European Commission president joins senior MEPs in greeting the start of Biden Presidency
20 Jan International & Trade

European Commission president joins senior MEPs in greeting the start of Biden Presidency

New EU-US relationship needed to address global challenges, says Ursula von der Leyen.
by Martin Banks
The importance of a strong and multilateral-focussed United States
30 Dec International & Trade
The importance of a strong and multilateral-focussed United States
Europe’s Policy on Huawei should be based on facts, argues Dick Roche
19 Jan International & Trade
Europe’s Policy on Huawei should be based on facts, argues Dick Roche
Biden presidency an opportunity to strengthen EU’s ‘transatlantic bond’ with US
19 Jan International & Trade
Biden presidency an opportunity to strengthen EU’s ‘transatlantic bond’ with US
Brexit: A painful parting tinged with the hope of reconciliation
18 Jan International & Trade
Brexit: A painful parting tinged with the hope of reconciliation
The Brexit deal represents a victory for poisonous nationalistic populism, but once the emptiness of the Global Britain agenda becomes apparent it will create a new opportunity to make a pro-European case, writes Roger Liddle.
Brexit deal has ‘ability to evolve’ in coming years, says former UK government minister
18 Jan International & Trade
Brexit deal has ‘ability to evolve’ in coming years, says former UK government minister
David Lidington, the UK’s Europe minister from 2010 to 2016, said the agreement reached between the two sides on Christmas Eve is “a lot better than a No Deal and a crash out of the EU.”
EU leaders and MEPs condemn Alexei Navalny arrest in Russia
18 Jan International & Trade
EU leaders and MEPs condemn Alexei Navalny arrest in Russia
The Russian opposition leader, who survived a Novichok poisoning attempt in August, was detained by Russian authorities on his return to Russia on Sunday.
Donald Trump impeached for a second time
14 Jan International & Trade
Donald Trump impeached for a second time
Trump has been impeached for inciting the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, making him the only president in US history who has been impeached twice.
A new Saudi Arabia beckons European tourists and investors. Could these changes bring Brussels and Riyadh closer? PM+
13 Jan International & Trade
A new Saudi Arabia beckons European tourists and investors. Could these changes bring Brussels and Riyadh closer?
Could the Arab nation’s vision of transforming into a tourist hub by 2030 bring the Kingdom closer to Europe? Muddassar Ahmed reports.
MEPs ‘regret’ being unable to scrutinise Brexit deal before it came into force
12 Jan International & Trade
MEPs ‘regret’ being unable to scrutinise Brexit deal before it came into force
Monday’s debate by members of Parliament’s trade committee was the first time MEPs have discussed the EU-UK trade and partnership agreement since its announcement on Christmas Eve.
MEPs call on EU to provide ‘lifeboat policy’ for persecuted Hong Kong dissidents
08 Jan International & Trade
MEPs call on EU to provide ‘lifeboat policy’ for persecuted Hong Kong dissidents
Demand follows arrest of prominent pro-democracy advocates by China.
MEPs shocked by violent events in Washington DC; congratulate Joe Biden on confirmation of election victory
07 Jan International & Trade
MEPs shocked by violent events in Washington DC; congratulate Joe Biden on confirmation of election victory
US Capitol Hill rioting a warning of the dangers of populism, conspiracy theories and the platforms that spread them, says senior MEP.
EU reacts to pro-trump mob’s storming of US Capitol
07 Jan International & Trade
EU reacts to pro-trump mob’s storming of US Capitol
MEPs lay blame for violent overnight scenes in Washington at President Donald Trump’s feet.
The EU is walking back from anti-palm oil bigotry PM+
06 Jan International & Trade
The EU is walking back from anti-palm oil bigotry
At the EU-ASEAN summit on 1 December 2020, a remarkable thing happened. The European Union agreed to a new conciliatory approach to palm oil, writes Robert Hii.
EU outlines adjustment fund for sectors potentially impacted by Brexit
30 Dec International & Trade
EU outlines adjustment fund for sectors potentially impacted by Brexit
Reserve will have an overall budget of €5bn and support businesses and workers worst affected by the UK leaving the EU.
EU Member States and European Parliament provisionally approve Brexit deal
30 Dec International & Trade
EU Member States and European Parliament provisionally approve Brexit deal
New agreement was given green light at separate meetings of EU ambassadors and group leaders of the European parliament earlier this week.
Boosting the EU's economy through aligning R&I policies Thought Leader
30 Dec International & Trade
Boosting the EU's economy through aligning R&I policies
Aligning R&I policies can boost Europe’s economy, explains Huawei's Dave Harmon.
European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
24 Dec International & Trade
European Parliament President hails Brexit deal, says assembly will now ‘scrutinise in detail’
On Thursday evening, David Sassoli said, “The Parliament thanks and congratulates the EU and UK negotiators for their intense efforts to reach, albeit at the last minute, this historic agreement.”
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
24 Dec International & Trade
White smoke at last as EU and UK announce Brexit deal
After months of tortuous wrangling, the two sides finally reached agreement on a trade deal on Christmas Eve, just days before the end of the transition period.
Joe Biden: will he bring a fresh transatlantic wind?
24 Dec International & Trade
Joe Biden: will he bring a fresh transatlantic wind?
Joe Biden seems likely to represent a return to a better and more harmonious transatlantic relationship; we should now stand together to champion global democracy and fairness, argues Nicolae Ştefănuță.
2020 vision: A year in review
23 Dec International & Trade
2020 vision: A year in review
The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most challenging in generations. Lorna Hutchinson looks back on an extraordinary twelve months.
France resumes transport links with UK on condition travellers get negative COVID-19 test
23 Dec International & Trade
France resumes transport links with UK on condition travellers get negative COVID-19 test
The move on Wednesday comes as both the UK and the EU try to contain a new type of COVID-19 that is said to be 70 percent more transmissible than the current virus.
Last-gasp Brexit talks remain stuck over fisheries, Barnier confirms
23 Dec International & Trade
Last-gasp Brexit talks remain stuck over fisheries, Barnier confirms
Michel Barnier’s briefing to members of Parliament’s UK Coordination Group and EU diplomats comes with negotiations now perilously close to the 31 December deadline when the UK’s transition period will end.
Joe Biden: Time for a fresh transatlantic honeymoon
21 Dec International & Trade
Joe Biden: Time for a fresh transatlantic honeymoon
Joe Biden’s election as the new US President means that we can recapture previous optimism on transatlantic cooperation, but let’s learn from previous mistakes, says Miapetra Kumpula-Natri.
‘Everyone fed up with waiting for Godot’ says MEP, as Brexit talks expected to go down to the wire
18 Dec International & Trade
‘Everyone fed up with waiting for Godot’ says MEP, as Brexit talks expected to go down to the wire
Meanwhile EU negotiator Michel Barnier says there is still a chance of a Brexit deal, ‘but the path to it is very narrow’.
Parliament’s group leaders ready for extraordinary plenary if Brexit deal reached by Sunday
17 Dec International & Trade
Parliament’s group leaders ready for extraordinary plenary if Brexit deal reached by Sunday
After meeting with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday, the Conference of Presidents said they stand ready to organise an extraordinary plenary session towards the end of December in the event that an agreement is reached by midnight on Sunday 20 December.
S&D leader warns it will soon be ‘virtually impossible’ for Parliament to debate and vote on any Brexit deal
16 Dec International & Trade
S&D leader warns it will soon be ‘virtually impossible’ for Parliament to debate and vote on any Brexit deal
Iratxe García Pérez was speaking as Brexit talks continue in Brussels and with the 31 December deadline for the end of the transition period looming on the horizon.
European Commission admits that trade deal with UK may have become ‘less likely’
14 Dec International & Trade
European Commission admits that trade deal with UK may have become ‘less likely’
A spokesman told reporters, “We are at a very late stage. The more time that goes by the less likely it is that we will have a deal in place on the first of January. This is a statement of fact.”