European Union

The EU is facing "another major financial crisis" and "existential" threats, but Brexit, one of its biggest problems, could be overturned.

Rival Libyan factions agreed on Tuesday in Paris to create a political framework paving the way for UN-backed parliamentary and presidential elections in a secure environment by 10 December 2018. The deal aims to end the country's seven-year-old conflict. Libyan instability has aggravated the EU migration crisis by creating a haven for human smugglers. It has also threatened European security by creating a haven for Islamist extremist group Isis.

The right to freely choose where to live and work, considered a cornerstone of EU rights, is being questioned by Austria's vice chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, calling for a reform of the European rule. "We must discuss openly, that it is not all good for European development, that all intellectual, well-educated east European potential is drawn to western Europe," the the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) leader said in Vienna.

EU institutions should be emboldened to take concrete actions to defend reproductive freedom across the whole of Europe after Irish citizens voted massively in favour of repealing the country’s abortion ban, writes Caroline Hickson.

The Council endorsed an agreement with the European Parliament on a further €1 billion of macro-financial assistance for Ukraine.

Individuals or groups who help migrants not entitled to protection to submit requests for asylum or who help illegal migrants gain status to stay in Hungary will be liable to jail under legislation submitted to parliament on Tuesday (29 May).

Collapse of government talks in Rome triggered instability on eurozone markets and controversy over an EU commissioner's comments on Italian democracy.

EU negotiators will hope that this week is the breakthrough everyone has been waiting for in two crucial energy files on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments, as well as to catch up on what has happened so far.

The anti-Brexit group backed by billionaire philanthropist George Soros is set to intensify its campaign for a new referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU.

Rival Libyan factions agreed on Tuesday (29 May) on a declaration that would create a political framework to pave the way for UN-backed elections in December to end the country's seven-year-old conflict.

EURACTIV gathered a first round of reactions to the European Commission's proposal to reform the EU's €373 billion regional funding programme as part of the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget. One thing is certain: the proposed cuts will be a major issue of dissent in the European Parliament.

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, president of the Committee of Regions, remains unconvinced that 'Brussels' should give back any powers to the member states.

Italy may hold repeat elections as early as July after the man asked to be prime minister failed to secure support from major political parties for even a stop-gap government, sources said on Tuesday (29 May), as markets tumbled on the growing political turmoil.

Georgia said on Tuesday (29 May) it had started procedures to sever diplomatic relations with Syria after Damascus recognised its breakaway regions as independent states, a move Tbilisi dubbed manipulation from Russia.

Digitalization holds huge potential for the citizens and the institutions of the EU. A modern and digital Europe will be built on reliable communication networks, secure data and digital trust.

Europe should engage in the Middle East by providing technical aid and promoting investment and programmes that enhance tolerance and peaceful coexistence, says Falah Mustafa Bakir. "If we don't address the needs of people on the ground, they will become asylum seekers at the doors of Europe," he said in an interview.

Over the past fifty years, the EU has done a stellar job in moving from a very fragmented national approach to animal disease control to a progressively more harmonised system of animal health measures, disease surveillance, diagnosis and control, writes Roxane Feller.  

The European Union's executive proposed on Tuesday (29 May) to spend more of the bloc's money on Italy and other southern states hit by the economic and migration crises, while giving less to the Visegrad Four countries refusing to accept refugees.

Since 2016, the EU is working on the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Particularly tricky is the creation of a new Dublin IV agreement, clarifying which country is responsible for the asylum application of a person. EURACTIV Germany reports.

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In this section you will find videos of Federica Mogherini, EU HR for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the European Parliament.

Download this video here.