Nick Prag

E-skills the key to unlocking Europe's potential for growth and job creation — 18 August 2015, 22:48 CET

Last week governments, industry, NGOs and educational bodies from 22 European countries joined forces with the European Commission to push for further action to stimulate the creation of the jobs needed to build a digital single market in Europe.

New deal for energy consumers — 16 July 2015, 17:50 CET

Apart from Greece, a better deal for energy consumers was the theme of the week, as the Commission presented proposals aimed at delivering a new deal for energy consumers. These included a redesign of the European electricity market, updating energy efficiency labelling, and revising the EU Emissions Trading System.

EU needs Luxembourg's negotiating skills — 09 July 2015, 22:45 CET

2015 is a special year for EU presidencies: first Latvia - land of my grandparents - now Luxembourg - land of my youth - which took over on 1 July. It is also possibly one of the EU's most challenging years for presidencies.

Achievements of Latvia's EU presidency — 02 July 2015, 16:50 CET

Latvia ended its six-month stint as President of the Council of the European Union on 30 June. It has stuck to its task admirably, chaired some 200 EU meetings, and delivered a number of major legislative successes.

Priority for apprentices — 25 June 2015, 13:28 CET

More than forty companies and other organisations joined the European Alliance for Apprenticeships this week, committing to making available around 140,000 apprenticeships and training opportunities for young people.

EU data protection rules set for overhaul — 18 June 2015, 22:26 CET

New data protection rules agreed by justice ministers this week give the Council a mandate to start talks with the European Parliament, now set for 24 June.

Hockey pitch map — 13 June 2015, 00:42 CET

Hockey pitch map

Mobility boost for Masters students — 11 June 2015, 22:52 CET

Students looking to take a Master's Degree in another EU country will be keen to look into a loan guarantee scheme offered by the highly successful Erasmus+ programme, as a new agreement worth some EUR 30 million was signed this week.

An Urban Agenda for Europe — 04 June 2015, 17:01 CET

Europe's cities are the engines of its economy, providing jobs and services, and they serve as hubs that catalyse creativity and innovation. Almost 70% of the EU population now live in urban areas. However, they are also home to some of our greatest challenges: economic, social, environmental and demographic, which are often interrelated.

'Restricted' 2016 EU Budget focuses on jobs, growth, migration and global action — 28 May 2015, 16:56 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a 2016 EU budget of EUR 143.5 billion in payment credits to support the recovery of the European economy and help improve lives in Europe and beyond.

EU plans for cutting red tape, with less but better regulation — 21 May 2015, 17:11 CET

As the United Kingdom begins to gear up for its referendum on EU membership following the Conservative win in the general election, the European Commission addressed what has been one of the main complaints of Mr Cameron's government – too much red tape in EU legislation and a lack of transparency about the EU decision-making process.

Brexit - early referendum on the cards — 14 May 2015, 17:26 CET

The surprise victory of Prime Minister David Cameron at the United Kingdom's general election last weekend has led to a chorus of concerned voices about the chances of a 'Brexit' from the European Union.

Priority to the digital single market — 07 May 2015, 16:26 CET

The Digital Single Market was earmarked as one of the Juncker Commission's top priorities, and this week it duly set out detailed plans to create a Digital Single Market, with set of targeted actions which are scheduled to be delivered by the end of next year.

Jobs, car safety, biofuels and plastic bags - all in a day's work at the European Parliament — 30 April 2015, 22:29 CET

Who says Euro-MPs don't do much or what they do has little relation to, or impact on, real life? Certainly nobody who attended their plenary session in Strasbourg this week, where their agenda was full with a number of important issues that affect us all.

EU trademark deal welcome step forward for SMEs — 23 April 2015, 18:19 CET

It has taken two years of inter-institutional discussions, but on Tuesday the EU's Latvian Presidency reached provisional political agreement with European Parliament representatives on reform of the European trade mark system.

Are EU charges of unfair practices against Google fair? — 16 April 2015, 18:33 CET

Internet giant Google again came under EU fire this week when the European Commission formally charged it with abusing the dominance of its search engine, while at the same time launching a sensitive probe into its omnipresent Android mobile phone operating system.

EU reviews its policy towards its eastern neighbours — 26 March 2015, 22:57 CET

Ukraine and Russia were topics of this week in the European Union, with the Europe's Parliament approving huge financial assistance to Ukraine, while the Commission published country reports on implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

EU Budget 2016 debate gets under way — 12 March 2015, 17:31 CET

The EU got down to preparing plans for next year's budget this week, with the European Parliament targeting growth, solidarity and paying the bills as priorities for the EU Budget 2016.

EU gender equality has some way to go — 05 March 2015, 22:33 CET

The eve of International Women's Day (8 March) is a good moment to assess the challenges that remain in tackling gender inequalities across the EU.

Infringements day at the EC — 26 February 2015, 18:02 CET

Wednesday was infringements day at the European Commission, a monthly occasion, when the Commission announces the various infringements proceedings it is setting in motion, and including legal actions it is taking against some Member States for failing to comply properly with their obligations under EU law.

Roadmap for a Capital Markets Union — 19 February 2015, 21:47 CET

The building blocks of the European Commission's 'Investment Plan for Europe' began to form this week, with the aim of unlocking funding for EU businesses and boosting growth with the creation of a true single market for capital.

Caps on inter-bank fees for card payments good for consumers, good for retailers — 05 February 2015, 19:22 CET

It's taken a long time, but the European Parliament and the Council have finally agreed a deal on a regulation to cap interchange fees for card-based payments.

New lobbyists' transparency register has yet to live up to its name — 29 January 2015, 17:28 CET

The EU Transparency Register, re-launched this week by the Commission and European Parliament, is another positive step on the way to true transparency, but it has yet to live up to its name.

Latvia presidency looks for progress in key areas — 22 January 2015, 22:34 CET

Latvia has already outlined the broad priorities for its presidency of the European Union: competitive, digital and engaged Europe. This week, the country's ministers came to the European Parliament, and gave Euro-MPs in committee some details about some of the items of new legislation and initiatives we can expect over the next few months.

European year of Development 2015 — 15 January 2015, 21:54 CET

One of the priorities of Latvia in its six-month stint as EU president is to strengthen Europe as a global actor. It is entirely appropriate that 2015 has been designated as the European Year of Development.