EU Institutions

Latest business news from the Institutions of the European Union

EU presidency Sweden summons Iranian ambassador — 03 July 2009, 18:14 CET

Sweden, the current holder of the European Union presidency, summoned Iran's ambassador Friday as part of a coordinated EU protest over the detention of British embassy employees in Tehran, the foreign ministry said.

EU nations summon Iranian envoys over embassy detentions — 03 July 2009, 18:11 CET

EU nations summoned Iranian ambassadors Friday in protest at the detention of British embassy employees in Tehran, some of whom could be tried for stoking post-election unrest, according to a cleric.

German court ruling on Lisbon pact not a solution: Klaus — 02 July 2009, 17:11 CET

A decision by Germany's top court to make ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty conditional on a new law does not correct the pact's faults, eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on Thursday.

Battle for EU president post commences — 02 July 2009, 10:12 CET

While Jose Manuel Barroso seeks to secure a second term as head of the European Commission, a new battle has broken out for a post that doesn't even exist yet -- that of EU president.

Sweden kicks off EU presidency in institutional fog — 02 July 2009, 00:06 CET

Sweden kicked off its six-month European Union presidency Wednesday amid fears the bloc's unresolved institutional woes may overshadow its priorities of tackling climate change and the economic crisis.

Tensions over Russia-EU summit as Sweden takes helm — 02 July 2009, 00:02 CET

Sweden assumed the EU's rotating presidency Wednesday but already faced problems due to its strained ties with Russia, with Moscow opposing plans to hold a key summit in Stockholm, an official said.

Sweden takes over EU helm with economy and climate in focus — 01 July 2009, 12:46 CET

Sweden took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union on Wednesday, vowing to tackle climate change and combat soaring unemployment in Europe following the global economic crisis.

Sweden calls on EU members to rein in spending — 30 June 2009, 23:52 CET

Sweden's EU presidency will urge fellow members to tighten their belts after pumping several billion euros into their economies to offset the effects of the economic crisis, taking the risk of a conflict with the bloc's big spenders.

State of ratification of EU's Lisbon Treaty — 30 June 2009, 17:10 CET

Germany's top court on Tuesday suspended ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, until legislation has been put in place to safeguard national parliamentary powers.

Swedish FM unconcerned by Germany EU court decision — 30 June 2009, 13:27 CET

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Tuesday he was unconcerned about a decision by Germany's top court to delay ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty.

Top German court suspends ratification of EU's Lisbon Treaty — 30 June 2009, 23:57 CET

Germany's top court on Tuesday delayed the ratification of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty but leaders expressed confidence that the landmark reforms would still be adopted soon.

Czech prime minister rejects criticism of EU presidency — 29 June 2009, 23:51 CET

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer insisted Monday that his country had made a success of its six month EU presidency despite the collapse of one government and its eurosceptic reputation during the term.

Work programme for the Swedish Presidency of the EU — 29 June 2009, 16:17 CET

Sweden takes over the Presidency of the EU on 1 July. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt presented on 23 June the work programme for Sweden's six months in the EU driving seat. It is firstly a question of leading the EU through the financial and economic crisis, dealing with unemployment in Europe and continuing the work to tackle climate change.

Reinfeldt and Bildt: tactician and veteran diplomat at EU helm — 29 June 2009, 16:30 CET

One is a calculating tactician new to the global stage, the other an impulsive veteran passionate about EU expansion: Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt are Sweden's tag team for the upcoming EU presidency.

Economic crisis, climate warming top Swedish EU priorities — 29 June 2009, 16:25 CET

The global economic crisis, soaring unemployment in Europe and climate change top Sweden's agenda as it takes over the European Union six-month presidency in difficult conditions on Wednesday.

EU warns after Iran arrests British embassy staff — 29 June 2009, 00:06 CET

The European Union vowed Sunday to meet any harassment of diplomats in Iran with a "strong and collective response" after eight British embassy staff in Tehran were arrested.

Stormy Czech EU presidency ends without glamour — 28 June 2009, 13:42 CET

The laboured Czech European Union presidency tarnished by the fall of the government midway through the tenure is drawing to a close as the Czechs pass the baton to the Swedes on July 1.

EU holds breath as German court rules on Lisbon Treaty — 28 June 2009, 13:31 CET

Germany's top court will on Tuesday decide whether the European Union's proposed Lisbon Treaty breaches the country's constitution and could potentially halt the landmark reform in its tracks.

Swedish PM to hold talks with Britain's Brown — 26 June 2009, 16:55 CET

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will hold talks on the country's forthcoming EU presidency with British counterpart Gordon Brown next week, a spokeswoman for the Swedish premier said Friday.

European Parliament head hopes to lead delegation to Iran — 24 June 2009, 19:30 CET

EU parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering said Wednesday he hopes to lead an unprecedented delegation of European deputies to Iran to study an election which appears to be "a massive fraud".

Ireland 'could not survive' without EU, says PM — 24 June 2009, 15:58 CET

Ireland could not weather the economic crisis if it were not part of the eurozone, Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Wednesday, voicing confidence in winning a second referendum on a key EU reform treaty.

Czech president to wait until last possible minute on Lisbon — 23 June 2009, 23:48 CET

Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on public radio Tuesday he will wait until the very last minute before deciding whether to sign the European Union's reforming Lisbon Treaty.

Swedish EU presidency to focus on economy, climate — 23 June 2009, 23:33 CET

Sweden on Tuesday said it will prioritise the fight against Europe's rising unemployment amid the global economic downturn and climate change when it takes over the EU presidency on July 1.

World powers pressure Iran over crackdown — 23 June 2009, 16:12 CET

EU countries have called in Iranian ambassadors to express new alarm over violence on the streets of Tehran as the world again seeks to pressure the Islamic government over its crackdown.

Sweden summons Iranian ambassador for consultations — 23 June 2009, 13:59 CET

Iran's ambassador to Sweden was summoned to the foreign ministry on Tuesday to receive "a strong message" about Stockholm's concerns over the situation in Iran, the ministry said.