EU politics

Latest news about European Union politics.

EU working to create 'credible' army in crisis-hit Mali — 26 October 2012, 22:37 CET

The European Union is working to establish a credible army in Mali, where radical Islamists took control of the north after a military coup, the EU commission president said Friday.

Britain cannot support steep increase in EU budget: Cameron — 25 October 2012, 22:11 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron warned European Council president Herman van Rompuy at talks on Thursday that Britain could not support a sharp increase in the EU budget at a time of austerity in the bloc.

EU concerned at new Russia treason law — 25 October 2012, 18:26 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed concern Thursday after Russia's lower house passed a law broadening the definition of treason.

Barroso visits Ivory Coast with Mali in mind — 25 October 2012, 16:28 CET

The chairman of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, was meeting Thursday with Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, whose country is still seeking stability, with the Mali crisis also be on the agenda.

Denmark to veto EU budget unless it gets rebate: PM — 25 October 2012, 17:15 CET

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt warned Thursday that she would veto the EU's 2014-2020 budget proposal if Denmark does not receive a one billion kroner (134 million euros) rebate.

Clinton, EU top diplomat voice concerns over Ukraine vote — 25 October 2012, 14:12 CET

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the EU's top diplomat Catherine Ashton on Thursday expressed worry over disturbing trends in Ukraine ahead of a weekend legislative poll.

Greece to press on with cuts despite opposition — 25 October 2012, 17:54 CET

Greece will stand by extra reform efforts thrashed out with international creditors, the finance minister said on Thursday, despite resistance to more austerity from within the ruling coalition.

Catalan lawmakers warn of Spanish 'military threat' — 24 October 2012, 18:28 CET

European Union MPs from Catalonia sparked an uproar in Spain on Wednesday by warning of a military threat from Madrid and seeking EU intervention.

British FM urges Bosnia leaders to overcome ethnic rifts — 24 October 2012, 16:06 CET

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Bosnian leaders on Wednesday to overcome their ethnic divisions if they want to bring the country closer to the European Union and NATO.

EU, US warn against political vacuum in Lebanon — 24 October 2012, 10:42 CET

The United States and the European Union have expressed concern at the political situation in Lebanon, where the opposition has called for the premier to step down over a deadly blast blamed on Syria.

Scotland seeks legal advice on EU membership — 23 October 2012, 19:28 CET

Scotland has formally commissioned legal advice on its position in the European Union if it votes for independence from Britain in its 2014 referendum.

Ashton warns against political vacuum in Lebanon — 23 October 2012, 15:47 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton warned on Tuesday against a political vacuum in Lebanon after the opposition called for the premier to step down over a deadly blast blamed on Syria, state media said.

More centralised EU 'democratically unsustainable': Hague — 23 October 2012, 13:22 CET

British foreign minister William Hague will on Tuesday issue a stark warning to European leaders that the EU will face a crisis if it continues to take more powers from national governments.

EU urges Gambia to honour freeze on executions — 22 October 2012, 10:38 CET

The European Union on Sunday urged Gambia to honour a freeze on the death penalty after the tiny west African nation's supreme court upheld death sentences against seven officials for treason.

Foreign minister named as new Maltese Commissioner — 21 October 2012, 19:29 CET

Malta has nominated its foreign minister to replace the EU's top health official after the previous one resigned amid allegations he sought to sell his influence to the tobacco industry.

Merkel 'playing politics' with banking union — 21 October 2012, 14:33 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's challenger in next year's general election accused her Sunday of delaying moves to create a European banking union to boost her chances of staying in office.

Bulgarian lawmaker sentenced a second time for corruption — 19 October 2012, 18:35 CET

A Bulgarian opposition lawmaker was handed his second jail sentence for corruption in just a year, Sofia's city court announced on Friday.

Swedish Match says EU bribes totalled EUR 60 million — 19 October 2012, 14:28 CET

Tobacco producer Swedish Match claimed Friday it was offered the opportunity to pay EUR 60 million thwart new EU tobacco legislation in a scandal that has cost Europe's top health official his job.

NATO, EU praise Georgia's democracy after vote — 18 October 2012, 17:14 CET

NATO and the EU praised Georgia on Thursday for elections which saw a peaceful power transfer from President Mikheil Saakashvili's party to a coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

BBC services jammed in Middle East, Europe — 18 October 2012, 17:04 CET

The BBC said Thursday its services in the Middle East and Europe were being deliberately jammed, along with those of other broadcasters.

Russia says November Iran nuclear talks 'realistic' — 18 October 2012, 12:03 CET

Russia said Thursday it was "realistic" to hold direct talks next month between Iran's chief negotiator and six-nation representative Catherine Ashton over the Islamic republic's nuclear drive.

Barroso, Van Rompuy, Schulz to collect Nobel Peace Prize — 17 October 2012, 22:05 CET

European Parliament President Martin Schulz said on Wednesday that he, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU President Herman Van Rompuy will jointly collect the EU's Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

Uproar as Commissioner quits in tobacco-linked fraud case — 18 October 2012, 12:07 CET

The European Commission faced a growing scandal Wednesday after its top health official resigned on being cited in a tobacco-linked influence-peddling fraud probe.

Iran slams EU satellite bans as illegal — 16 October 2012, 16:47 CET

Iran on Tuesday slammed a decision by France's Eutelsat and Arqiva of Britain to stop broadcasting Iranian state television channels as "without legal justification."

Israel PM welcomes fresh EU sanctions on Iran — 16 October 2012, 22:27 CET

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the European Union on Tuesday for the latest round of sanctions imposed on Iran, but reserved judgement on whether it would halt its nuclear drive.