Europe

European Parliament makes its stand clear on climate change law

Editorial Bureau October 8, 2020

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – The European Parliament has made its stand clear about its position on the European Union’s climate law. It extended its support for a 2030 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% and by going against 1990 levels, according to vote results released on

UK

Business minister says UK wants a Brexit trade deal with the EU

Editorial Bureau September 30, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Wednesday that the United Kingdom wants to reach a Brexit trade deal with the European Union. Sharma told LBC radio, “The fundamental point is we want to reach a deal.”

Europe

Italy authority expects to review EU court ruling

Editorial Bureau September 9, 2020

MILAN (ITALY) – Italian communications authority AGCOM has started a review of a top EU court ruling regarding a dispute between France’s Vivendi and Italian broadcaster Mediaset. This could completely overturn Italy’s communications laws, sources said on Wednesday. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled last week that an Italian law which put

Europe

EU budget slashes for research, Erasmus programme not acceptable: Sassoli

Editorial Bureau July 22, 2020

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – European Parliament President David Sassoli said on Wednesday that the proposed slashes in the EU’s budget for research and the Erasmus programme to support education are unacceptable. “There is a proposal on the table, but we would like to improve that, above all by trying to give answers to some of the […]

UK

UK says first round of trade talks with Australia was ‘productive’

Editorial Bureau July 14, 2020

LONDON (UK) – British trade minister Liz Truss said on Tuesday the first round of trade talks with Australia was “productive”. The groundwork for a comprehensive deal has been laid. Following its exit from the European Union in January, Britain is keen to secure trade deals around the world, thereby focusing on countries such as […]

Europe

EU to have a list of COVID-safe nations by Tuesday, Spain says

Editorial Bureau June 29, 2020

MADRID (SPAIN) – The European Union will prepare a list of COVID-19-safe countries for travel purposes by Tuesday at the latest, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Monday. A list of 15 countries that are safe for open borders will be prepared by EU officials based on epidemiological criteria, she told local radio […]

Europe

Almost a third of German firms foresee no-deal Brexit – survey

Editorial Bureau June 26, 2020

BERLIN (GERMANY) – 30% of German companies fear that Britain and the European Union will fail to come to a deal on their future relationship before a transition period that ends on Dec. 31, a survey published on Friday showed. The May survey by accounting firm Deloitte and German industry association BDI of 248 German […]

Europe

Hungary likely to support EU’s economic rescue plan: Orban

Ren Leen June 19, 2020

BUDAPEST (HUNGARY) – Hungary is likely to throw its weight behind a European Union plan to pump billions of euros into the bloc’s coronavirus-ravaged economies, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday ahead of a conference of EU leaders. Last month, Orban had hinted that he was sceptical about the plan. “Several EU member states […]

Europe

EU top court says Hungary’s curbs on NGO funding are illegal

Ren Leen June 18, 2020

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – The Court of the European Union ruled on Thursday that Hungary’s law requiring civil organisations to disclose their foreign donors is violating European Union rules that protect the bloc’s fundamental rights. “By imposing obligations of registration, declaration and publication on certain categories of civil society organisations directly

Tech

Six EU countries lead push for clean hydrogen support

Ren Leen June 15, 2020

(Technology) – Six European Union countries, including Germany, France and the Netherlands, have called for EU legislation and increased funding to support hydrogen, a low-carbon technology in line for cash from the bloc’s coronavirus recovery fund. The European Commission has pledged to use its proposed 750 billion euro (£673 billion) recovery fund to support