How a fight over traffic rules is destabilizing Brussels politics
Dutch and French-speaking parties clash over plans to reduce car use ahead of Sunday’s local elections.
implementation
France wants faster implementation of new EU migration rules, interior minister says
โFrance is not asking for an opt-out. On the contrary, we greatly supported the asylum and immigration package and would even like to bring forward its entry into force,โ Retailleau said.
Zelenskyyโs 5 asks on his Europe tour (and the odds heโll get them)
The Ukrainian president is racing across Europe to lock in support for Kyiv. We rate his chances of success.
Spainโs Sรกnchez to ask early implementation of EU pact on migrationย
Sanchez’s pleas to Brussels come amid an increasing humanitarian crisis at home.
EU aid diverted to benefit European firms, report finds
The report calls for greater transparency in the Global Gateway’s implementation, along with Parliamentary scrutiny.
Viktor Orbรกn meets his domestic nemesis in Strasbourg
Also in this newsletter: The EUโs โฌ35bn Ukraine loan moves from idea to implementation
Commissionโs budget plans endanger the European project, says regions chief
Brussels’ bid to take power away from regions is ‘not acceptable’ according to Vasco Alves Cordeiro.
Is this the end of footballโs transfer system? An immediate reaction to the Courtโs ruling in Diarra (C-650/22).
Stephen Weatherill, Somerville
College and Faculty of Law, Oxford University
Photo credit: Addesolen, via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
โIs this the end of footballโs
transfer system?โ So shrieked the media in December 1995 wh…
Brexit talks are back โ forever
Starmer came away from his first visit to Brussels as prime minister with an agreement to keep talking.
Commission delays deforestation lawโs implementation following global outcry
The decision by the EU executive follows months of pressure by the industry and third countries calling on appropriate guidance to help companies to properly implement the deforestation law.
Swedish government accused of trying to โoutlaw povertyโ over begging ban plans
Critics say proposal by centre-right coalition may not be lawful and would not tackle root cause of vulnerabilityThe Swedish government has been accused of trying to โoutlaw povertyโ after it presented plans for a national begging ban.The centre-right …
Creating a Single European Rail Area โ we have the vision, now itโs about implementation, says Travaini [Advocacy Lab Content]
InnoTrans 2024, Europeโs leading trade fair for transport technology, was held in Berlin at the end of September. Euractiv spoke with Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director of EU-Rail, about his goal of creating a Single European Rail Area.
Von der Leyen should focus on implementation of EU’s deforestation law, not its rollback
The EUDR requires stringent due diligence that sheds light on long supply chains that often obscure human rights violations. Voluntary pledges cannot substitute for this regulation. Luciana Tรฉllez Chรกvez writes.
Mission Possible: Working together to reshape the future of cancer care
Q&A with Greg Rossi, Senior VP, Head of Oncology Europe and Canada at AstraZeneca.
Russia could do deal with Georgia over occupied regions, hints foreign minister
Talk of an agreement over Abkhazia and South Ossetia comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party pushes friendly ties with the Kremlin.
Stumped! EU industries โgravely concernedโ over deforestation rules [Advocacy Lab Content]
Twenty-eight organisations representing EU primary producers and industries have urged a delay in the application of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation. The European Commission does not intend to postpone implementation.
European lawmakers condemn atrocities at French energy giantโs African fortress
Human rights organizations called for thorough independent investigation.
Emmanuel Macronโs lonely battle to defend the EU-Canada trade deal
French lawmakers, and even Macronโs new ministers, want to stop CETA โย but that doesnโt mean they will be able to.
Romania, other member states, seek greater flexibility in implementing recovery plan
Romania is working with other EU member states, such as France, Spain and Italy, to negotiate more flexible rules for the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to ensure the successful absorption of funds and the smooth implementa…
Financial services role goes to Albuquerque โ but she brings baggage
Former Portuguese finance minister is known for introducing harsh economic austerity.
Europe launches its first space commissioner straight into a budget scrap
Despite not having much experience on space, Andrius Kubilius is tipped to be running EU rocket and satellite policy.
The European Green Deal must go global
Managing emerging international tensions will require much stronger green diplomacy, as well as a more strategic and coherent approach to the blocโs green partnerships.
The winners and losers of the new European Commission
What the portfolios tell us about the EUโs power dynamics.
EU fingerprint and facial recognition checks expected to be delayed again
Border checks system was due to go live in November but some countries say they are not ready amid worries about lack of testingThe full implementation of an EU entry-exit system introducing fingerprinting and facial recognition checks at ports and air…
Meet the commissioners: Class of 2024
Everything you need to know about Ursula von der Leyen’s team for her second term.
Ursula von der Leyenโs new European Commission
Commission president hands out the top jobs in her new team.
Polish government approves Rare Diseases Plan for 2024-2025 [Advocacy Lab Content]
Warsawโs Rare Diseases Plan for 2024-2025, recently approved by the Council of Ministers, envisions comprehensive and coordinated healthcare services, with approximately โฌ22 million allocated to achieve its implementation.
Never mind the war, the French Riviera still loves oligarchs
The south of France has long been a safe space for Russians.
Germanyโs Scholz wants new EU anti-deforestation law delayed
German media group has been lobbying against the rules.
The great Commission puzzle: Who we think will get each portfolio
Ursula von der Leyen is about to hand out key jobs in her team. Hereโs POLITICOโs version of the next Commission.
Indonesia warns of โchaosโ from EU deforestation law
Pressure builds on Brussels to delay implementation of new rules that industry says will impose administrative burden
EU failing to enforce illegal fishing rules, say campaigners
Activists says EU court ruling on transparency makes mockery of laws to protect the environmentCampaigners have said that the EU is failing to enforce rules on illegal fishing, and allowing member states to conceal information that could help uncover b…
Romanian minister: Eastern Europe needs additional energy sources due to high prices
The Green Energy Corridor launched in Bucharest two years ago, entered a new phase on Tuesday with the establishment of a joint venture company to carry out the feasibility study and oversee the implementation of the gas supply initiative from the Casp…
The EU fiddles while Kyiv burns
Time is running out on Ukraineโs finances, and none of the reasons behind the blocโs inaction stand up to scrutiny.
No oil shortage in Hungary despite Russia sanctions outrage, EU says
Hungary and Slovakia have been accused of trying to benefit from cheap Russian oil despite the alternatives.
The White House wants you to know: Harris was in the room
Critics say the Biden administration is making up for lost time after not doing more to promote Harris over the last three years.
Flemish separatist Bart De Wever gets another go at forming Belgian government
Talks initially collapsed after a row over the budget and the proposed implementation of a capital gains tax.
Talk of peace deals in the Levant, Ukraine is for the birds
Exhaustion and want โ the two key ingredients for successful peace talks โ are as absent in Kyiv as they are in the Middle East.
Satire isnโt a defense for antisemitism and hate
If you speak up against racism, Islamophobia, homophobia or misogyny, don’t turn a blind eye now.
Israeli strike in southern Lebanon reportedly kills at least 10
The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah military facilities in the area.
The US is confident in its Gaza cease-fire proposal. Hamas has issues with it.
Mediators hope to close a deal at next weekโs talks in Cairo.
Gaza cease-fire talks to resume next week
Washington presents โbridging proposalโ meant to resolve key gaps between Hamas and Israel.
Why Germanyโs coalition is back at war (with itself)
Germany’s pro-business liberals have spent the summer trolling their center-left coalition partners, further enervating the already-weak government.
How Ed Miliband became Britainโs most divisive government minister
The Energy Secretary has made an eye-catching start. But how far is he prepared to rock the boat?
EU takes shot at Musk over Trump interview โ and misses
Europe’s chief digital official faces fire for “interfering” in U.S. election.
A paradise for corruption: Britain tries to clean up its dirtiest secret
The British Virgin Islands mix fun in the sun with dark money. Will the UK’s new Labour government act?
The very short strike of Italian beach operators
The beach concession system is under threat from a European directive on services, which calls for the implementation of public tenders. This has been a source of conflict between Brussels and Rome for almost 20 years.
Migration keeps derailing British leaders
As the dust settles on days of far-right rioting, the issue seems inescapable for Britain’s new leader Keir Starmer.
US, Egypt, Qatar intensify push for Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire talks
Joint statement urges resumption of peace negotiations next week.
Local Digital Twins: tackling urban digitalisation gaps in Europe [Promoted content]
Digital technologies are transforming urban governance. European cities leverage Local Digital Twins and Platforms for smart transition, but face strategic, procurement, and implementation challenges. European Commission initiatives can help bridge the…
German coalitionโs budget fight is back
The finance minister cast doubt on a draft budget agreement for 2025, renewing a conflict that threatens to subvert Chancellor Olaf Scholzโs government.
How will the migration pact be implemented? | Radio Schuman
The European Commission presented a migration pact implementation plan in June, leaving EU member states until the end of the year to present their national plans.
NGOs and industry share worries over EU anti-deforestation law
The looming implementation of an EU law aimed at making European supply chains deforestation-free has united industry, traders, farmers, and NGOs in concern.
Bringing a claim of compensation for harm suffered as a result of alleged psychological harassment by the Head of Mission and his Deputy before the EU Courts: Montanari v Eucap Sahel Niger (Case T-371/22)
Antje Kunst*
* Antje Kunst is an
international lawyer and barrister of a UK based Chambers, specialised in EU
and international public law, human rights and litigation. She is admitted to
the Bar of England and Wales, and th…
Trump vs. Bidenโs historic climate agenda
President Joe Biden may no longer be on the 2024 ballot โ but his legacy is. And former President Donald Trump would have multiple tools to thwart his ambitions on energy, infrastructure and climate change.
EU Commission must get Solvency 2 implementation right or risks stifling investment, insurers warn
Measures the new EU Commission will set out for insurers in the second half of the year risk thwarting policymakersโ efforts to boost Europeโs competitiveness and private funding capacity if not re-calibrated differently, the sector has warned.
G20 agree to work on Brazilโs โbillionaire taxโ idea, implementation seen difficult
The world’s 20 biggest economies (G20) agreed on Thursday (25 July) to work together to ensure the ultra rich are effectively taxed, in a declaration that seeks a balance between national sovereignty and more cooperation on tax avoidance.
Parliament sets up cross-committee working group to monitor AI Act implementation
Two of the European Parliament’s committees have set up a joint working group to monitor the implementation of the AI Act.
European Health Data Space: โA path to effective and harmonious pan-European implementationโ
With negotiations around the European Health Data Space (EHDS) concluded Europe’s healthcare sector is shifting focus from the โwhyโ to the โhowโ.
The Parliament is looking to increase its role in implementing digital policy, MEPs say
The European Parliament has had a traditionally limited role in implementing the regulations it ratifies, but in the next mandate, some lawmakers are keen to change that when it comes to digital policy.
Washingtonโs most powerful interests donโt know whether to cheer Harris โ or dread her
Would she bring continuity with Joe Bidenโs policies? A more centrist vibe? A sharper progressive bite? Industries including tech, energy and pharma want to know.
Parliament mulls monitoring group for AI Act implemention
The European Parliament is discussing the establishment of a monitoring group for the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which comes into force in August, a leading EU lawmaker for the file told Euractiv.
โDrill, baby, drillโ: Americaโs fossil fuel boom risks bust in Europe
Both Trump and Biden are pushing lucrative U.S. fossil fuel deals โย a risky bet given the EU’s plans to wean itself off the energy source.
A Dilemma of Two Communities: How the Portuguese-speaking Countries Mobility Agreement Might be Conflicting with EU Law
Ana Rita Gil*, Aylin Yildiz
Noorda** & Lucas Ricardo***
* Professor, Law Faculty of the
University of Lisbon, Portugal. Researcher at the Lisbon Public Law. Email:
anaritagil@fd.ulisboa.pt.
** Postdoctoral Researcher at the
…
To do: 6 thorny issues lurking in MEPsโ inboxes
From creating an EU-wide money market to protecting kids online, POLITICO looks at what lies ahead for lawmakers.
Improving lung cancer survival in Europe
Political commitment to screening is crucial.
Keir Starmer urged to quickly fix โbrokenโ EU settlement scheme
Organisations including the3million write to PM calling for action to avoid a repeat of Windrush scandalUK politics live โ latest updatesKeir Starmer must take quick steps to fix the โbrokenโ Home Office settlement scheme for EU citizens who were in th…
Mass hacking and fundamental rights: a missed opportunity for the CJEU?
Hugo Partouche, Attorney-at-law
(avocat) at the Paris Bar, and Chloรฉ Berthรฉlรฉmy, Senior Policy Advisor,
EDRi
Photo credit: hacker-silhoutte,
via Wikimedia
commons
*A first version of this article
was published in French by Actualitรฉ …
Five ideas for EU governance reform – analysis
After five years of a ‘geopolitical Commission’ that introduced a large tranche of new legislation, the EU must now adapt and equip itself for an era of implementation and enforcement, say analysts โ but how? Here are five innovative ideas proferred by…
Ukraine builds a NATO-lite while it waits for the real thing
Non-binding pacts are “second-best” to belonging to the alliance, but they’re the best Kyiv can get for now.
Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israel and Hamas move closer to cease-fire
The talks comes as negotiations had stalled over the last few months between Israel and Hamas.
Franceโs โhard leftโ has been demonised โ but its agenda is realistic, not radical | Julia Cagรฉ and Thomas Piketty
The New Popular Front will improve ordinary peopleโs lives โ and itโs an effective, economically sound alternative to the far rightThe first round of legislative elections in France produced an unprecedented surge of support for the far right. Next Sun…
Fighting in Gaza will continue, Netanyahu tells Cabinet amid tense cease-fire talks
The U.S. has been pushing Israel to agree to a three-part cease-fire deal, backed by several countries including France, the U.K., Egypt, Qatar and by the European Commission.
Kremlin sends migrants to dig trenches in occupied parts of Ukraine
“We need good working hands for that,” said Aleksandr Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigative Committee.
How to navigate Hungaryโs EU presidency policy agenda like a pro
The countryโs Council stint will be marked by political change in Brussels following the EU election.
Hungary: The EUโs two-faced defense champion
Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn has railed against Western aid to Ukraine while spending big on defense at home.
E-fuels: as much import as necessary, as sustainably as possible
This year’s International E-Fuels Dialogue organised by the German Federal Ministry of Transport focused on the use of e-fuels in aviation. For e-fuels to be part of a globally just energy transition, the implementation of sustainability criteria shoul…
Brussels decides not to open excessive deficit procedure against Spain
The European Commission decided on Wednesday not to open an excessive deficit procedure against Spain, despite the country ending last year exceeding the limit set by EU fiscal rules, while urging Madrid to address “emerging delays” in the implementati…
EU HTA: If we want faster access to cancer treatment for all Europeans, we need to get it rightย
In January 2025 the EU HTA Regulation will become reality. Letโs work together to ensure it facilitates faster patient access to new cancer treatments.
Recent asylum case law of the CJEU: Distinction, Integration or Extension from ‘Mainstream’ EU law?
Professor Steve Peers, Royal Holloway University of
London
Photo credit: Luxofluxo, via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
While attention has been focussed
on the overhaul of EU law on asylum โ which I have analysed in an upcoming
article…
Migration pact will fail if EU funding falls short, Spanish minister warns
Though some countries have recently expressed opposition to the freshly passed EU migration pact, it is insufficient EU cash and not member statesโ hesitance that could make the implementation fall apart, Spainโs Minister of the Interior, Fernando Gran…
Deforestation law risks pushing Indonesia toward China
However well-intended, the EU’s directive has particularly rattled producers in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ukraine and Moldova ready to start negotiations to join the EU, Commission says
“All the steps have been met by the two countries,” a Commission spokesperson said.
What will it take to end the HIV epidemic in Europe?
Governments, civil society and industry share views on the EU mandate we need to achieve the 2030 UNAIDS goals in Europe and beyond.
Ursula von der Leyenโs secret climate crusadeย
Has the European Commission president given up on her green agenda going into a possible second term โ or is she just biding her time?
Legal landmine: the risky proposition of extending the application of the EU Temporary Protection Directive beyond March 2025
Dr Meltem
Ineli-Ciger, Associate
Professor, Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Law; Migration Policy
Centre Associate, European University Institute
Photo credit: Falin, on Wikimedia
Commons
What should follow
once t…
Prospect of another lefty EU climate boss has center right wincing
Peter Liese, the EPP’s top green policy MEP, told POLITICO he was “not enthusiastic” about Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera’s campaign to run the EU’s Green Deal.
Commissionโs DG for technology restructures to realise AI Office
DG CNECT is reorganising one if its units to handle the implementation of the AI Act, with Lucilla Sioli leading the department.
Safer, cleaner and more lucrative: The Good Move plan transforms Brusselsโ city center โ but remains politically divisive
New data shows the controversial regional plan to slash traffic appears to have been a success in the heart of the city, even as its future is in doubt.
Germany and France push for mega-deals in competition overhaul
Still smarting from the veto of the Alstom-Siemens deal, Paris and Berlin want Brussels to focus on forging champions.
Deadly Israeli attack on Rafah tent camp prompts international outcry
An Israeli airstrike triggered a fire that killed 45 people in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah, officials said on Monday (27 May), prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel’s assault.
Supporting the EUโs green priorities with Copernicus Marine and EMODnet [Promoted content]
The European Maritime Day is the annual event dedicated to discussing maritime affairs and the blue economy. This year’s edition offers an excellent opportunity to explore the innovative marine data services that support the implementation of the EU’s …
Bidenism Is Gasping in America. Itโs Having a Moment in Britain.
Britainโs Labour Party has drawn some inspiration from Bidenโs 2020 presidential campaign. They should be careful not to take that too far.
Stakeholders and NGOs mount pressure on Commission on anti-deforestation rules implementationย
Food and agriculture stakeholders are asking the European Commission to finalise the details of the EU’s deforestation regulation while a group of agriculture ministers seek a postponement, a move opposed by NGOs and ruled out by the Commission for now.
A vision for the AI Office: Rethinking digital governance in the EU
Spearheading the implementation of the world’s first comprehensive legislation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the AI Office requires robust leadership and an innovative structure that mirrors the dynamism of AI, write Philipp Hacker, Sebastian Hallen…
EU election results threaten Green Deal, sustainability experts say
The forthcoming European elections (6 to 9 June 2024) and the implementation of the texts adopted as part of the Green Deal are in jeopardy for a majority of experts questioned by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).
Russia-Ukraine war: Russia to make further bid to carve out โbuffer zoneโ in coming weeks, warns US defence secretary โ as it happened
Lloyd Austin, speaking at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, praises troopsโ courage in โhard and dangerous fightโ. This live blog has closedRussiaโs foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Kazakhstanโs…
UK sanctions watchdog flops in face of Russiaโs war
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, OFSI has issued zero fines for sanctions evasion, despite ยฃ22.7 billion of frozen Russian assets.
Will the AI Act Bring More Clarity to the Regulation of Text and Data Mining in the EU?
Maryna Manteghi, PhD
researcher, University of Turku, Finland
Photo credit: mikemacmarketing
and Liam Huang, on Flickr via Wikimedia
Commons
Background
The Artificial
Intelligence Act (AIA), โthe
first…
Putin has ditched his paranoid security chief. Here are 5 of the wackiest things Nikolai Patrushev has said.
Ukraine is trafficking in orphans and organs; a secretive global elite is causing multiple crises; and Madeleine Albright wanted to wipe out Russia โ those are just some of the greatest hits of Vladimir Putinโs longtime security adviser.