European Commission

Latest news and information from the European Commission.

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EU urges end to Myanmar unrest, pledges aid — 04 November 2012, 14:52 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has called for an end to communal killings in Myanmar following talks with President Thein Sein, while pledging aid to the former pariah state.

Bulgaria hardens stance on Macedonia's EU bid — 31 October 2012, 20:24 CET

Bulgarian officials on Wednesday hardened their stance against neighbouring Macedonia's bid to join the EU, as European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele visited Sofia.

Brazil, Gulf states, Malaysia, Russia lose EU trade benefits — 31 October 2012, 23:43 CET

A score of high-income nations such as Brazil, Russia and the Gulf states lost their privileged access to the EU's 500 million consumers on Wednesday as the bloc handed their benefits to poorer states.

EU says no Troika debt deal yet on Greece — 31 October 2012, 13:19 CET

The European Commission denied on Wednesday that a deal had been reached between international creditors and the Greek government on its debt bailout programme but expressed confidence agreement would be reached.

EU auditors says Kosovo aid 'not sufficiently effective' — 30 October 2012, 19:15 CET

European Union aid for Kosovo, including its rule of law mission, "has not been sufficiently effective" in boosting democratic standards and battling crime and corruption, says the European Court of Auditors.

Commission rejects call for EUR 50 bn budget cut — 30 October 2012, 11:44 CET

The European Commission rejected on Tuesday a suggested 50-billion-euro cut in its fiercely contested 2014-20 EU budget as Member States jostle for advantage ahead of a difficult summit next month.

ECB chief backs German 'super commissioner' plan — 28 October 2012, 11:40 CET

The head of the European Central Bank on Sunday threw his weight behind a German scheme to allow the EU to intervene in countries' budgets and propose changes before they are agreed in parliaments.

Barroso backs Ivory Coast reconciliation — 25 October 2012, 19:42 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday praised strong relations between the EU and Ivory Coast and pledged "unfailing support" for the country after President Alassane Ouattara's showdown with ousted leader Laurent Gbagbo.

EU foreign affairs head Ashton to visit Balkans with Clinton — 25 October 2012, 16:28 CET

European foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton is to make a joint visit next week to the Balkans with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, her office announced Thursday.

EU anti-fraud office gets new oversight head — 25 October 2012, 19:39 CET

The EU's anti-fraud office, in the news after a probe led to the unprecedented resignation of the EU's top health official, confirmed Thursday that its supervisory board had appointed a new head.

IMF releases EUR 1.5 bn loan tranche to Portugal — 24 October 2012, 22:22 CET

The International Monetary Fund released Wednesday a 1.5 billion euro loan instalment to Portugal, after a review of its progress under a bailout program.

Ex-Health Commissioner to challenge ouster — 24 October 2012, 19:02 CET

Former EU health commissioner John Dalli on Wednesday vowed to issue a legal challenge to Brussels following his forced resignation over a tobacco-linked influence-peddling fraud probe.

Romania's NGOs face closure as EU funds are cut off — 24 October 2012, 16:07 CET

Hundreds of Romanian organisations working for the integration of Roma, the disabled and the vulnerable are facing shutdown because failings by the government have led to European Union funds being withheld.

Brussels to request extra cash for Erasmus student fund — 22 October 2012, 17:18 CET

The European Commission is seeking a "substantial" increase to the EU's 2012 budget to fund the Erasmus student exchange programme as well as other social schemes that are all but broke due to austerity-driven cuts.

EU removes 'hammer and sickle' poster after protest — 22 October 2012, 19:17 CET

The European Commission has removed a poster displaying the communist hammer and sickle symbol from its Brussels headquarters after former Soviet-ruled EU member Lithuania expressed outrage.

No smoke without fire? Tobacco lobby mystery shakes Brussels — 22 October 2012, 19:15 CET

A shady Maltese lobbyist, Sweden's substitute for snuff, robberies against anti-smoking groups: the resignation of the EU's top health official in a tobacco-linked "whodunnit" is shaking up Brussels.

Bulgarian lawmaker sentenced a second time for corruption — 19 October 2012, 18:35 CET

A Bulgarian opposition lawmaker was handed his second jail sentence for corruption in just a year, Sofia's city court announced on Friday.

Serbia, Kosovo PMs meet for first round of talks — 19 October 2012, 18:37 CET

The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci, met Friday for the first time in EU-brokered talks aimed at easing tension in the western Balkans.

Simple stove brings safety, income for Darfur women — 19 October 2012, 13:16 CET

Collecting firewood for cooking puts women in Sudan's conflict-plagued and impoverished Darfur region at risk of rape.

EU leader presses Romania to act on programme funds — 17 October 2012, 22:08 CET

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday urged Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta to quickly address issues that have led Brussels to freeze European Union funds for the country.

Uproar as Commissioner quits in tobacco-linked fraud case — 18 October 2012, 12:07 CET

The European Commission faced a growing scandal Wednesday after its top health official resigned on being cited in a tobacco-linked influence-peddling fraud probe.

Health Commissioner resigns in 'snus' fraud probe — 17 October 2012, 10:50 CET

The European Union's top health official John Dalli resigned in an almost unprecedented move on Tuesday after being cited in an EU anti-fraud probe into a tobacco-linked influence-peddling claim.

EU says private sector is key player in development aid — 16 October 2012, 16:27 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso vowed Tuesday that Europe would maintain its place as the world's top provider of development aid as he urged the private sector to do more to help.

Europe has tools to fight debt crisis: Rehn — 16 October 2012, 22:46 CET

Europe has developed an "effective and flexible toolbox" to tackle the debt crisis raging in the eurozone, EU economics chief Olli Rehn said Monday.

Statement by EU leaders on winning Nobel peace prize — 12 October 2012, 13:27 CET

Following is the statement issued by Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, on the award of the 2012 peace prize to the European Union.