European Commission

Latest news and information from the European Commission.

Advertisement

EU sees 'unique window' to peace in FARC-Colombia talks — 04 September 2012, 23:32 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday hailed the launch of talks between Colombia's leftist FARC rebels and the government as a "unique window of opportunity" to end decades of conflict.

EU praises Serbia move on Kosovo but wants more action — 04 September 2012, 12:54 CET

The European Union on Tuesday praised Serbia's new government for pushing ahead with a deal to defuse tension with Kosovo while calling on both sides to do more.

EU chief says Greek membership of euro 'irreversible' — 28 August 2012, 16:36 CET

Greece's membership of the eurozone is "irreversible" European Union president Herman Van Rompuy said Tuesday during a visit to Spain to discuss the eurozone crisis.

Commission chief protests attempts to cut his budget — 25 July 2012, 17:38 CET

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso protested on Wednesday against efforts to cut the 2013 European budget, saying they undermine plans to promote growth and jobs.

IMF stresses support for Greece ahead of audit — 23 July 2012, 19:12 CET

The International Monetary Fund stressed Monday its support of Greece on the eve of an IMF and European audit of the debt-stricken country's progress under an international bailout program.

EU, Mozambique sign cooperation accords — 19 July 2012, 22:39 CET

The European Union and Mozambique on Thursday signed three cooperation agreements worth 37 million euros in the capital Maputo.

German business must to do more save euro: Reding — 19 July 2012, 16:24 CET

Germany's top companies and executives must do more to support the euro, EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding said in a magazine interview.

Brussels calls for EU-Japan free trade negotiations — 18 July 2012, 17:59 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday called for the launch of talks to ink a mega free trade deal between the European Union and Japan, which together account for more than a third of world output.

Proposal to protect financial interests of the EU — 11 July 2012, 23:24 CET

Misuse of EU funds for criminal purposes puts the EU's objectives of generating jobs and growth and improving living conditions at stake. With public finances under pressure throughout the EU, every euro counts. The European Commission, has therefore proposed new rules today to fight fraud against the EU budget by means of criminal law to better safeguard taxpayers' money. The Directive creates a more harmonised framework for prosecuting and punishing crimes involving the EU budget so that criminals no longer exploit differences between national legal systems. The Directive provides for common definitions of offences against the EU budget and for minimum sanctions, including imprisonment in serious cases, and for a common level playing field for periods within which it is possible to investigate and prosecute offences (ie. statutes of limitation). This, says the Commission, will help to deter fraudsters, provide for more effective legal action at national level and make it easier to recover lost funds.

Barroso, Netanyahu talk Iran, peace process — 09 July 2012, 22:41 CET

Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran's nuclear programme on the second day of his trip to Israel and the West Bank.

G20 backing Europe on crisis plan: Barroso — 19 June 2012, 22:02 CET

G20 leaders meeting in Mexico will throw support Tuesday behind Europe's plans to overcome its debt crisis that is dragging down the global economy, EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said.

EU sets conditions for Kosovo visa free regime — 14 June 2012, 15:39 CET

The European Union on Thursday handed Kosovo a stringent list of almost 100 conditions to meet before Kosovans can travel to the EU's passport-free Schengen zone without a visa.

EU envoy criticises Turkey PM's abortion comparison — 31 May 2012, 16:54 CET

The head of the European Union's delegation in Turkey on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comparison of abortion to a botched attack on Kurdish rebels by the military.

French irked by EU use of English — 30 May 2012, 19:41 CET

The Brussels-based French-language press corps reacted with fury Wednesday to the release in English of the EU's annual report cards on the bloc's 27 economies.

Commission says Dutch face serious challenges on deficits — 30 May 2012, 19:39 CET

The Netherlands faced a number of serious challenges in its attempts to steer the eurozone's fifth-largest economy below a European Union deficit target, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

European Commission warns France on 2013 deficit — 30 May 2012, 15:00 CET

The European Commission warned France on Wednesday that hitting its deficit target of three per cent of GDP by 2013 would prove difficult and urged it to do more to rein in public finances.

EU pledges extra funds for energy in developing nations — 17 April 2012, 15:08 CET

The European Union vowed fresh funds Monday to help developing nations provide sustainable energy to 500 million people by 2030.

Malawi's Banda moves to reconcile with donors — 10 April 2012, 18:52 CET

New Malawian President Joyce Banda on Tuesday asked Britain and the United States to resume funding as she moved to heal breaches created by the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.

EU-IMF experts praise Portugal, warn of risks from recession — 03 April 2012, 15:30 CET

Portugal is meeting debt-rescue targets and could be strong enough to borrow on financial markets next year but is in a deeper recession than thought, EU and IMF auditors said on Tuesday.

EU 'Tobin' tax could slash budget contributions: Barroso — 22 March 2012, 21:07 CET

Europen Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday said a tax on the financial sector could slash by half the member states' contributions to the EU budget.

EU corrects Ashton speech transcript after Israeli anger — 20 March 2012, 18:13 CET

The European Union issued Tuesday a corrected version of a speech by its foreign policy chief which had angered Israel because it appeared to link a French school shooting and Gaza.

EU's Ashton vows to maintain Syria diplomatic presence — 16 March 2012, 13:17 CET

Foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Friday she will maintain the European Union's diplomatic presence in Damascus regardless of decisions taken by member states on their own needs.

EU says WTO confirms Boeing received 'billions' in US aid — 12 March 2012, 18:02 CET

The European Commission on Monday welcomed a WTO ruling in a dispute with Boeing, saying it confirmed billions of dollars in US subsidies to Boeing were illegal under WTO rules.

UN aid chiefs call for $725 million for drought-hit Sahel — 15 February 2012, 15:52 CET

United Nations and European Union aid chiefs called Wednesday for "urgent" assistance for West Africa's drought-hit Sahel region, saying it needed $725 million (552 million euros) this year.

Britain, France marked down in new EU economic report — 14 February 2012, 23:43 CET

The European Commission has issued its first report on EU economic imbalances, warning Britain and France of declining export performance but steering clear of criticising Germany.