European Union

The EU's upcoming strategy for equality and inclusion of Romani people risks being ineffective unless it introduces mandatory objectives and includes targeted funding, say civil society groups.

Protests in Bulgaria are a genuine civil protest against the party-state and in favour of basic democratic rights such as media freedom, writes Maria Stoyanova.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched a £2 billion package on Monday (27 July) aimed at incentivising walking and cycling as the UK lockdown eases. EURACTIV's partner edie.net reports.

The EU’s common agricultural policy, or ‘CAP’ as it’s known, aims to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food and that the EU’s farmers are able to make a reasonable living while also safeguarding...

Austria's anti-coronavirus measures were partly illegal, as the country's Constitutional Court confirmed last week. On Tuesday (28 July), Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) acknowledged the mistakes and announced plans to reorganise his ministry and amend the Epidemic Law. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Rail operators could make big savings by choosing electric battery power over hydrogen fuel cells when replacing diesel engines, a new study has suggested, although the ever-changing price of energy means the jury is still out on the best power source.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc across a range of sectors in the European single market, the bloc's economic recovery can be aided by making the most of new markets that will emerge in the startup ecosystem, says Eva Kaili.

In the picturesque village of St. Wolfgang in Upper Austria, a new coronavirus cluster was identified last week, with 53 new infections confirmed over the weekend, mostly in workers in the tourism sector. This fuels fears of a "second Ischgl." EURACTIV Germany reports.

The German business climate is improving: according to a survey, the economy is regaining its optimism. However, this phenomenon should be treated with caution, because many companies still lack future prospects, the DIHK warns. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Facebook, a US tech giant known for abusing its users' private data, has filed a complaint at the EU court in Luxembourg, saying the EU Commission's data request was too broad and would affect its employees' medical and financial information.

Ukraine's military officials said there were two breaches of the ceasefire on Monday when pro-Russian separatists opened fire with grenades and small arms, Reuters reported. "I assure that in case the enemy violates the ceasefire and threatens their lives, the response of the armed forces will be immediate and decisive," said commander Volodymyr Kravchenko in a statement. A full ceasefire in eastern Ukraine took effect from Monday.

The EU and China will hold on Tuesday a high-level trade and economic dialogue via videoconference. The meeting will be co-chaired by European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis and vice-premier of the Chinese state council Liu He. Discussions will be focused on the coronavirus crisis, global economic governance and taxation cooperation, but also about the reform of the World Trade Organization and the ongoing negotiations for an investment agreement.

Spain's health emergency chief, Fernando Simón, on Monday thanked Belgium and the UK for discouraging trips to Spain, saying less tourists reduces the risk of cases of imported coronaviruses. "I thank the Belgians for not coming to Spain; that's one less problem that we have to deal with," Simón said during a press conference on Monday. The statement has triggered strong criticism from the several political parties in the opposition.

Germany has rejected a proposal by US president Donald Trump to allow Russian president Vladimir Putin back into the Group of Seven (G7), according to DW. "We need Russia to solve conflicts such as those in Syria, Libya and Ukraine," German foreign minister Heiko Maas told the Rheinische Post newspaper in an interview published on Monday. Russia was expelled from the G7 in 2014 after its annexation of Crimea.

The European Council on Monday appointed the 22 prosecutors of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), who will work together under new European chief prosecutor Laura Codruţa Kövesi. The decision suffered a delay because of Malta's difficulties in appointing three candidates meeting the conditions of experience and independence set by this body. The EPPO is responsible for prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

The World Health Organization head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned on Monday that the number of cases worldwide has doubled in the past six weeks, The Guardian reported. "Covid-19 has changed our world," he told reporters. Ghebreyesus will convene later this week the WHO's emergency committee to revaluate the situation - a procedural requirement six months after the agency's declaration of a public health emergency of international concern.

Germany's health minister Jens Spahn announced on Monday plans to make tests mandatory for people returning from risk-risk areas, DW reported. "We must prevent returning travellers from infecting others unnoticed and thus triggering new chains of infection," Spahn tweeted. The new measure would go into effect next week and the tests would be free of charge. Germany has recorded over 206,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said an "inflexion point" has been reached in the dispute over oil- and gas-drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, during a news conference in Ankara with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday. "We have reached some inflexion point mainly on the drilling in the eastern Mediterranean and this was a useful dialogue with Mevlut to deescalate tensions that exist," Gonzalez Laya said.

Several European countries are now warning citizens not to visit Spain, after an increase in Covid-19 cases this month. However, Spanish foreign minister Arancha González Laya has insisted that Spain is still "a safe country".

Italy is experiencing a surge of 'nuovi poveri' [the new poor]; people who managed - barely - to make ends meet before the pandemic, and now find themselves in a very difficult situation.