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,

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

UK

Boris Johnson joins EU leaders to break Brexit deadlock; expectations on a low

Jim Stein June 15, 2020

BRUSSELS (UK) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will join a video-conference with EU leaders on Monday, keen to make headway in negotiations on a future EU-UK relationship, but officials in Brussels expect no breakthrough in the Brexit deadlock. Britain’s Mail on Sunday reported that Johnson would use the meeting to “bang the table”, pressing

Europe

Border controls in France lifted for EU travellers on June 15

Editorial Bureau June 13, 2020

PARIS (Europe) – The border restrictions of France for EU travellers are to be lifted on June 15, according to the French Interior and Foreign ministries. “Given a favourable development of the health situation in France and Europe and in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission…France will lift on June 15 (0h00) all […]

Europe

COVID-19 health crisis not over yet, European Union urges vigilance

Ren Leen June 12, 2020

BRUSSELS (Europe) – The COVID-19 epidemic and its resultant public health crisis in Europe is not over yet, according to the European Union’s top health official. Stella Kyriakides urged governments to keep vigilant and plough ahead with coronavirus testing and tracing the population. “This is not behind us yet. We need to be vigilant.” – […]