EU politics

Latest news about European Union politics.

Cyprus ministers approve bailout deal — 24 April 2013, 21:11 CET

Cyprus's cabinet on Wednesday approved the island's 10-billion-euro EU-IMF bailout deal that will now be tabled before parliament for a vote expected to be held before mid-May.

Crunch EU budget meeting pencilled in for May 6 — 24 April 2013, 21:12 CET

Permanent EU heads Herman Van Rompuy, Jose Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz will meet in early May seeking to break a deadlock on the European Union's budget for the rest of the decade, a key negotiator told AFP Wednesday.

Cuba opposition veteran slams EU accord plan — 23 April 2013, 23:03 CET

Veteran Cuban dissident Elizardo Sanchez urged the European Union on Tuesday not to sign a new bilateral agreement with his country's leaders, saying their recent reforms were "cosmetic" amid persistent human rights abuses.

Russia to open air base in Belarus by 2015 — 23 April 2013, 17:40 CET

Russia on Tuesday announced an agreement to open an air base in Belarus by 2015, part of the two post-Soviet neighbours' plan to forge a political and military alliance on the doorstep of the European Union.

Myanmar frees dozens of political prisoners — 23 April 2013, 22:58 CET

Myanmar on Tuesday pardoned dozens of political prisoners, activists said, a day after the European Union agreed to end almost all sanctions against the former pariah state.

German anti-euro party at five per cent: poll — 23 April 2013, 16:23 CET

A new anti-euro party in Germany scored five percent in a poll published Tuesday, the level it would need to enter parliament in elections Chancellor Angela Merkel's government will contest in five months.

Merkel says Germany not seeking 'hegemony' in EU — 22 April 2013, 16:05 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday rejected the idea that her country was seeking "hegemony" in the European Union, but insisted members needed to cede some national sovereignty for the greater good.

Britain launches legal challenge to EU finance tax — 21 April 2013, 14:25 CET

The British government has launched a legal challenge against plans for a European financial transactions tax to be adopted by 11 EU states, finance minister George Osborne said Friday.

Limited concessions in Hungary-EU dispute over law changes — 19 April 2013, 16:28 CET

Hungary on Friday dug in on a key constitutional change it has made that has stirred EU ire and scrutiny, though it offered limited "concessions" to other amendments in a bid to defuse an escalating row with Brussels.

Britain assures Bulgaria, Romania on job access: Sofia — 18 April 2013, 21:40 CET

Britain has assured Romania and Bulgaria that work restrictions on their citizens will be lifted as planned in 2014, as the eastern European nations battle perceptions the move will cause a wave of immigration.

Kosovo, Serbia to resume talks Friday — 18 April 2013, 21:40 CET

Kosovo and Serbia will resume talks in Brussels on Friday following another failure to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans, officials here said.

EU envoy says Tymoshenko release key 'objective' awaiting bloc deal — 18 April 2013, 17:32 CET

The release of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko is a key objective of European Union policy as it reviews ties with Ukraine and the possible signing of an association and trade accord, top officials said after an in-depth trip to Kiev.

Ashton says Bosnia lacks progress on reform — 18 April 2013, 21:35 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday that Bosnia has done little, if anything, recently to carry out reforms needed for it to eventually join the European Union.

Serbia, Kosovo talks fail once again — 18 April 2013, 22:40 CET

Serbia and Kosovo again failed to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans after lengthy talks brokered by the European Union lasting through Wednesday until Thursday.

Brussels reminds Hungary of constitutional EU obligations — 17 April 2013, 16:49 CET

The European Commission flashed another warning past Hungary on Wednesday, threatening to launch EU-level legal attacks against controversial changes to the country's constitution.

EU makes final push to wrest 2012 Serbia-Kosovo deal — 17 April 2013, 16:47 CET

The European Union made a final push Wednesday to wrest a 2012 Serbia-Kosovo deal to normalise ties between the fractious Balkans neighbours and turn a page on the continent's last trouble-spot.

Anti-euro party new wild card in German election year — 16 April 2013, 17:12 CET

A new anti-euro party in Germany is emerging as an election-year wild card and a potential threat to Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose coalition government is ruling with a narrow margin.

EU warns Hungary again over constitution changes — 13 April 2013, 22:21 CET

The European Union warned Hungary on Friday that it faced possible sanctions over controversial constitutional changes which appear incompatible with EU legislation and the rule of law.

Britain's Cameron brings family to Germany for EU talks — 12 April 2013, 16:43 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Germany Friday to press for EU reforms, but in an unusual move Chancellor Angela Merkel has invited him to stay overnight with his family.

Debt crisis undermines industrial relations: EU report — 11 April 2013, 16:22 CET

The debt crisis is a serious challenge to Europe's 'social model' of a fair share for all, driving tensions to worrying levels as unpopular austerity measures bite deeper, says the European Commission.

Thatcher cause of UK-EU tensions: Kohl — 11 April 2013, 10:50 CET

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's hostility towards a closer Europe is the root cause of ongoing tensions between Britain and the EU, Germany's ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl claimed in an interview published on Thursday.

Europe's fight against tax havens still has far to go — 10 April 2013, 13:40 CET

For more than two decades, a top French politician was able to quietly stash away hundreds of thousands of euros into a secret foreign bank account, all thanks to the lack of mechanisms that automatically and systematically help countries detect hidden accounts abroad.

With back against wall, Portugal pushes on with austerity — 10 April 2013, 10:21 CET

Despite the risk of aggravating the recession and unemployment, Portugal's government is wagering that following the austerity prescribed by its creditors will help it regain market confidence and avoid a second bailout.

Germans have learned to love the euro, poll shows — 09 April 2013, 10:45 CET

Almost 70 per cent of Germans now favour the euro, and only 27 per cent would prefer to ditch the common currency and return to the once-beloved Deutschmark, a survey published on Tuesday finds.

Serbia will not sign Kosovo accord, wants more talks — 08 April 2013, 22:54 CET

Serbia has rejected a Brussels-brokered proposal on easing tensions with breakaway Kosovo, seen as a key condition for EU integration talks to begin, but pledged to continue negotiations with Pristina.