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The Albanian Constitutional Court has announced the suspension of ratifying the approval of the migrant agreement between Italy and Albania, scheduled for Thursday, after the opposition filed a case claiming the deal violates the constitution and international conventions to which...

The German government has been heavily criticised for announcing a mix of spending cuts and tax rises to fill the €60 billion hole in the country’s “climate and transformation fund” left by a constitutional court ruling.

The EU’s complex policy approach to biofuels lacks a long-term outlook and risks undermining the bloc’s transport decarbonisation targets, an analysis by the European Court of Auditors has found.

France's interior minister Wednesday (13 December) vowed to do "everything" to prevent an Uzbek citizen returning to France despite top French and European courts ruling against his expulsion.

The Swiss Parliament reelected on Wednesday (13 November) all incumbent members of the Federal Council, the Swiss government, with members from the four traditional governing parties - blocking the hopeful Greens out.

Americas Sikorsky won a $443 million modification for the Black Hawk helicopter program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $442,956,422 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is […]

US Army HH-60Ms (click to view full) In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army’s HH/UH-60M, and the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there’s no question about the need for future orders. In that environment, multi-year contracts allow efficiencies in purchasing, and […]

Der Rat der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) hat heute beschlossen, den Leitzins konstant zu halten. Dazu ein Statement von Marcel Fratzscher, Präsident des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin):

Die Entscheidung der Europäischen Zentralbank, die Zinsen konstant zu halten, ist nachvollziehbar. Allerdings hat die EZB die Gelegenheit verpasst, ein klares Signal für einen Richtungswechsel in der Geldpolitik zu senden. Die Geldpolitik ist viel zu restriktiv; sie ist die größte Bremse für die wirtschaftliche Erholung im Euroraum und insbesondere in Deutschland. 

Die Inflation sinkt deutlich schneller als erwartet. Dies betrifft auch die Kerninflation, die Inflationserwartungen sind gut verankert. Die schwache wirtschaftliche Entwicklung weltweit und insbesondere in Europa ist der wichtigste Grund dafür, dass die Inflation so schnell sinkt. Das größte Risiko für eine weiterhin zu hohe Inflation dürfte die Lohnentwicklung sein, da Beschäftigte eine starke Verhandlungsposition haben und versuchen werden, ihre erheblichen Reallohnverluste der vergangenen Jahre zumindest auszugleichen. 

Die EZB sollte jetzt einen schnellen Kurswechsel vollziehen. Unter den gegenwärtigen Bedingungen wäre eine erste Zinssenkung im ersten Quartal 2024 und weitere Zinssenkungen im Laufe des Jahres 2024 gerechtfertigt und notwendig. Der neutrale Zins, bei dem die Geldpolitik die Wirtschaft weder stützt noch bremst, liegt um die 2,5 Prozent. Damit sind die Zinsen im Euroraum noch um gut zwei Prozentpunkte zu hoch. Die EZB braucht jetzt Mut und Entschiedenheit, um den Kurswechsel zu vollziehen.

President of the European Council Charles Michel presented the main results of the discussions of the leaders during the EU-Western Balkans summit held in Brussels.

The EU-Western Balkans summit took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 13 December 2023. The Brussels declaration was agreed.

Most of EU member states, some of the Western Balkan partners, the Regional Cooperation Council and the European Commission pledged scholarships for the students of the new College of Europe in Tirana. The pledging event took place in the margins of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels.

European Council President Charles Michel convened the summit with the Western Balkans. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans as well as the need for partners’ sustained reform achievements.

Council and Parliament strike provisional deal on the new construction products regulation

Council and Parliament strike provisional deal to continue the EU's participation in the research and innovation partnership in the Mediterranean area until the end of Horizon Europe.

European Council President Charles Michel invited the EU leaders to the December European Council where they will discuss Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, EU enlargement policy, revision of the multiannual financial framework, security and defence and external relations.

The Council has reached a provisional agreement with the Parliament on new rules granting labour rights to people working in the gig economy.

The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on creating a new European authority for countering money laundering and financing of terrorism (AMLA) that will have direct and indirect supervisory powers over high-risk obliged entities in the financial sector.

The Council has approved conclusions on enlargement.

The Council and European Parliament agree on a new EU law which introduces criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU sanctions.

The Council has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a directive to strengthen equality bodies dealing with sex discrimination in the EU.