European Commission

Latest news and information from the European Commission.

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Serbia expected to re-engage in Kosovo talks: EU — 11 October 2012, 16:10 CET

Serbia is expected to resume talks with Kosovo and achieve visible progress in order to get a date for EU accession negotiations, European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said Thursday.

Commission outlines bid for new industrial 'revolution' — 10 October 2012, 17:30 CET

The European Commission has set out its plans for a "revolution" to re-industrialise Europe and boost economic growth, though many countries' austerity budgets limit investment possibilities.

EU 'regrets' candidate Serbia's Gay Pride ban — 04 October 2012, 13:12 CET

The European Commission on Thursday told EU candidate country Serbia that its decision to ban a Gay Pride parade went against fundamental rights upheld by the European Union.

No change to Georgia-EU ties after vote: Commissioner — 04 October 2012, 22:27 CET

The result of Georgia's watershed parliamentary elections will not lead to any change in the European Union's ties with the ex-Soviet republic, European Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said on Tuesday.

EU's banking chief rejects Basel regulators' criticism — 01 October 2012, 16:20 CET

Europe's top banking chief launched a rebuttal on Monday to criticism by the industry's global supervisory authority that the EU is dragging its feet on protecting banks against a fresh financial crisis.

Rehn welcomes 'ambitious' Spanish measures — 27 September 2012, 19:15 CET

Spain's latest measures to stabilise its economy and public finances are an ambitious and major step forward on the necessary reforms it must make, EU Economics Chief Olli Rehn said Thursday.

EU grants Pakistan flood, unrest aid — 27 September 2012, 19:12 CET

The European Commission said Thursday it will release another 15 million euros in aid ($19 million) to Pakistan where tens of thousands of people are affected by flood and unrest.

EU Gazprom probe 'about fairness', not politics — 27 September 2012, 13:48 CET

An EU probe of alleged abuse of market muscle by Russian giant Gazprom is not political and simply aims to create a level playing field, says Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia.

Aid groups need more access inside Syria — 27 September 2012, 11:23 CET

Aid groups in Syria need better access to people ravaged by the war between government forces and the rebels who are fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad, the EU said on Wednesday.

EU urges eurozone hardliners to settle ESM scope — 26 September 2012, 21:16 CET

The EU urged eurozone leaders Wednesday to forge ahead with reforms already agreed to resolve the debt crisis after three hardline member states raised the stakes with a tougher approach.

Spain's Rajoy says will seek bailout if debt rates stay high — 26 September 2012, 15:43 CET

Spain will seek a full state bailout if its borrowing rates were to stay at unsustainable levels, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Wednesday.

France offers EUR 150m loan to help Jordan budget — 24 September 2012, 19:18 CET

The French Development Agency inked a deal with the Jordanian government on Monday to provide the kingdom with a soft loan of 150 million euros ($193 million) to support its battered budget.

Employment Commissioner calls for pay hikes in Germany — 20 September 2012, 21:45 CET

European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor called for an increase in German salaries in order to help energise the EU's struggling economy.

Commissioner urges more transparency in Bulgarian media — 20 September 2012, 21:42 CET

The EU's commissioner for new technologies called Thursday for more transparency in the ownership and financing of Bulgarian media outlets, after journalists complained of interference.

EU launches 'peace corps' — 19 September 2012, 19:28 CET

The European Commission has announced the launch of a giant European 'peace corps' of 10,000 volunteers for worldwide humanitarian operations from 2014 to 2020.

EU offers Italy EUR 670m in quake aid — 19 September 2012, 15:02 CET

The European Commission offered Wednesday 670 million euros to help reconstruction efforts after two powerful earthquakes in northern Italy caused loss of life and massive damage.

EU aid boosts Bulgaria growth, employment: minister — 18 September 2012, 17:30 CET

EU aid money has helped Bulgaria boost economic growth, lower unemployment and increase salaries, the government said Tuesday, forecasting further benefits to the economy by 2015.

EU hands extra EUR 100m in aid to Palestinians — 14 September 2012, 23:37 CET

The European Commission on Friday announced an extra 100 million euros in aid for water, sanitation, and refugees in the Palestinian territories.

Hungary, Romania show need for new EU rule of law benchmark — 12 September 2012, 18:51 CET

Recent worries over democratic values in Hungary and Romania highlight the need for the European Union to set new benchmarks to safeguard the rule of law, the EU's Justice Commissioner said on Wednesday.

Barroso urges new 'federal' horizon — 12 September 2012, 16:51 CET

In search of "a new direction" for the crisis-hit European Union, Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso called on Wednesday for a quantum leap towards a form of United States of Europe.

New package for banking supervision in the Eurozone — 12 September 2012, 12:25 CET

The European Commission sees its proposals for a single supervisory mechanism (SSM) for banks in the euro area as an important step in strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In the new single mechanism, ultimate responsibility for specific supervisory tasks related to the financial stability of all Euro area banks will lie with the European Central Bank (ECB). National supervisors will continue to play an important role in day-to-day supervision and in preparing and implementing ECB decisions. The Commission is also proposing that the European Banking Authority (EBA) develop a Single Supervisory Handbook to preserve the integrity of the single market and ensure coherence in banking supervision for all 27 EU Member States. The Commission is calling on the Council and European Parliament to adopt the proposed regulations by the end of 2012, together with the other three components of an integrated "banking union" – the single rulebook in the form of capital requirements, harmonised deposit protection schemes, and a single European recovery and resolution framework.

Barroso believes Greece will 'stay in the euro' — 12 September 2012, 11:16 CET

Greece will remain within the euro area if it sticks by its pledges on reform, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.

EU needs 'federation of nation states': Barroso — 12 September 2012, 11:16 CET

The European Union must evolve into a "federation of nation states", the head of the European Commission said Wednesday, if it is to overcome its economic and political crisis.

ECB measures to help investor confidence: Rehn — 06 September 2012, 21:39 CET

ECB measures to support struggling eurozone states should bolster investor confidence but governments must continue their own efforts, EU economy head Olli Rehn said Thursday.

Barroso hits out at EU budget cut drive — 06 September 2012, 15:43 CET

The determination of some EU states to drive down the bloc's budget makes a mockery of claims about investing to create jobs for the future, the head of the Commission warned on Thursday.