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But with no end to the war in sight, the worry is this hospitality may fray and lead to ‘Ukraine fatigue’. The core problem is housing; although many Ukrainian women and children are sheltered privately, others have had to be placed by public authorities in scarce social housing.

Ukraine’s refugees highlight the shameful EU housing crisis

By: EBR | Tuesday, May 16, 2023

When five million Ukrainians fled Putin’s invading army last year, they were welcomed around Europe with open arms

A research report written for the European Parliament shows that between 2016 and 2022, member states used their veto rights at least thirty times, preventing the union from taking action, or at the very least delaying foreign and security policy measures, including sanctions against third states.

Making EU Foreign Policy More Effective: Qualified Majority Voting on the Horizon?

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 10, 2023

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is one of few remaining policy areas of the European Union that still requires unanimity—meaning the agreement of all twenty-seven member states

It is likely that Scholz pictured his appearance in the European Parliament yesterday very differently: frenetic applause and an excited crowd of lawmakers that congratulated him on his reform course.

Scholz’s speech: The election campaign has begun

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 10, 2023

While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s speech in the EU Parliament could have been one of the most memorable events of his time in office

On the occasion of Europe Day, we celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for the European Union we know today. As we look back on the progress the EU has made, we must also consider the importance of preserving our achievements by continuing to move forward with deeper integration.

73 years after the Schuman declaration, let’s decide who we are!

By: EBR | Tuesday, May 9, 2023

In a deeply divided world, the European Union needs to take a more proactive role, deepening its federalism and working towards a more cohesive political and fiscal union

The conditions they must meet include investigating fully alleged abuses, providing an adequate governing framework in line with European law, committing explicitly to involve Europol in investigations into its illegitimate use, and repealing export licenses that are not in line with the EU’s Dual-Use regulation.

EU Parliament calls for ‘de facto moratorium’ on spyware

By: EBR | Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Lawmakers adopted a non-binding report and recommendation on the use of Pegasus and other spyware in the EU, calling for an effective ban on the technology unless certain conditions are met by the end of the year

While the “traditional” collaboration between Christian Democrats, Socialists and Democrats and Liberals has been going well in recent years, this is unlikely to continue after the elections in spring 2024, said Garcia, blaming the EPP.

EU socialist chief: Cooperation with the EPP no longer possible

By: EBR | Monday, May 8, 2023

Socialists and Democrats have always been able to cooperate with all pro-European forces in the European Parliament, but the centre-right European People’s Party’s movements towards collaboration with the far right oversteps our “pro-EU red line”

“I will not go to Paris for the planned meeting with Colonna. The insults to the government and Italy uttered by Minister Darmanin are unacceptable. This is not the spirit in which common European challenges should be addressed”, Tajani wrote on Twitter.

Tajani cancels Paris visit after minister compares Meloni with Le Pen

By: EBR | Friday, May 5, 2023

After a brief thawing, the frost has once again returned between Rome and Paris after French Interior Minister Gerald Darminin called Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “incapable” of controlling the migratory phenomenon

Thirdly, while the adjustment period should normally be limited to four years, it can be extended to seven years only “if underpinned by reforms and investments”, the senior official said, which would have to be growth-enhancing and in line with EU priorities, such as the Green Deal.

Commission inches towards Berlin in EU debt rules proposal

By: EBR | Thursday, April 27, 2023

The European Commission presented its legislative proposals for a reform of the EU rules for national debts and deficits on Wednesday (26 April), moving closer to the position of Germany but keeping the key concept of country-specific debt reduction plans

The rules aim to eliminate deforestation from the supply chains of a range of everyday items sold in Europe. It will apply to soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, rubber, charcoal, and derived products including leather, chocolate and furniture.

EU lawmakers back ban on goods linked to deforestation

By: EBR | Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The European Parliament approved a landmark deforestation law on Wednesday to ban imports into the EU of coffee, beef, soy and other commodities if they are linked to the destruction of the world’s forests

But Serbia has accused CoE of violating procedures in accepting Kosovo’s application and it has pledged to change its stance towards Ukraine for its abstaining from the vote, as well as on other countries that did not follow its line.

Serbia ‘disappointed’ with Ukraine, Greece, Slovakia over CoE Kosovo vote

By: EBR | Wednesday, April 26, 2023

A vote on Kosovo’s bid to join the Strasbourg-based international human rights body, the Council of Europe, has laid bare a raft of geopolitical issues and tensions across Europe

With federal elections scheduled for autumn next year, Salzburg’s state elections have become an important mood tester in a country where opinion polls are conducted sparingly.

Austrian communist party stages major comeback

By: EBR | Tuesday, April 25, 2023

The communist party KPOplus made huge gains and secured a solid fourth place in its best supralocal election result since at least World War II in the Salzburg state elections

Copenhagen is responsible for the Faroe Islands’ foreign affairs and defence, but they have the right to negotiate international agreements in areas of their competence, namely regarding trade and fishing.

Faroe Islands warns Denmark not to probe Russian ships’ presence

By: EBR | Tuesday, April 25, 2023

It is up to the Faroe Islands to react to the presence of Russian fishing ships in its harbours, Faroese Foreign Minister Hogni Hoydal warned Copenhagen

To do this, Brussels tabled a revision of the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) and introduced minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) to make renovations for the 15% worst-performing buildings mandatory across the 27-country bloc.

Berlin considers withdrawing support for EU buildings directive

By: EBR | Monday, April 24, 2023

Government infighting in Berlin could see Germany abandon a mandatory renovation principle in the EU’s buildings directive ahead of final negotiations in Brussels

The European Parliament and EU27 ministers remain deadlocked on planned reforms to the statute on European political parties, which currently have members from within and outside the EU.

Lawmakers deadlocked over role of non-EU political parties

By: EBR | Monday, April 24, 2023

Tightening rules on EU political parties to prevent foreign interference could lead to parties from Ukraine and other pre-accession states being prevented from joining pan-EU political groups and “send a wrong message to the world”

However, the step would require the federal government in Berlin to change the relevant legislation to give all 16 federal states (Lander) the power to run their plants.

Bavaria wants to keep nuclear plants running despite federal phase-out plans

By: EBR | Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Nuclear power plants in Bavaria must be kept running despite the country’s phase-out plans, according to the region’s government, which will need an unlikely green light from the federal government

Merkel, who was German chancellor for 16 years until the most recent federal election in 2021, was awarded the Grand Cross, the country’s highest order of merit, by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a ceremony on Monday evening.

Merkel receives highest German award amid criticism

By: EBR | Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received the country’s highest order of merit, but not everyone thought the honour was justified, including high-ranking members of her own conservative CDU party

Meanwhile, the EU border agency, Frontex, reported 54,000 irregular crossings into the bloc in the first quarter, up a fifth from 2022. Twenty-eight thousand people arrived in the EU from the Central Mediterranean, a threefold increase from last year.

Worst migrant death toll in the Mediterranean since 2017, UN agency reports

By: EBR | Thursday, April 13, 2023

The first three months of 2023 were the deadliest since 2017 for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, according to data published by the International Organisation for Migration

While about 80 traffickers have been arrested this year, Karner said the number of asylum requests in Austria tripled last year to 108,490 applications when compared to the previous year, making it the EU nation with the sharpest increase overall.

Austria to request extension of border controls with Hungary, Slovenia

By: EBR | Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner wants to apply to the European Commission to extend border controls with Hungary and Slovenia for another six months, the minister said on Tuesday

Based on a survey of 2.4 million respondents in the EU, the report looks at how cohesion policy affected income inequality between 1989 and 2017 in 231 European regions.

Cohesion funds increase inequality within EU regions, study finds

By: EBR | Tuesday, April 11, 2023

The EU’s cohesion policy, which aims at reducing regional disparities, benefits high-skilled, richer households more than low-income households and exacerbates inequality within EU regions, according to a recent study

The Commission recently noted the slowdown in Italy’s implementation of the National Recovery Plan but gave an overall positive assessment and granted the government an extra month to meet the targets necessary to release the third €19 billion tranche.

Italian MP: Meloni’s government can’t manage national recovery plan

By: EBR | Tuesday, April 11, 2023

The implementation of the national recovery plan is being delayed as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government struggles to solve the age-old problem related to the Public Administration spending funds from Brussels

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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

Trump’s Peace Lessons for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his peace efforts raise valid questions. Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts.

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.