Von der Leyen's fragile alliance put to the test over US trade deal
11 Sep EU Institutions

Von der Leyen's fragile alliance put to the test over US trade deal

The Commission chief’s State of the Union defence of the pact she negotiated with Donald Trump drew fire from across the political spectrum. But the real battle is over whether the pro-EU majority will keep her second term afloat.
by Federica Di Sario
After Paris summit, Europe’s security pledges face tough questions
09 Sep Foreign & Security Policy
After Paris summit, Europe’s security pledges face tough questions
Op-ed: EU pledges ‘drone wall’ as Russian threats grow — now it must deliver
10 Sep EU Institutions
Op-ed: EU pledges ‘drone wall’ as Russian threats grow — now it must deliver
Russia-China landmark pipeline deal tilts global energy politics
05 Sep Foreign & Security Policy
Russia-China landmark pipeline deal tilts global energy politics
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07 Apr 21
Von der Leyen relegated to sofa in Turkey meeting as MEPs decry diplomatic snub
The game of musical chairs between Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has sparked widespread criticism – not only of Erdoğan but also of Michel.
07 Apr 21
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
While the current health crisis has wreaked havoc in many sectors, in pharmaceuticals it is the EU’s patent law that is hampering innovation and access to medicines, explains Katerina Konecná.
02 Apr 21
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
02 Apr 21
European Parliament asks former UK MEP to join Conference on Future of Europe common secretariat
The peculiarity - and irony - of a former UK politician being asked to join the forum tasked with shaping the long-term future of the EU will not be lost on those involved in the Brexit negotiations.
02 Apr 21
The snail's pace progress of EU justice
Despite European Commission pilot proceedings against Italy, the snail’s pace progress of EU justice in tackling discrimination against non-national teaching staff in Italian universities means the case is unlikely to be resolved any time soon, explains Henry Rodgers.
01 Apr 21
MEPs urge EU to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey
EPP member Loucas Fourlas and Socialist Costas Mavrides are among those backing calls for the EU to take immediate steps to impose fresh sanctions on Turkey in protest at the country’s alleged human rights violations.
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01 Apr 21
Post-Pandemic, the Caribbean needs to present a new face to the world
The best means of repaying our international friends and partners in the EU and IMF is to build long-term resilience into our economies, writes Adrian Fox.
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01 Apr 21
Embracing equality in a digital era
Unless urgent action is taken women will become victims of digital discrimination, a recent event heard. Martin Banks reports.
01 Apr 21
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
01 Apr 21
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
When the dust of the Coronavirus crisis settles, we must consider new ways of responding to future threats that ensure Europe’s citizens do not suffer, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
01 Apr 21
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
The Commission said it will launch an infringement procedure against Poland over the “muzzle law”, which allows the government to penalise Polish judges for their rulings.
01 Apr 21
Making animal welfare a priority
The misapplication of EU animal transport legislation poses a great threat to animal welfare. But before tightening EU law, we must first ensure its correct application, argues Marlene Mortler.
01 Apr 21
Animal Welfare: Creating a win-win situation for all
COVID-19 has made us all much more aware of the intricate interconnections between biodiversity, animal welfare and human health, writes Manuela Ripa.
01 Apr 21
Ensuring healthcare continuity
More needs to be done to ensure the proper transition of care for those suffering from PKU. Adult patients must not be forgotten, explains Seán Kelly.
01 Apr 21
Racism kills in Europe too
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in the United States sparked widespread anti-racism protests, but racism is a worldwide issue and we are far from blame-free in Europe, argues Hilde Vautmans. 
31 Mar 21
Four countries hoping to join EU must make progress on ‘fundamental’ internal reforms
Parliamentary reports on the accession ambitions of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia say each “need to continue focus” on reforms.
31 Mar 21
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
The row surrounds the EU’s new rule of law conditionality mechanism, recently adopted by the European Commission.
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31 Mar 21
2021: A year of opportunity for sustainability in Africa
We are at a turning point; now is our chance to create a better, safer and more sustainable world for future generations, writes Zuneid Yousuf.
30 Mar 21
Conference on Future of Europe must restore sense of purpose to EU post-Brexit, says former UK MEP
Andrew Duff’s comments come with the EU about to embark on arguably its biggest ever reflection on the future of the Union.
30 Mar 21
Women’s Rights Committee joins chorus of criticism of gender imbalance on CoFoE Board
At present, only one member of the European Parliament’s seven representatives on the Conference on the Future of Europe’s all-powerful Executive Board is a woman.
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30 Mar 21
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility
Saudi Arabia is leading international efforts to stabilise the country and bring an end to the war, writes HE Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the European Union, Saad Bin Mohammed Alarify.
29 Mar 21
‘Very few’ Europeans believe US will intervene on their behalf in military crisis
In a pan-European survey of over 15,000 citizens in ten EU Member States, just 10 percent held the view that the US was a “reliable” security partner that will always protect Europe.
29 Mar 21
New US administration an opportunity to ‘rebuild’ EU-US transatlantic partnership, says David Sassoli
Joe Biden’s participation at EU summit interpreted as clear signal of Washington’s reengagement with EU.
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29 Mar 21
Fit for the digital age
The coming years will test our ability to bridge divides and enhance cooperation, but we shall never forget that we are stronger together, says Berta Herrero