European Council

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

Romania's MPs send 'bad' signal against graft: PM — 21 December 2012, 16:12 CET

Romanian MPs on Friday refused to allow the arrest of a lawmaker accused of corruption, a move that will undermine the country's international credibility according to Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

EU tightens noose on Iran with new sanctions — 21 December 2012, 19:25 CET

The EU has agreed new sanctions against Iran, adding 18 companies or institutions and one person to a blacklist aimed at forcing stalled talks on Tehran's contested nuclear drive to resume.

Germany says Dutch minister good candidate for eurogroup chief — 21 December 2012, 23:45 CET

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Friday he considered his Dutch counterpart Jeroen Dijsselbloem as a good possible candidate to take over as head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers.

Topless Femen feminists detained in anti-Putin protest — 21 December 2012, 13:02 CET

Four pro-democracy activists from Ukraine's feminist group Femen staged a brief topless protest Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Brussels attending a European Union summit.

EU welcomes Putin with Syria back in focus — 21 December 2012, 19:32 CET

Russian President Vladimir Putin went into talks with European Union leaders Friday, tackling a lengthy agenda of contentious issues from trade and human rights to Syria.

Belgrade wants autonomy for Kosovo Serbs: report — 20 December 2012, 21:39 CET

Serbia wants for its Serb minority in breakaway Kosovo a "high degree of autonomy" modelled on Spain's Catalan region, Beta news agency reported on Thursday, quoting a document to be sent to the republic's parliament for debate.

Tough-talking Putin visits Brussels — 20 December 2012, 11:50 CET

The European Union welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, highlighting its partnership with a Moscow determined to forcefully defend its interests against Western interference.

EU clears EUR 1.2 bn for delayed Berlin airport — 19 December 2012, 19:03 CET

The European Commission cleared Wednesday 1.2 billion euros in additional state aid to allow completion of Berlin's long-delayed new airport.

EU urges deeper integration of five Maghreb nations — 19 December 2012, 18:02 CET

The European Union on Wednesday urged the five Maghreb nations of northern Africa to draw inspiration from Europe and deepen their regional integration in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

Tunisia 'desperately' seeking EU economic cooperation — 18 December 2012, 23:59 CET

Tunisia is "desperately" seeking closer economic cooperation with Europe two years after the Arab Spring uprising to help tackle frustration at its failure to raise living standards, the head of the EU parliament said on Tuesday.

EU, Montenegro make progress in accession talks — 18 December 2012, 23:59 CET

The European Union held a first round of accession talks with Montenegro on Tuesday and approved one of the 35 chapters of its application for membership, which premier Milo Djukanovic has made his top priority.

EU urges quick trade talks after Japan vote — 17 December 2012, 18:50 CET

European Union president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday congratulated Japan's Shinzo Abe for his sweeping election win while urging the swift opening of trade talks.

Hungary wades into Greece-Macedonia naming row — 17 December 2012, 18:53 CET

Hungary took a stand Monday in a virulent dispute between Greece and Macedonia, announcing it recognised the latter as the "Republic of Macedonia" despite a naming row that has seen Athens block its neighbour's bid to join the EU.

Romania's president picks as PM man who tried to oust him — 17 December 2012, 18:49 CET

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday re-appointed as prime minister the man who tried to impeach him earlier this year, averting the risk of fresh a political crisis in one of the European Union's newest states.

Ireland to focus on growth as EU president — 20 December 2012, 14:04 CET

The way forward out of the crisis for Europe is to secure growth and jobs, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore said on Monday as his country prepares to take over the rotating EU presidency.

US expects Romania to avoid 'replay' of political crisis — 15 December 2012, 11:34 CET

Washington expects strategic ally Romania to stick to its rule of law and IMF commitments in order to avoid a "replay" of the political crisis last summer, the US ambassador to Romania told AFP.

Slovenia warns might delay Croatia's EU entry over bank row — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

Slovenia might still block Croatia's accession to the European Union, planned for July 2013, if a long-standing dispute over bank savings is not quickly resolved, Slovenia's foreign minister warned Friday.

EU to take closer look at defence as costs soar — 14 December 2012, 16:50 CET

EU leaders said Friday they will look more closely at defence as a changing world and tight budgets force member states to cooperate in search of a bigger bang for their euros.

EU delays euro fix after deal on Greece, banks — 14 December 2012, 15:37 CET

Europe's leaders on Friday pushed back radical moves to fix faults in the euro at the final summit of a crisis-hit 2012 that saw much-trumpeted deals to save Greece and monitor big banks.

'Inaction' not option in Syria, says Cameron, EU 'appalled' — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

Doing nothing is not an option in Syria, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday as his European Union counterparts pledged to look at "all options" available to support the opposition and civilians.

EU delays euro fix after deal on Greece, banks — 14 December 2012, 16:48 CET

Europe's leaders decided Friday to push back radical moves to fix faults in the euro at the final summit of a crisis-hit 2012 that saw deals to save Greece and monitor big banks.

EU crisis times over: Hollande — 14 December 2012, 10:52 CET

The times of crisis and confusion for the European Union are over, French President Francois Hollande said Friday.

Assad losing, must go as quickly as possible: France — 14 December 2012, 10:52 CET

Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad is losing the fight against rebel forces and must be made to leave as quickly as possible, French President Francois Hollande said Friday.

EU holds back on eurozone overhaul — 14 December 2012, 10:52 CET

European leaders doused hopes of a radical eurozone overhaul on Friday, after brokering deals to control banks and refloat Greece seen as adequate to stem the immediate crisis.

EU trumpets bank deal but bogs down on eurozone overhaul — 14 December 2012, 12:26 CET

Europe's leaders wound up another crisis-hit year at their last 2012 summit Friday, trumpeting deals to save Greece and monitor banks but kicking ambitious proposals for further EU integration into a vague future.