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News Archive
Differences remain over enlargement, says Reinfeldt
Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt met with French president Nicolas Sarkozy in Stockholm on Friday to discuss the priorities of the Swedish EU presidency in the coming six months
Friday 3rd July 2009
Barroso appointment 'could create constitutional conflict'
The leader of parliament's Socialist group has warned of a looming "constitutional conflict" over the proposed re-election of commission president José Manual Barroso
Thursday 2nd July 2009
Daul leads praise as Croatia's PM quits
European People's Party (EPP) chairman Joseph Daul has praised outgoing Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader
Thursday 2nd July 2009
EU agency warns over chlamydia
Cases of the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia are continuing to rise in Europe, according to a new report
Thursday 2nd July 2009
Eurosceptic group denies claims of 'unsavoury' membership
Dutch MEP Bas Belder has dismissed allegations that the UK Independence Party has forged an alliance with "unsavoury" hard-line right-wingers
Wednesday 1st July 2009
No July vote on Barroso, insists Verhofstadt
Newly elected Liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt has claimed there is "no possibility" of a vote to reinstate José Manuel Barroso as head of the commission in July
Wednesday 1st July 2009
New eurosceptic group set for formal launch
Further details have emerged about a new eurosceptic group in parliament, led by Nigel Farage
Wednesday 1st July 2009
MEPs welcome German court ruling on EU treaty
A cross-party group of MEPs has welcomed the German constitutional court's ruling that the stalled Lisbon treaty is broadly compatible with the country's constitution
Wednesday 1st July 2009
UK border entry plans could breach EU free movement laws
UK government plans to collect the records of everyone who enters and leaves Britain have been condemned by major transport operators
Wednesday 1st July 2009
Verhofstadt elected new ALDE group leader
Guy Verhofstadt has been confirmed as the new leader of the ALDE group
Tuesday 30th June 2009
EU pharma package 'favours industry', says CoR opinion
Commission proposals to tighten rules on the safety of medicines do not go far enough to protect the consumer, members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) have heard
Tuesday 30th June 2009
EU commissioner calls for better enforcement of EU laws
EU commissioner Meglena Kuneva has urged member states to do "much more" to enforce consumer protection legislation
Tuesday 30th June 2009
Barroso 'welcomes' outcome of German court ruling on Lisbon treaty
Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso says he is "confident" the Lisbon treaty ratification process will be completed by the autumn.
Tuesday 30th June 2009
EU mobile phone chargers agreement welcomed
The European commission has reached an agreement with mobile phone manufacturers to introduce a single charger from next year
Tuesday 30th June 2009
Swedish EU presidency 'must promote women's rights'
Sweden must use its six-month EU presidency to showcase best practice on gender equality issues, according to commission vice president Margot Wallström
Monday 29th June 2009
MEPs gear up for ALDE leadership vote
Diana Wallis and Guy Verhoftstadt are set to go head-to-head in the battle to lead parliament's ALDE group
Monday 29th June 2009
Airline industry facing its 'worst ever crisis'
A pan-European airline organisation has warned that the industry is a "long way off" recovering from the downturn
Monday 29th June 2009
Turkey's accession to EU 'on track', says Rehn
EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has said that Turkey's accession process is moving forward, but warned that the country must press ahead with reforms if it is to be successful
Friday 26th June 2009
Tackling climate change a priority for Swedish EU presidency
World leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December must secure a follow-up agreement to the Kyoto protocol if they are to tackle climate change, according to Sweden's environment minister
Friday 26th June 2009
EU must maintain environment focus, says Barroso
Commission president José Manuel Barroso has called for the EU to take coordinated action on environmental and economic challenges
Friday 26th June 2009
ALDE does 'not resolutely' oppose July vote on Barroso
ALDE leader Graham Watson has said his group is "not resolutely opposed" to a parliamentary vote next month on José Manuel Barroso being given the chance of a second term as commission president
Thursday 25th June 2009
Moving missiles would improve China-EU relations, says NGO
A leading human rights NGO says that removing Chinese missiles targeted at Taiwan would "go a long way" towards convincing the EU to lift its arms embargo against China
Thursday 25th June 2009
Reform of animal health laws needed, say EU officials
EU commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has highlighted the importance of keeping animal health legislation up to date with the evolution of relevant technology
Thursday 25th June 2009
Turkey remains 'determined' to join EU
Turkey's EU minister has castigated some candidates in the recent European elections who he believes "insulted" his country
Thursday 25th June 2009
Political groups continue new appointments
Political groups have continued the round of appointing their leaders ahead of the new parliament
Thursday 25th June 2009
Council of Europe job delay 'embarrassing' for EU
Irish president Mary McAleese says it is "a bit embarrassing" that no decision has yet been taken on a new secretary general at the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe
Thursday 25th June 2009
New 'anti-federalist' group suffers loss on first day
The new parliamentary group formed by the British Tories has suffered an embarrassing setback on its first day
Thursday 25th June 2009
MEP calls for 'strong' EU ahead of COP15
MEPs risk jeopardising Europe's climate change strategy in the run-up to Copenhagen if they fail to approve José Manuel Barroso as commission president, according to EPP member Peter Liese
Wednesday 24th June 2009
Senior MEP issues warning to Irish over Lisbon referendum
Leading Socialist deputy Jo Leinen has warned that Ireland risks being relegated to a "second class" nation if it again rejects the stalled Lisbon treaty
Wednesday 24th June 2009
'Alarmingly' few people aware of rights, says report
A new report says "alarmingly few people" are aware of their rights and where to report incidents of discrimination
Wednesday 24th June 2009
BBC hits back at BNP claims over EU coverage
The BBC has hit back at claims that is has "blanked" the British National Party in its political coverage
Wednesday 24th June 2009
Schulz re-elected Socialist leader in EU parliament
The 183-strong Socialist group in parliament has re-elected German politician Martin Schulz as its leader
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Former EU commissioner dies aged 67
European parliamentarians have been paying tribute to Belgian politician Karel van Miert, who has died aged 67
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Hübner set to quit as EU commissioner
Danuta Hübner has confirmed she will take up her seat in the new parliament
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
Former parliament president launches pro-treaty campaign
Ex-parliament president Pat Cox said another 'No' vote on the Lisbon treaty would only add to the uncertainty caused by the downturn
Tuesday 23rd June 2009
UK Tories form new group in EU parliament
The British Conservatives say they have formed a new 55-strong "anti-federalist" political group in parliament
Monday 22nd June 2009
Society faces 'irreversible' impact from climate change
Society faces "serious risks" from climate change - even with a global increase in temperature of only about two degrees, according to a new report
Monday 22nd June 2009
Barroso deal could see new EU parliament coalition
Graham Watson's bid for the presidency of the European parliament could be boosted by the reappointment of José Manuel Barroso as commission president
Friday 19th June 2009
Mixed EU reaction to Barroso endorsement
Europe's Socialists have condemned the "indecent haste" of José Manuel Barroso's reappointment as commission president after EU leaders endorsed him for a second term
Friday 19th June 2009
EU regions 'must be represented' at COP15
As preparations get underway for December's COP15, the Committee of the Regions is calling for more local involvement in securing a new climate change deal
Friday 19th June 2009
Irish EU minister accused of 'misleading' public over treaty
Ireland's Europe minister Dick Roche has been accused of "misleading" the Irish public over the stalled Lisbon treaty
Thursday 18th June 2009
Denmark confident on climate change conference
Danish prime minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has said he is "confident" a deal will be struck in Copenhagen later this year on finding a successor to the Kyoto protocol on tackling climate change
Thursday 18th June 2009
New report raises concern over EU transparency plans
A new report by the UK House of Lords EU committee raises concerns that commission proposals designed to improve transparency will exclude draft documents from being made available to the public
Thursday 18th June 2009
'No evidence of recovery,' says former top EU commissioner
Former EU commissioner Peter Sutherland says there are "no short-term solutions" to the economic crisis
Thursday 18th June 2009
Sanader: Croatia's EU membership tougher than Romania and Bulgaria
Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader has launched an attack on the "tough" conditions his country has been set for joining the EU
Thursday 18th June 2009
EU parliament election campaign criticised
Parliament's €18m campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the European elections has been branded "too little, too late"
Thursday 18th June 2009
BNP in talks to form far right EU parliament group
British National Party leader Nick Griffin has confirmed that he is in talks with four other parties about forming a new group in the European parliament
Thursday 18th June 2009
Mixed response to PES name change
There has been a mixed reaction to the decision by parliament's Socialist group to rename itself
Wednesday 17th June 2009
Swedish EU presidency to focus on banking reforms
Swedish minister Mats Odell has said his country will focus on increasing supervision in the financial markets when it takes over the EU presidency in July
Wednesday 17th June 2009
Pat Cox: EPP-PES EU parliament presidency deal likely
Pat Cox, a former president of parliament, has played down the chances of his party colleague Graham Watson landing the assembly's top job
Wednesday 17th June 2009
EU-China relations 'remain on track' despite spat
A senior commission official says that EU-China relations "remain on track" despite serious strains last year sparked by differences over Tibet and the Dalai Lama
Wednesday 17th June 2009
Anger at MEP's unpaid €590,000 expense allowance
A 'shamed' former British MEP says he will not repay €590,000 he claimed in 'unjustified' parliamentary expenses
Wednesday 17th June 2009
Cohn-Bendit urges debate on next EU commission president
Greens leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit has said there is a "sufficient majority" of MEPs to block José Manuel Barroso's re-election as commission president
Tuesday 16th June 2009
Poll: Majority of public oppose second Barroso term
New opinion poll findings suggest José Manuel Barroso does not enjoy widespread public support for a second term as commission president
Tuesday 16th June 2009
CFP reform represents 'golden opportunity' for fishing commission
Joe Borg says the EU must over problems it "inherited" from the past before it can implement reform of its fisheries policy
Tuesday 16th June 2009
Poland 'should be considered' for a senior EU post
Polish EU affairs minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz says one of the EU's top jobs should go to a candidate from a former east European country
Tuesday 16th June 2009
BNP 'optimistic' of forming new EU parliament group
British National Party leader Nick Griffin has said he is optimistic of forming a group in the new parliament
Monday 15th June 2009
Climate change negotiators branded 'impervious' to public concern
Environmental groups have said that major climate change talks in Bonn, which ended on Friday, resulted in "no significant progress"
Monday 15th June 2009
MEP 'lined up' to become Poland's next EU commissioner
Polish centre-right MEPs Janusz Lewandowski has emerged as the frontrunner to become his country's next EU commissioner
Monday 15th June 2009
Top Tory 'lets cat out of bag' over stalled EU treaty
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage says Tory party grandee Ken Clarke has "let the cat out of the bag" over the stalled Lisbon treaty
Monday 15th June 2009
Horsetrading for top jobs begins as EPP confirmed as biggest group
The final results of the European elections show the EPP group won 264 seats compared with the Socialists' 161
Thursday 11th June 2009
EU parliament may be asked to lift immunity for new MEP
Parliament is expected to be asked to waive the immunity from prosecution of newly-elected Romanian MEP Gigi Becali
Thursday 11th June 2009
Ousted British MEP linked with top EU job
Former Socialist MEP Richard Corbett has been linked with a top EU job
Thursday 11th June 2009
EU cross-border health scheme branded 'too risky'
The EU has been urged to change its cross-border healthcare directive to ensure it does not become an "extension" of the internal market
Thursday 11th June 2009
Barroso re-election 'not a done deal' warn EU socialists
Party of European Socialist (PES) leader Poul Nyrup Rasmussen says the reappointment of José Manuel Barroso for a second term is "far from being a done deal."
Thursday 11th June 2009