European Council

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

Draghi hopeful of banking union progress: report — 14 December 2012, 10:50 CET

European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi is confident that a central authority with the power to wind down failing eurozone banks will soon be in place, according to an interview in Friday's FT.

Berlusconi says has 'so much to do' outside politics — 13 December 2012, 22:06 CET

Italy's former leader Silvio Berlusconi gave a strong hint Thursday that he might not run in next year's election, telling a Belgian television station he had "so much to do" outside politics.

EU closes ranks behind Italy's Monti — 13 December 2012, 22:49 CET

EU leaders closed ranks behind caretaker Italian premier Mario Monti on Thursday -- in the presence of Silvio Berlusconi -- amid fears reforms could stall there after elections next year.

Barroso tells Berlusconi to mind Italy's interests first — 13 December 2012, 22:00 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday said he told his "old friend" Silvio Berlusoni, who may run again for election, that he must be mindful above all else of Italy's stability.

EU leaders upbeat on euro future after deal on banks, Greece — 14 December 2012, 10:49 CET

EU leaders debated the euro's future in a bullish mood Thursday after deals on banks and Greece, despite fears that political uncertainty in Italy could cause new worries for the single currency.

Greek deal paves way for upbeat EU summit — 13 December 2012, 16:38 CET

EU leaders meet Thursday for the final summit of a difficult year, having cleared a crucial bailout for Greece to tame the debt crisis and thrashed out a bank supervision deal.

Hollande to meet Merkel ahead of EU summit: sources — 13 December 2012, 11:42 CET

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a meeting Thursday just ahead of the last EU leaders' summit of the year, official sources said.

Bank watchdog deal boosts EU before Greek fund accord — 13 December 2012, 10:46 CET

The EU looks set to end a difficult year on a high note, clearing bailout funds for Greece on Thursday to tame the debt crisis at its heart after agreeing a key bank oversight deal to bolster the union.

EU seals deal on banks watchdog — 13 December 2012, 09:43 CET

The European Union agreed early Thursday to create a bank supervisor to oversee lenders across the eurozone, following marathon talks which ended hours before the year's final EU summit.

EU battles to bridge gulf on bank supervision — 12 December 2012, 21:32 CET

EU finance ministers battled Wednesday to nail down a deal on a controversial single supervisor for banks as France, Germany, and even non-euro Britain, talked up the chances of a compromise.

EU praises new Mali PM but warns military against meddling — 12 December 2012, 17:16 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday welcomed the naming of Mali's new premier Diango Cissoko as a man of consensus, while warning the Malian military against further meddling.

Belgium offers to host Syria opposition office — 12 December 2012, 21:34 CET

Belgium on Wednesday offered to host an office of Syria's opposition National Coalition in Brussels, headquarters of both the European Union and NATO.

Poor Romania expands parliament — 12 December 2012, 16:34 CET

Romania's new parliament is preparing to welcome more than 100 extra deputies following weekend elections, an increase that is raising eyebrows in one of the poorest countries in the European Union.

EU hopeful can bridge gulf on bank supervision — 12 December 2012, 17:16 CET

EU finance ministers expressed confidence Wednesday of nailing down a deal on a controversial single supervisory system for banks amid signs of an emerging French-German compromise.

Sweden probes how its arms ended up in Myanmar — 12 December 2012, 11:58 CET

Sweden's export control agency said Wednesday it was investigating how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Myanmar soldiers in breach of European Union sanctions.

Bulgaria to block start of Macedonia-EU talks — 11 December 2012, 17:07 CET

Bulgaria said Tuesday it will block Macedonia's bid to set a starting date for EU accession talks later this week, after earlier lashing out at what it sees as Skopje's nationalistic rhetoric.

EU calls for new Mali PM, army to stay out of politics — 11 December 2012, 13:49 CET

EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton on Tuesday called on Mali to appoint a new prime minister acceptable to all sides and urged the military to cease interfering in political life.

EU concerned about high-profile Gambian arrests — 11 December 2012, 13:44 CET

The European Union in Gambia expressed concern Tuesday about the "arbitrary detention" of a renowned lawyer and rights defender as well as an outspoken religious leader who criticised government.

Nervy euro summit once more for Nobel-laureate EU — 11 December 2012, 13:44 CET

Nobel Peace Prize in hand, European leaders meet for a final 2012 summit on Thursday still facing the uncertainties of the debt crisis and with unsettled Italy back in the spotlight.

EU's Jewish policy 'like 1930s': Israel's Lieberman — 11 December 2012, 22:03 CET

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticised Europe on Tuesday, saying its treatment of the Jewish state was comparable to policies during the Holocaust.

EU edges closer to Syrian opposition — 10 December 2012, 22:12 CET

The European Union edged closer Monday to the newly-formed Syrian opposition, welcoming its leader and deeming his group to be "legitimate representatives" of the Syrian people.

Monti undecided on running for vote, reassures markets — 10 December 2012, 22:03 CET

Outoging Italian premier Mario Monti said Monday he had not decided yet whether to run for election as he moved to reassure markets there would be no policy sea-change despite the nations's political drama.

EU says North Korea missile launch would be 'provocative act' — 10 December 2012, 22:03 CET

EU foreign ministers said Monday that a planned missile launch by North Korea would be a "provocative act" in breach of UN resolutions and require an international response.

EU approves Mali military training plan — 10 December 2012, 22:02 CET

EU foreign ministers approved Monday plans to deploy an EU military training mission in Mali to help the government regain control of the vast semi-desert north from Islamist rebels.

Key hurdle cleared as ministers approve single EU patent — 10 December 2012, 17:50 CET

EU industry ministers approved on Monday the creation of a single patent system across most of Europe -- a scheme some 40 years in the making.