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Bardella has made assurances that he does not want to “call into question the commitments made by France on the international stage,” but this does not stop many EU diplomats and officials from expressing concern.

EU aid to Ukraine could be under threat by Rassemblement National’s rise to power

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 26, 2024

With the French legislative elections on 30 June, the far-right Rassemblement National’s (RN) long-standing friendship with the Kremlin is causing concern in both Brussels and Kyiv

This best-case outcome would hardly be material for the sort of vaulting initiatives Macron tends to favor.

France’s High-Stakes Election Showdown

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 25, 2024

On Sunday, France will hold snap parliamentary elections announced by President Emmanuel Macron after his party’s stunning defeat in the European Parliament elections

Of course, several hurdles remain to be cleared. The European Council has to propose the new commission president to the European Parliament, which will probably decide on her election mid-July.

Europe’s New Leadership Faces a Teamwork Test

By: EBR | Friday, June 21, 2024

Despite some last-minute bickering among party groups, the European Council, which represents the EU member states, appears on track to decide on who will get the EU’s top jobs

The EU executive announced that so-called “excessive deficit procedures” (EDP) will be initiated against Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia, whose deficits exceeded the bloc’s fiscal limit of 3% of annual GDP in 2023.

EU Commission ups pressure on seven countries’ public spending; spares Estonia for defence investment

By: EBR | Thursday, June 20, 2024

The European Commission issued formal warnings to seven member states for violating the bloc’s budget rules

The EU is developing plans to require airlines to track and report their contribution to climate change from January 2025 – not only from carbon dioxide, but also soot, nitrogen oxides and water vapour.

EU drafts plan to exempt long-haul flights from new emissions rules

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 19, 2024

The European Commission has drafted plans to exempt long-haul flights from rules on monitoring their non-CO2 emissions, after international carriers lobbied for an opt-out

“For oats, this average is 2.440,56 tonnes,” the European Commission said in a press release on Tuesday (18 June). Imports since the beginning of 2024 “are above this volume,” the bloc’s executive added, announcing the reintroduction of the tariff quota from the 2016 free trade agreement with Ukraine.

The EU triggers emergency brake on oats imports from Ukraine

By: EBR | Wednesday, June 19, 2024

The cereal is the first agricultural product that will no longer be exempted from duties as of Wednesday

Russia’s war in Ukraine is putting big pressure on EU member states to boost defense spending, revamp the EU’s enlargement policy, and counter the Kremlin’s pervasive disinformation campaigns.

The Timely Revival of the Weimar Triangle

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 18, 2024

These are uncertain times for the EU

‘We have a unique civil service system’, Willem-Alexander emphasised, ‘The fact that a civil servant is loyal to whom so ever is the political boss, is a fantastic system that I strongly support. But, of course, everyone is free to look for another job if that does not suit his or her conscience. And to use his or her qualities elsewhere’.

Dutch King: civil servants who do not want to work for Wilders’ ministers can look for another job

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, June 17, 2024

King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands has responded to the unrest amongst government officials about the possible participation of the PVV

While Macron as the Commander-in-Chief could probably still send existing weapons (or possibly even soldiers) to Ukraine, parliament could deny him the funds for any major new initiative.

Macron/Le Pen: Cohabitation in France?

By: EBR | Friday, June 14, 2024

The outcome of the snap elections to the French parliament, to be held in two rounds on June 30th and July 7th, is uncertain

In April, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg issued an unprecedented judgment that said Bern had violated the human rights of a group of older Swiss women, the KlimaSeniorinnen, by failing to tackle climate change.

Swiss parliament snubs European court climate ruling

By: EBR | Thursday, June 13, 2024

The lower house of the Swiss parliament voted to reject a ruling ordering Switzerland to do more to combat global warming

This influence is now called into question with a fresh political crisis in France and elections scheduled for 30 June and 7 July, where the far-right Rassemblement National is expected to perform well.

Resurgent ALDE moves to retake Liberal lead from defeated French

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 11, 2024

France’s influence within the liberal Renew Europe group is under threat with the Renaissance delegation down 10 seats

This week underlines Ukraine’s dilemma of simultaneity: it needs to deal with fighting a war, advancing its recovery, and pursuing EU membership at the same time.

Zelensky’s Diplomatic Offensive

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 11, 2024

The different dimensions of Russia’s war against Ukraine will be at the forefront this week in a series of events around the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin

On 11 June in Brussels, the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (CoP), comprised of party group leaders, will meet to assess the election results. After jostling for recruits and defectors, the final formation of the House will not be settled until the new Parliament opens its first plenary session on 16 July.

EU how further? A British look at it

By: EBR | Saturday, June 8, 2024

At this moment of instability, the European Union is looking for new leaders

Starting today and until June 9, voters in twenty-seven EU member states will be heading to the polls to elect the next European Parliament

De-Europeanization in the EU’s Neighborhood

By: EBR | Thursday, June 6, 2024

It is election season in Europe

Under the G7 plans, profits from the Russian immobilised assets held in the EU would service the interest and could also pay back the capital of a future loan issued to Ukraine by either the US, or the US jointly with other G7 countries, or by the EU from its budget.

Eurozone finance ministers back G7 push on Russian frozen assets, but legal questions remain

By: EBR | Thursday, June 6, 2024

Eurozone finance ministers gave their political backing to a G7 plan to provide loans to Ukraine by using windfall profits generated from Russian assets

“For the efficiency of the EU and a more political Union, the impartiality of the Commission should be an absolute priority,” Michel told reporters in Brussels, referencing Article 17 of the EU treaty, which spells out the EU’s institutional set-up.

European Commission should be less political and more impartial, Michel says

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The EU’s treaties explicitly provide for the European Commission to be ‘impartial’, something that the current EU executive has not followed, European Council President Charles Michel told

The rhetoric of the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far left are fueling hate and contributing to a polarization of society not seen in decades.

Germany at a Crossroads

By: EBR | Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Europe’s biggest economy is struggling to cope with a rapidly changing geopolitical environment

“Mario Draghi never reveals his plans until he comes to power,” De Benedetti said.

For Mario Draghi, European Council rather than Commission

By: EBR | Monday, June 3, 2024

Mario Draghi, former European Central Bank (ECB) chief, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for one of the EU’s top jobs after June’s elections

A slight majority of Italians do not have a positive image of Giorgia Meloni after nearly two years in charge. 52% disapprove of her government, whereas only 41% think positively about her performance.

Giorgia Meloni’s Italy

By: EBR | Monday, June 3, 2024

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni epitomizes modern European right-wing populism. Here are some pivotal facts about the country she leads

Earlier this week, EU foreign ministers decided to call for a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council “to discuss the situation in Gaza and respect human rights under the obligations Israel has assumed”, the bloc’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said.

Limited appetite among member states for EU trade sanctions on Israel

By: EBR | Friday, May 31, 2024

Amid growing calls for economic sanctions against Israel in view of the worsening humanitarian toll of its military operations in Gaza, EU trade ministers briefly discussed the issue

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EU Actually

Six EU countries demand revision of climate policy: ‘Ideological dogmatism harms our industry’

By: N. Peter Kramer

Six European heads of government have called on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to review the current EU climate policy.

Europe

EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine but without using Russian assets

European Union leaders have struck a late-night deal to lend Ukraine €90bn (£79bn; $105bn) over the next two years, after failing to agree on using frozen Russian assets.

Business

EU waters down plans to end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035

Current rules state that new vehicles sold from that date should be "zero emission", but carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions.