European Council

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

Britain's Tony Blair warns of EU exit danger — 28 November 2012, 21:27 CET

Britain would be making a "monumental error" that could threaten its global influence if it turned away from the European Union, former prime minister Tony Blair warned on Wednesday.

Powers eye December talks with Iran in Turkey — 28 November 2012, 16:45 CET

World powers are proposing to Iran to hold their first round of talks in six months on Tehran's nuclear programme already in the first half of December in Istanbul, diplomatic sources say.

Lithuania to abstain on Palestinian UN bid as EU split — 28 November 2012, 13:54 CET

Lithuania will abstain on the looming Palestinian bid for upgraded UN membership, given the lack of a united stance in the 27-nation European Union, President Dalia Grybauskaite said Wednesday.

Russia warns EU of visa retaliation — 27 November 2012, 11:57 CET

Russia on Tuesday warned the European Union that Moscow was considering retaliation if the bloc further delays dropping visa requirements for Russians.

Kosovo PM denounces EU over ex-rebel's detention — 26 November 2012, 23:07 CET

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci lashed out on Monday at the EU's legal mission in Kosovo after it sent one of his former wartime guerrilla allies back into custody pending a retrial on war crimes charges.

EU to unfreeze Egyptian, Tunisian assets — 26 November 2012, 23:16 CET

The European Union is lifting its asset freeze on Egyptian and Tunisian funds, imposed as sanctions before the countries' strongmen rulers were ousted in the Arab Spring uprisings.

Romania's anti-graft agency denounces pressures — 26 November 2012, 17:50 CET

Political pressure on Romania's government anti-graft watchdog "has grown exponentially", its president told AFP on Monday, ahead of December 9 parliamentary elections.

EU warns Georgia against political retribution — 26 November 2012, 17:47 CET

The EU's foreign policy chief on Monday warned Georgia against political prosecutions after several top figures from President Mikheil Saakashvili's recently ousted government were arrested.

Russia PM says EU economic crisis 'very serious threat' — 26 November 2012, 10:47 CET

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow was nervously watching the economic crisis in the European Union, which he said represented a serious threat to Russia's own economic performance.

Albanians in Balkans vow to unite 'within EU' — 25 November 2012, 23:13 CET

The leaders of Albania and Kosovo vowed to achieve unity for ethnic Albanians in the region during the centennial celebration of Albania's independence in the Macedonian capital Sunday but said it should be "within EU boundaries".

Battered EU budgeting for more painful talks — 25 November 2012, 12:58 CET

The collapse of EU talks Friday without agreeing a seven-year budget is not calamitous, the bloc will continue to function, but it does heap yet more pressure on a divided European Union mired in an intractable debt crisis.

British press hails Cameron's EU budget stance — 25 November 2012, 12:52 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron secured a decent result for Britain at the European Union budget summit, Britain's newspapers said Saturday, while warning that his good fortune may not last.

Britain not isolated over EU budget cuts: Cameron — 23 November 2012, 18:17 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday that he was not isolated in his demands for cuts to the EU budget, insisting that a group of other northern European countries backed his position.

EU's trillion euro budget summit ends in failure — 23 November 2012, 20:19 CET

Talks on the European Union's trillion euro budget ended in deadlock Friday when EU leaders failed to overcome seemingly irreconcilable differences on spending.

Britain's Cameron looks to Germany to avoid EU isolation — 23 November 2012, 16:42 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron risked further isolation Friday over the EU's disputed new budget, although an unlikely alliance with Germany's Angela Merkel could win him some concessions.

EU urges Morsi to respect Egypt's democratic process — 23 November 2012, 15:52 CET

The European Union on Friday urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to respect the democratic process after he assumed sweeping powers decried by the opposition as dictatorial.

Ireland says EU budget delay would hold back Europe — 21 November 2012, 16:37 CET

Protracted negotiations about the EU budget would distract from the task of rebuilding growth in Europe, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Wednesday.

Crisis-hit Spain pays price of joining EU rich club — 21 November 2012, 03:47 CET

Blighted by recession and tottering on the edge of a sovereign bailout, Spain is about to pay the price of joining the club of richest nations in the European Union.

Latvia draws red line on EU budget — 20 November 2012, 17:07 CET

Latvia said Tuesday that it cannot back plans for the European Union budget in their current form, ahead of what are expected to be gruelling talks on the 27-nation bloc's spending plans.

Hollande slams countries seeking rebates in EU budget — 19 November 2012, 18:52 CET

French President Francois Hollande on Monday slammed countries seeking rebates and discounts in the European Union's next budget, ahead of a key summit this week in Brussels.

Facts and figures on the EU 2014-2020 budget — 18 November 2012, 04:22 CET

Europe's leaders gather in Brussels for an extraordinary two-day European Union summit Thursday aimed at agreeing the bloc's next trillion-euro budget for 2014-2020.

Romania calls proposed EU budget cut 'unacceptable' — 16 November 2012, 16:42 CET

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Friday that a proposal by EU president Herman Van Rompuy to reduce the bloc's 2014-2020 budget by 75 billion euros ($95 billion) was "unacceptable."

EU court blasts Hungary over forced retirement of judges — 06 November 2012, 16:28 CET

Europe's Court of Justice on Tuesday slammed a controversial Hungarian law forcing judges to retire at 62 instead of 70, a move seen by the opposition as tightening the government's grip on the judiciary.

EU 'on track' to decide on Greek bailout next week — 06 November 2012, 01:17 CET

The European Union's economy chief said Monday the eurozone was "on track" to take a decision on a vital Greek bailout loan next week, but another official voiced doubts about an imminent deal.

European leaders seek Asian support on debt crisis — 05 November 2012, 11:38 CET

European leaders flew to impoverished Laos Monday on a mission to reassure Asia they are finally getting a grip on the eurozone debt crisis during a major summit in the tiny landlocked nation.