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The Romanian interior ministry said in a statement that a “political agreement” had been reached between the three countries on extending the zone “to the air and sea borders” of Romania and Bulgaria “from March 2024”.

Romania, Bulgaria in partial Schengen deal with Austria, says Bucharest

By: EBR | Thursday, December 28, 2023

Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join the European Schengen area of free movement by sea and air in March 2024, the Romanian government

Azerbaijan is eager to host international events to promote itself, from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 to the F1 Grand Prix races – despite its disgraceful record in terms of human rights and its political prisoners, including journalists.

Venues of COP are not top

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Holding the presidency of a UN climate summit gives the host country huge influence on its agenda and outcomes

The second concrete climate change mitigation target – cutting the bloc’s emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels – is judged to be in reach. According to the Copenhagen-based EEA, achieving the bloc’s 2030 climate target is deemed “likely but uncertain.”

EU gets bad grades on meeting environmental targets

By: EBR | Monday, December 18, 2023

The EU may be on track to meeting its 2030 climate goal of cutting emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels but is lagging when it comes to other green targets

“This is to make sure that it [foreign lobbying] is transparent, not to limit it. It is known, something that is known on behalf of a government,” explained the Commission official.

NGOs cry foul after Commission proposes new law for interest groups

By: EBR | Thursday, December 14, 2023

The European Commission has unveiled a new law designed to force interest and lobbying groups working for non-EU actors to register on a transparency register

Elements for discussion include compliance with international law, possible additional European aid contributions towards stabilising Gaza, a stronger diplomatic push towards a two-state solution and ‘reinvigoration’ of the Palestinian Authority.

EU foreign ministers to consider options for next steps in Gaza response

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 13, 2023

As fighting continues in Gaza, EU foreign ministers discussed possible next steps in response to the Israel-Hamas war

Next year sees the coming together of risk-laden deadlines and events that will determine the EU’s likely path over the crucially important coming decade.

2024 will decide whether the EU thrives or falls apart

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 12, 2023

How durable is the European Union? It’s not as solid as we like to think

The initial version of the draft bill sought to facilitate the deportation of migrants in an irregular situation “who pose a serious threat to public order” while increasing resources to combat smuggling networks, particularly in the Mediterranean.

French MPs deal heavy blow to government with surprise rejection of immigration bill

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 12, 2023

French lawmakers rejected the government’s immigration bill on Monday by 270 votes to 265, with the far-right, conservatives and left-wing coalition joining forces

The diplomatic circles estimated that through Greece, Erdogan wanted to send a message to Europe and beyond that, Turkey now adopts a more moderate attitude.

Turkey re-approaches EU through Athens

By: EBR | Friday, December 8, 2023

Greece and Turkey signed a series of documents on Thursday confirming their mutual will to turn the page in their troubled relations and focus on the positive agenda

The Large-Scale Skills Partnership for the Healthcare Sector is the 19th Large-Scale Partnership in the Skills Pact and the third in the Health Ecosystem of the EU Industrial Strategy.

New large-scale healthcare skills partnership

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 5, 2023

With the support of the Commission, healthcare stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies and universities, have established a large-scale skills partnership

However, enlargement policy is also dysfunctional and is likely to remain so irrespective of what the European Council decides next week.

There Are No Quick Fixes for EU Enlargement

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 5, 2023

EU enlargement is en vogue again

According to Europe Elects, the most recent gains for the ID group were partially driven by the surprising victory of far-right Geert Wilders’ PVV in the Dutch elections last week.

EU far-right dangerously boosted in new forecast

By: EBR | Thursday, November 30, 2023

European far-right political forces have reached a record high just a few months before the EU elections, according to a new projection about EU Parliament’s seats

In 2023, as the EU prepares for European elections in June 2024, fixing the EU’s economy is emerging as the number one priority, eclipsing other issues such as the support for Ukraine or the renewed Middle East tensions.

Fixing the EU economy: Mission impossible?

By: EBR | Thursday, November 30, 2023

“It’s the economy, stupid.” The phrase was coined by American political consultant James Carville in a TV quip in 1992 when he was advising Bill Clinton in his successful run for the White House

The matter of transparency in defence matters is tricky, because of the sensitiveness of the information. Too much transparency is a concern to the member states and the Commission.

EU Ombudsman launches inquiry into Commission’s defence fund selection process

By: EBR | Wednesday, November 29, 2023

The EU ombudsman asked the European Commission on Tuesday (14 November) to give guarantees of independence for the experts evaluating the industry’s proposals for the European Defence Fund

Some say the ‘inventive step’ that defines intellectual property rights will be key, so that the owners of AI technologies will dictate terms to the users. Others argue that the deciding factor will instead be the extent to which AI is applied to complex operations in manufacturing and services.

As an AI lawmaker, EU could recover its global lost ground

By: EBR | Tuesday, November 28, 2023

The noisy debate over artificial intelligence (AI) is yielding remarkably little consensus as to whether Europe can catch up with the US and China, and what might be the consequences if it can’t

Morawiecki has two weeks for the parliament to vote in his cabinet. Assuming that fails, the mantel will be passed onto Tusk

EU Waits for the New Polish Government

By: EBR | Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Europe needs some good news

EU Parliament’s slim majority triggers convention on treaties reform

By: EBR | Thursday, November 23, 2023

With a slight majority, the EU Parliament approved its proposal for EU treaty reform

There are four areas that should stand out for policymakers as potential leverage points to reverse Europe’s relative decline, which are all historic drivers of productivity: technology, energy, and capital, with skills as a common foundation across all three areas.

How to increase Europe’s competitiveness in the new global economy

By: EBR | Thursday, November 23, 2023

The achievements and benefits of the European Union are too easily forgotten in the public debate

“Those lawmakers who cooperate with me will vote against [the report]”, Tusk announced, admitting that individual deviations can always happen and he cannot guarantee voting discipline.

Poland’s Tusk opposes EU treaty changes

By: EBR | Thursday, November 23, 2023

Polish opposition leader and election winner Donald Tusk of the Civic Platform left no room for speculation when he openly stated that his party is opposed to changing the EU treaties

The survey is a useful tool in understanding the impact of skills shortages on SMEs, and will feed into the Commission’s policy making.

Skills shortages are a serious problem for majority of EU SMEs, Eurobarometer shows

By: EBR | Tuesday, November 21, 2023

A new Eurobarometer survey released today finds that skills shortages are one of the most serious problems for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the EU

Accession would “lead to the demise of family farming in Europe”, he told a press conference on the future of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

German farmers: Ukraine membership would spell end of EU farming system

By: EBR | Monday, November 20, 2023

EU membership of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine would result in the ‘death’ of family farming, the German farmers’ union has warned amid growing concerns over the future direction of the EU’s farming subsidies programme