EU politics

Latest news about European Union politics.

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.

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.

Ukraine deputy prosecutor 'banned from entering US' — 11 December 2012, 17:06 CET

Ukraine's deputy prosecutor general, a key figure in the legal campaign against jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, said Monday that the United States had cancelled his five-year entry visa.

EU Nobel-winners pay tribute to Monti's 'great job' — 10 December 2012, 14:09 CET

European Union leaders in Norway to collect the Nobel Peace Prize on Monday hailed the "great job" done by outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

UKIP success sounds alarm bells for Britain's Tories — 09 December 2012, 13:12 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron may once have dismissed them as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" but the UK Independence Party is riding a wave of success which could come back to hit him.

A trio of gas pipelines fight for southern Europe — 07 December 2012, 17:05 CET

Three competing pipelines, South Stream, Nabucco and TAP, have launched projects in the past few years to supply southern Europe with gas from Russia, the Caspian Sea and beyond as Europe seeks to diversify its gas sources:

Putin launches construction of South Stream pipeline — 07 December 2012, 17:03 CET

President Vladimir Putin on Friday launched construction of the long-awaited South Stream pipeline that the Kremlin hopes will pump Russia's gas to Europe while avoiding its unpredictable neighbour Ukraine.

Austrian civil servant wracks up EUR 340m trade loss — 06 December 2012, 19:14 CET

An Austrian civil servant from the region of Salzburg lost as much as 340 million euros ($440 million) in public funds by secretly speculating on high risk derivatives, the regional finance minister David Brenner said on Thursday.

Bulgaria president vetoes cash-for-citizenship law — 06 December 2012, 14:38 CET

Bulgaria's president on Thursday vetoed parts of a new law offering citizenship to anyone investing one million leva (511,000 euros, $668,000) into the EU country's ailing economy.

Crisis-hit EU to Oslo to receive controversial Nobel Prize — 06 December 2012, 11:06 CET

With the exception of a few notable absentees, European leaders are expected to turn out in force for next week's ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to this year's controversial winner, the European Union.

EU appeals for calm as Egypt clashes rage — 05 December 2012, 23:47 CET

The European Union's diplomatic chief called for "calm and restraint" Wednesday as supporters and opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi clashed over his decision to expand his powers.

Bulgaria lashes out at EU hopeful Macedonia — 05 December 2012, 19:08 CET

Bulgaria's president took a swipe at EU hopeful Macedonia on Wednesday, criticising what he called a lack of "good neighbourliness" and rising nationalistic rhetoric.

EU, US rule out climate funding pledges in Doha — 05 December 2012, 18:04 CET

The European Union and United States refused at UN talks in Doha on Wednesday to commit to concrete climate funding for poor nations as yet another report warned of dire global warming consequences within decades.

Montenegro's new PM says EU, economy are priorities — 04 December 2012, 22:39 CET

Montenegro's parliament on Tuesday voted in a new centre-left government headed by veteran Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who vowed to lead the country towards EU membership and boost the crisis-hit economy.

London mayor calls for EU referendum — 04 December 2012, 16:16 CET

London Mayor Boris Johnson has called for a referendum on Britain's relationship with the European Union, in a speech to financiers urging a new trade-based arrangement with Brussels.

EU 'diplomatic tsunami' over Israel settlement plans — 04 December 2012, 11:07 CET

Israel's premier faces a European "diplomatic tsunami" over controversial settlement plans as he heads to Germany this week, but also pressure at home to hew to his tough line ahead of January elections.

Montenegro delays inauguration of new government — 03 December 2012, 16:17 CET

Montenegro's parliament postponed by 24 hours a vote to approve Prime Minister-designate Milo Djukanovic's new cabinet at the request of a fractious opposition, the body's speaker said Monday.

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.

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".