Blair, the former British PM, vetoed him.

Ex-Belgian PM set to be nominated as Lib Dem candidate for commission presidency

By: EBR | Friday, January 31, 2014

An arch federalist who has called for a European govenrment, an end to the UK's seat at the UN, and for Europe to become an 'empire' is set to be confirmed as the Liberal Democrat´s official candidate to become next president of the European Commission.

The perceived fiasco at the Eastern Partnership summit in Lithuania has been blamed mostly on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich′s post-Soviet governance and on pressure from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Experts call for "rethink" of EU Eastern Partnership Programme

By: EBR | Friday, January 31, 2014

A senior EU official has told a Brussels conference that "lessons must be learned" from the collapse of talks aimed at forging a closer relationship between the EU and crisis-torn Ukraine.

"The only way to settle this conflict is through new elections, in which Ukrainians can let it be known at the ballot box whether they want to live in a country that respects democratic principles and the rule of law and enters a path towards political stability and prosperity, or whether they want to see the continuation of policies that have led the country towards inequality and the violation of rules."

Top MEP condemns "violence and abuses" during Ukraine protests

By: EBR | Thursday, January 30, 2014

A senior MEP has condemned the "violence and abuses" said to have been committed by the Ukrainian security forces in the recent street protests.

Some say the outbursts have underlined a growing inclination for radical actions in the protest movement that has gripped Kiev for two months.

Concerns voiced over "ultranationalist thugs" in Ukraine protests

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A leading British MEP has voiced concern at "unprovoked" violence reportedly used by some street protesters in Ukraine.

The appeal to the EU comes just weeks after Latvia joined the eurozone. The small Baltic country of about 1.8m people will celebrate its 10th anniversary of EU membership in May and, in the 2nd half of the year, prepare for its six months EU presidency starting on 1 January 2015.

EU urged to "do more" to help tackle plight of Latvia´s non-citizens

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 28, 2014

They are dubbed as "aliens" and the European Union is now being urged to intervene to tackle the blight of Latvia´s non-citizens.

Mathieu, who is based in Brussels, told EBR, "Why was Lady Ashton normalizing relationship with Guinea in December even before the final report of the EU observatory mission, led by Cristian Preda, was published? This report was only issued on 21 January."

EU Commission chief under fire after ´meeting´ with controversial Guinea president

By: EBR | Friday, January 24, 2014

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has been criticised for reportedly meeting controversial Guinean president Alpha Condé at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Green groups have said the new targets lack ambition and the 40% emissions cut is "dangerously low".

The European Commission has outlined its much-awaited plans for climate and energy policy until 2030

By: EBR | Thursday, January 23, 2014

Brussels wants a binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 40% from 1990 levels. Renewables will need to provide 27% of EU energy by 2030, but while the target will be binding at EU level there will be no mandatory targets for member states.

The current 18 month ban (cooling-off period) on former commissioners undertaking lobbying activities should be extended to three years and should cover all issues for which the Barroso II Commission has taken collective decisions, as well as all issues dealt with by the individual commissioner. Any other role which could create a conflict of interest should also be included within this ban;

Campaigners intensify efforts to close "revolving door" for top EU official

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Campaigners are stepping up their long-running campaign aimed at blocking top EU officials from taking up lucrative jobs in the lobby industry as soon as they step down from office.

Verhofstadt is one of the EU’s most avid euro-federalists. In 2005, he published a book on closer EU integration, ‘The United States of Europe’, and he is one of the driving forces behind the Spinelli Group of federalist MEPs, launched in 2010.

Former Belgian PM announces his candidacy for European Commission presidency

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The race to succeed Jose Manuel Barroso as European Commission president is hotting up with the liberal group in the European Parliament choosing the Fleming Guy Verhofstadt as its candidate.

Separately from the above, in 2014, we′ll see if populist parties in countries across the European Union -South East Europe included- capitalize on citizen‘s austerity related frustrations in May‘s European Parliament elections. Also to watch, at SE Europe‘s borders, is Turkey‘s Presidential election, where the embattled Prime minister, Erdogan, will be a candidate.

2014: Key election time in South East Europe

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 14, 2014

If you're interested in news from Europe, your periodical menu should be full with Summits trying to solve the Eurozone crisis or with hot stuff happening at the EU borders, as is the case now with Ukraine and Turkey.

“This is a European election year, and it is time for all Polish politicians to distance modern Poland ever further from its Soviet past, and to make renewed efforts for Poland to continue to move closer to respect for the EU values enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.”

Poland in the dock over alleged breaches of EU law

By: EBR | Monday, January 13, 2014

A senior Polish MEP says the authorities in Poland may have breached EU judicial law in the case of an entrepreneur who says he is the victim of a long-running campaign to discredit him.

It looks like Commissioner Reding’s solutions are too late anyhow. She knows and that’s why she said last week: ‘free movement in the EU is a right to free circulation; it is not a right to migrate in member states’ social security systems’. The question now is, did they hear in Bulgaria and Romania her saying that?

Bulgarians and Romanians are coming!

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Editor’s weekly column – December 18, 2013

It was former European Commission President Romano Prodi who first floated the idea of building a special relationship with the EU′s neighbours shortly before 10 central and east European countries joined the bloc in 2004.

Vilnius "fiasco" casts fresh doubts on viability of EU′s Eastern Partnership

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The recent failure to conclude a landmark agreement between the EU and Ukraine has raised questions about a policy designed to surround the bloc with a "ring of friends" that many argue has done little so far to stabilise its neighbourhood.

Yanukovych has one overriding aim: to win the March 2015 presidential elections at all costs. He appears ready to pay any price, including a slide into dictatorship or becoming a client state of Russia. The real power behind the President is the murky entity known as "the family".

Ukraine to push for "more agreeble" terms in EU trade deal

By: EBR | Friday, December 13, 2013

The EU has been urged to get relations between Ukraine and the 28-strong bloc “back on track”.

In the resolution on the ENP′s "eastern dimension", MEPs argue that the EU should, in future, only provide financial support for neighbourhood countries on the strict condition that they undertake domestic reforms and move towards democracy.

European Union urged to undertake "drastic" reform of Neighbourhood Policy

By: EBR | Monday, November 25, 2013

The EU's Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is supposed to strengthen prosperity, stability and security at EU borders but there are growing calls for it to be "radically" reformed.

“The bottom line is that Ukrainian people do not have free access to free and fair objective news coverage”

MEPs voice "serious concern" over government crackdown on press freedom in Ukraine

By: EBR | Friday, November 22, 2013

With the much-awaited Eastern Partnership summit just days away, fresh fears have been voiced about a new crackdown on press freedom in Ukraine.

Just hours after President Viktor Yanukovych′s governing Party of Regions rejected legislation that would have allowed the jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to travel abroad for medical treatment, the country′s government announced it was halting preparations for the Vilnius signing ceremony.

Ukraine suspends trade talks as Putin wins ′tug of war′ with EU

By: EBR | Friday, November 22, 2013

EU/Ukraine relations have been thrown into dissaray after Kiev suspended its preparations for EU trade agreement.

"The postponement of a decision on Tymoshenko at this time appears to be a provocation to the EU and, in particular, the European Parliament, which has actively intervened to seek the release of Tymoshenko for medical treatment," added the German deputy.

Ukraine President accused of using ´delaying tactics´ as chances of EU trade pact appear doomed

By: EBR | Thursday, November 14, 2013

Ukraine has been roundly condemned for failing to pass legislation which could have paved the way for it to sign a ground-breaking Association Agreement with the European Union.

Elsewhere, James Sherr, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House in London, said the Tymoshenko is only a "stumbling block" and that there are "deeper issues."

Senior German MEP says /time is running out/ on EU/Ukraine trade deal

By: EBR | Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A senior Member of the European Parliament says "time is running out" on Ukraine/s hopes of signing a landmark trade deal with the European Union in two weeks/ time.

Ahead of the EU mission´s 13 November deadline, Brussels is making last minute efforts to pressure Yanukovych to release and pardon Tymoshenko.

Fresh doubt on EU trade deal after Tymshenko lawyer ´held by police´

By: EBR | Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Fresh doubt has been cast on the chances of Kiev signing a key trade deal with the EU after it emerged that a defence lawyer for the imprisoned Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko had been detained by police.

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EU Actually

Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary

By: N. Peter Kramer

In many big towns and cities, Socialists and centre-right Republicans are tempted to make electoral pacts on their outside flanks to beat the opposition in next Sunday’s run off of the French mayoral elections.

Europe

Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic Opportunity

The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.

Business

EU risks losing US soy imports under deforestation rules, Washington warns

The regulation would make the bloc less attractive for American exporters, a senior USDA official said