European Council

Latest news from the Council of the European Union - on EUbusiness.com.

European Commission hits back at German criticism — 17 May 2013, 17:32 CET

A European Commission official on Friday condemned as "incomprehensible ... and even dangerous" criticism by Germany's finance minister that Brussels reacts too slowly to European problems such as youth unemployment.

Greek PM in China touts country as European 'gateway' — 17 May 2013, 20:51 CET

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Friday touted his troubled but improving economy as an attractive entry point for Chinese investment into the European Union.

EU welcomes Hollande's commitment to Europe — 17 May 2013, 20:52 CET

The European Commission welcomed Friday French President Francois Hollande's "deep commitment" to Europe and looked forward to seeing promised proposals to boost the flagging EU.

Anti-immigration leader comes under fire on Scottish trip — 17 May 2013, 11:27 CET

Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) had to be rescued from a Scottish pub by police in a riot van after protesters disrupted his press conference on Thursday.

Hollande vows to 'go on offensive', push euro government — 16 May 2013, 22:00 CET

Embattled President Francois Hollande vowed Thursday to "go on the offensive" by pushing for a new eurozone government and tackling France's economic woes after the country fell into recession.

Britain moves closer to EU referendum law — 16 May 2013, 22:19 CET

Britain moved closer to a referendum on Europe after a eurosceptic lawmaker said on Thursday that he would put forward legislation backed by Prime Minister David Cameron guaranteeing a vote by 2017.

British parliament to debate EU referendum bill — 16 May 2013, 12:41 CET

Britain moved closer to a referendum on Europe on Thursday after a eurosceptic lawmaker from Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party won the chance to put forward a law guaranteeing a vote by the end of 2017.

Iran's Jalili says Istanbul nuclear talks 'long and useful' — 16 May 2013, 13:46 CET

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Thursday that nuclear talks with the EU'S foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton were "long and useful" and that both sides have decided to continue the discussions.

UK's Cameron dealt bloody nose in EU vote — 16 May 2013, 12:28 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron suffered a fresh blow to his authority on Wednesday when around a third of his own party's lawmakers voted against his policy on offering a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

EU keeps tax-hunt momentum, even as resistance firms — 14 May 2013, 20:17 CET

European governments have firmed up plans to share bank records across borders for tax collection in a purge on money-laundering and offshore havens -- but failed to prise open key savers' data in Austria and Luxembourg.

Switzerland ready for talks with EU on savings tax — 14 May 2013, 20:18 CET

Switzerland said Tuesday that it was ready to boost cooperation with the European Union in the latter's battle with international tax evasion, provided Brussels made a formal request for talks.

Serbia, Kosovo to meet next week on Brussels accord — 14 May 2013, 20:13 CET

The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo will meet in Brussels on May 21 for follow-up talks on an EU-brokered deal aimed at normalising their ties, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said Tuesday.

British PM's party unveils EU referendum question — 14 May 2013, 21:18 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron tried to quell a rebellious mood in his Conservative party on Monday by publishing a draft bill revealing the wording of a referendum on Britain's EU membership.

EU seeks to unleash crackdown on tax evasion — 14 May 2013, 12:14 CET

European finance ministers bid Tuesday to unlock a trillion-euro annual crackdown on tax evasion, under pressure from EU leaders looking for new measures to boost job creation and growth.

Germany threatens new EU bailout plans — 14 May 2013, 12:01 CET

Germany's finance minister warned that only EU treaty change would create the legal framework needed to allow the formation of a single bailout agency for its ailing banks, in an article for Monday's Financial Times.

Britain's Cameron bows to pressure on EU referendum law — 14 May 2013, 16:58 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron bowed to pressure from his restive Conservative party on Tuesday and published a bill to hold a referendum on membership of the European Union.

Belgrade urges Serbs in Kosovo to accept EU-brokered deal — 13 May 2013, 02:12 CET

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic Sunday urged Serbs living in northern Kosovo to accept an EU-brokered agreement to normalise relations between Serbia and its breakaway former province, while admitting the accord was not ideal.

Britain's Tories in fresh turmoil over Europe — 13 May 2013, 00:32 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron is bracing for a fresh Conservative rebellion over Europe this week as about 100 of his party's lawmakers look set to defy him in a parliamentary vote.

Britain's Tories in fresh turmoil over Europe — 13 May 2013, 17:05 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron is bracing for a fresh Conservative rebellion over Europe this week as about 100 of his party's lawmakers look set to defy him in a parliamentary vote.

British lawmakers try to force EU referendum vote — 09 May 2013, 23:07 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron faced renewed pressure on Europe Thursday after a group of rebels from his own party pushed for a potentially embarrassing vote over a referendum on EU membership.

British PM hits out at 'EU pessimists' in his party — 09 May 2013, 15:10 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday hit out at "pessimists" in his own party who are demanding that Britain withdraw from the European Union immediately.

French ministers boycott conference over Muslim scholar — 08 May 2013, 20:57 CET

Two French ministers have decided to boycott a conference in Italy on the future of the European Union due to the presence of controversial Muslim intellectual Tariq Ramadan, aides said Wednesday.

Ashton congratulates Najib but 'takes note' of results row — 07 May 2013, 18:50 CET

The European Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton on Tuesday congratulated Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak for his victory in weekend general elections while noting the opposition's claim of poll irregularities.

EU hesitant on free trade deal with China: source — 07 May 2013, 15:41 CET

Even as it seeks free trade deals with the United States and Japan, the EU sees little near-term prospect of a similar accord with China, one of the bloc's most important trading partners, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.

EU pledges EUR 44 m aid at Somalia conference — 07 May 2013, 15:40 CET

The European Union on Tuesday pledged to give 44 million euros in aid to Somalia, at a conference in London aimed at stopping the impoverished country slipping back into lawlessness.