EU Institutions

Latest business news from the Institutions of the European Union

Slovenia confirms EU mission to Georgia — 09 May 2008, 14:51 CET

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency, confirmed Friday that an EU mission would travel to Georgia next week to cool tensions over Abkhazia.

Lithuania and Poland join forces on EU-Russia negotiations — 08 May 2008, 19:28 CET

Lithuania and Poland have agreed to coordinate their strategies on whether to agree further European talks on an EU-Russia partnership pact, Lithuania's government information bureau said Thursday.

EU ministers to visit Georgia to ease tensions with Moscow — 08 May 2008, 19:28 CET

The foreign ministers of Slovenia, Sweden Poland and Lithuania plan to visit Georgia on Monday in an effort to try to cool tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow.

Euro-MPs back tighter rules on lobbyists — 08 May 2008, 22:46 CET

The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favour of tightening rules regulating the 15,000 lobbyists that gravitate around the EU institutions.

Lithuania, Latvia ratify EU's Lisbon treaty — 08 May 2008, 13:25 CET

The former Soviet states of Lithuania and Latvia on Thursday ratified the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, which aims to reforming decision making in the 27-nation bloc.

Free speech reform comes into force in Turkey — 08 May 2008, 10:10 CET

A long-awaited law aimed at expanding freedom of speech came into force in Turkey on Thursday after presidential approval.

Serbia's fragile economy at stake in weekend polls — 08 May 2008, 10:11 CET

Serbia's fragile economy could pay the price if nationalists win Sunday's general elections, depriving it of the benefits of European Union rapprochement, analysts warn.

Euro-parliament committee for splitting electricity groups — 07 May 2008, 11:29 CET

A key panel at the European Parliament voted late on Tuesday in favour of requiring power companies to split their generation businesses from their transmission networks.

France pledges not to snag Turkey's EU accession talks — 06 May 2008, 23:38 CET

A senior French official pledged Tuesday that his country would not seek to block Turkey's European Union accession talks when it takes over the bloc's presidency in July.

Berlusconi begins term under a critical eye from Brussels — 06 May 2008, 23:47 CET

Whether Naples rubbish, ailing Alitalia's fate or the public finances, Italy and the European Commission have no shortage of sore points likely to ensure rocky relations between Brussels and the incoming government.

Europe woos Serbia with free visas ahead of key election — 06 May 2008, 17:27 CET

Seventeen European states have stepped up efforts to give a new boost to Serbia's pro-EU parties ahead of elections this week by making visas free for visitors from the Balkan state.

France seeks to avert eurozone tensions with Germany — 06 May 2008, 17:34 CET

France is aiming to avoid conflict with Germany by keeping a low profile on the prickly issues of the euro's strength and the ECB as its presidency of the European Union approaches, French sources say.

Luxembourg PM early favourite for EU president — 05 May 2008, 20:56 CET

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker is emerging as a early favourite to become the European Union's first president, according to a source close to the French presidency.

EU eyes pollution tolls for truckers — 06 May 2008, 17:24 CET

Europe's truckers would have to pay for the pollution, traffic jams and noise they cause if the European Commission gets its way.

Summit calls for EU membership for all Western Balkan states — 03 May 2008, 22:01 CET

EU integration is the only "viable political alternative" for the Western Balkans, a two-day summit of leaders from across central, eastern and southern Europe concluded on Saturday.

London's High Court to review Lisbon Treaty referendum U-turn — 03 May 2008, 22:00 CET

A London High Court judge will review the Westminster government's decision to greenlight the European Union's Lisbon Treaty without a referendum.

Germany's Merkel gets annual EU prize with French praise — 01 May 2008, 18:28 CET

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel received an annual EU prize on Thursday for helping unite Europe, as France's Nicolas Sarkozy praised her, easing frosty Franco-German relations.

EU set to sign key pact with Bosnia next month — 29 April 2008, 22:18 CET

EU foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed to sign a key trade and aid pact with Bosnia next month, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel announced.

EU extends Myanmar sanctions for another year — 29 April 2008, 22:19 CET

The European Union on Tuesday extended its sanctions against the regime in Myanmar for another year, adding that the measures could be increased.

EU, Serbia ink deal on closer ties — 29 April 2008, 20:17 CET

The European Union signed up to closer ties with Serbia on Tuesday, moving it closer to EU membership despite disputes over Kosovo's independence and Belgrade's failure to catch war criminals.

Lithuania blocks EU deal on talks with Russia — 29 April 2008, 20:26 CET

European nations failed Tuesday to convince Lithuania to allow the European Union to launch talks on a new partnership pact with Russia.

New Serb parliament to 'annul' EU pact: Kostunica — 29 April 2008, 20:26 CET

Nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said Tuesday that Serbia's parliament would "annul" a pact on closer ties with the European Union after elections next month.

EU prolongs easing of sanctions against Uzbekistan — 29 April 2008, 14:48 CET

EU foreign ministers agreed Tuesday to suspend sanctions against Uzbekistan for a further six months, despite criticisms from human rights groups.

European MPs urge EU states to shelter more Iraqis — 29 April 2008, 14:49 CET

A group of Members of the European Parliament urged EU countries on Tuesday to accept more asylum seekers from conflict-torn Iraq, during a visit to Jordan, which hosts hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees.

EU calls for global arms embargo against Zimbabwe — 30 April 2008, 12:07 CET

The EU has called for a global arms embargo against Zimbabwe in line with an EU ban on weapons and equipment which could be used to crack down on political dissent.