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“In the name of Spain, in the interest of Spain, in defence of coexistence among Spaniards, I defend today the amnesty in Catalonia for the events of the past decade (the region’s pro-independence movement),” the Socialist leader told PSOE/s Federal Committee.

Sanchez says pardoning Catalan separatists only way to regain power

By: EBR | Monday, October 30, 2023

Pardoning Catalan separatists is the only way for Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez socialist PSOE party (S&D) to secure a majority to form a stable government

While Rutte acknowledged that an increase of the EU’s budget is “probably” necessary, he told reporters that “this should be done by reprioritising money within the EU budget. So, our three priorities are: reprioritise, reprioritise and reprioritise”.

Dutch PM lashes out at EU budget increase

By: EBR | Friday, October 27, 2023

Brussels should tighten its belt instead of asking EU countries for additional contributions to its multi-annual budget, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the EU Council

After days of negotiations, the latest summit draft communique expects EU leaders to call “for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including a humanitarian pause”.

EU member states divided over calls for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza

By: EBR | Thursday, October 26, 2023

EU leaders are expected to call for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in fighting between Israel and Hamas, but the bloc remains divided over the exact wording

Like many others, the European Union (EU) has recognized the positives of encouraging more people to get around using pedal power, with the announcement of its ’European Declaration on Cycling’.

The EU just released a new declaration on cycling

By: EBR | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Imagine a form of transport that’s accessible, requires no fuel, generates zero greenhouse gas emissions, improves your health and can be used in car-free neighbourhoods

“It is shocking to see no improvement since our last survey,” FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty said. “Instead, people of African descent face ever more discrimination just because of the colour of their skin.”

Anti-Black racism is rising in EU countries, led by Germany, study finds

By: EBR | Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Racism towards Black people is growing in Europe, with Germany, Austria and Finland showing the highest rates of discrimination and harassment

As we approach an AI-disrupted future, the question looms: Will AI become omnipresent and elevate every aspect of human life—what some call “AI everywhere”—or plunge it into existential uncertainty?

Generative AI Poses Challenges for Europe

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The latest surge in large generative artificial intelligence models (LGAIMs) mirrors humanity’s age-old fascination with—and fear of—building machines with human-like intelligence and consciousness

After Brexit, the UK’s embassy to the EU was rebranded the UK Mission (UKMis) to the European Union and has seen its headcount cut by more than a quarter from 180 to 130. It has also seen a high level of turnover of staff since 2016, while further staff cuts are expected in the coming years.

More job cuts to EU mission risks ‘lost influence’, warns UK MP

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 24, 2023

MPs have warned that cuts to the United Kingdom’s diplomatic mission in Brussels risk undermining what remains of British influence in the European Union

In the letter, seen by Euractiv on Sunday (22 October) the countries—Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Portugal – highlight the benefit of renewables but argue they need more support.

Pro-renewables EU countries call for more support for green energy

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Eleven EU member states have called on the European Commission to help boost renewables, cut red tape, and facilitate the necessary legislation to get projects off the ground in a joint communication sent last week

The report from the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, contrasts with the view of oil producer group the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which sees oil demand rising long after 2030 and calls for trillions in new oil sector investment.

World oil, gas, coal demand to peak by 2030, IEA says

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 24, 2023

World fossil fuel demand is set to peak by 2030 as more electric cars hit the road and China’s economy grows more slowly and shifts towards cleaner energy, the International Energy Agency said

Border controls will be reinstated as of 21 October for an initial period of 10 days, which the government may decide to extend.

Italy reinstates border controls with Slovenia, cites attack risk

By: EBR | Friday, October 20, 2023

Italy reinstated border controls with Slovenia as part of its strategy to improve home security against threats of terrorist attacks in Europe

The dispute centred on French support to extend the lifetime of its existing nuclear power fleet, with Germany warning this risked distorting the EU market.

Deal on EU electricity market reform: What did Paris and Berlin obtain?

By: EBR | Thursday, October 19, 2023

Both Germany and France claimed victory after an agreement was reached among EU countries to reform the EU’s electricity market

The results of Poland’s election shows that nationalist, Eurosceptic governments such as those of Hungary and Slovakia need not be a permanent and divisive feature of European politics.

A New Start for Poland

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 17, 2023

After eight years in power, Poland’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party has been defeated by the centrist Civic Coalition (KO) at last Sunday’s parliamentary election

Most foreign media described the possible ousting of the conservative ruling Law and Justice (PiS) government as the wind of democratic change in Polish politics, hoping that Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform (PO), if it returned to power, would put an end to the country’s conflict with the EU and return it to the EU’s mainstream on most matters.

Tusk-ruled Poland not the pro-EU paradise Brussels is hoping for

By: EBR | Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Poland’s exit poll results may have been well received in several European capitals, with many hailing it as a possible end to the tug-of-war with Brussels should the current opposition form a government

At the core of the proposal are Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), which set an obligation to renovate the 15% worst-performing buildings in each EU country, a move meant to target the poorest households, which cannot afford to renovate and are the most exposed to energy poverty.

Legislators water down EU buildings directive after marathon talks

By: EBR | Monday, October 16, 2023

Lawmakers made headway during a marathon negotiating session to overhaul the EU’s buildings directive

The Commission decided to restrict or ban Chinese telecom infrastructure, particularly from Huawei and ZTE, in June, urging member states to do the same.

Breton’s view of EU geopolitics in the telecom sector vis-a-vis China, US

By: EBR | Thursday, October 12, 2023

Commissioner Thierry Breton supported the need to find a financing model for investment in the EU telecom sector and advocated for more control and security

EU Neighbourhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said that Tunisia was free to “wire back” €60 million in EU funds that were transferred to Tunis this week as part of the pact after President Kais Saied dismissed the sum as “derisory” and “charity”.

EU-Tunisia deal under threat amid frustration with President Saied

By: EBR | Wednesday, October 11, 2023

The EU’s controversial ‘cash for migrant control’ deal with Tunisia is looking increasingly fragile amid growing frustration in Brussels with President Kais Saied’s erratic behaviour

Scholz’s SPD received the worst results in post-war history, reaching 15% (-5) in Hesse and 8% (-2) in Bavaria, according to ARD preliminary results.

Scholz’s coalition suffers defeat in mid-term state elections

By: EBR | Monday, October 9, 2023

The German three-party government coalition has suffered major losses in two state elections in Bavaria and Hesse

Today, we have two Western countries at the forefront of European hypocrisy and blunt power politics. These countries are Austria and the Netherlands and the case at point is Romania’s and Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen area.

Western Europe should be mindful of 2024 Eastern changes

By: EBR | Thursday, October 5, 2023

In December 2022, at a time when the European Union was recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, there was hope that the divisions between Eastern and Western Europe would fade

The rejection of the two Commission nominees is the latest twist in a saga that has seen growing political acrimony around the European Green Deal in recent months.

EU nominees fall victim to mounting Green Deal acrimony

By: EBR | Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Political tensions surrounding the Green Deal reached boiling point in Brussels as the European Parliament rejected the two candidates nominated to share the Green Deal and climate portfolios left vacant

If the EU doesn’t seize the opportunity with an unprecedentedly ambitious global strategy, history will not be kind and the consequences of its failure will be felt far beyond Europe.

Global Europe 1: The EU’s path to super-power status

By: EBR | Wednesday, October 4, 2023

With the world in flux and geopolitics pulled in unpredictable directions, now is the time for the EU to develop a global strategy that’s distinct from its European one