German politicians mull moving 2018 World Cup from Russia; NATO to expand Polish base in response to Russian threat; Over half...
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Recent News
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Several senior German lawmakers have raised the possibility of stripping Russia of its right to host the 2018 World Cup. Germany's football
association said it was very worried about events following the downing of a passenger plane over Ukraine.
General Philip Breedlove, NATO's top commander in Europe, has proposed that the Polish city of Szczecin expand its existing base to help
the military alliance respond faster to any threat posed by Russia.
About 14.7 million people in Yemen may be in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, as outbreaks of violence continue, according
to the United Nations.
The European Union would target state-owned Russian banks vital to financing Moscow's faltering economy, in the most serious sanctions
so far over the Ukraine crisis, under proposals considered by EU governments yesterday (24 July).
The German aid organisation Brot für die Welt warns that a planned EU-US free trade agreement known as TTIP will undermine local support
for smallholders in developing countries and exacerbate the global food crisis. EurActiv Germany reports.
EU funding worth €7.75 million will be given to 155 small and medium-sized enterprises from 21 countries, including Israel and Turkey, for
innovation studies, it was announced yesterday (24 July).
Production of beef is nearly ten times more damaging to the environment than any other form of meat production, according to a new study
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The head of the Bundesbank appealed to Britain on Wednesday (23 July) to stay in the European Union, saying membership of the bloc had
given the country an economic lift and posed little threat to London.
Two low-cost airlines must repay almost €10 million of French state aid, after the EU Commission decided that it gave them an unfair competitive
advantage.
EurActiv France reports.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday (24 July) that the CIA ran a secret jail on Polish soil, a judgment that adds to pressure
on the United States and its allies to reveal the truth about the global programme for detaining al Qaeda suspects.
Member states show a mixed record when it comes to reporting irregularities in how EU funds for agriculture and regional policy are being
spent. While Italy has been "overzealous" in its reporting, others hardly report any fraud at all, according to a new EU report.
EurActiv France reports.
European Union ambassadors will debate proposals today (24 July) on restricting Russian access to Europe's capital markets and defence
and energy technology, but are not expected to make a quick decision. A package of measures is designed to ‘balance the pain’ from the effect of sanctions to the individual EU countries.
The European Commission on Wednesday (23 July) proposed reducing the bloc's energy use by 30% by 2030, leaving it up to EU heads of states
to decide whether or not to endorse the target at a forthcoming summit in October.
Ukraine said yesterday (23 July) it was receiving less gas via reverse flows from the European Union, which Energy Minister Yuri Prodan
blamed on reluctance by firms within the EU to antagonise Russian gas producer Gazprom, a heavy critic of the flows.
The French government still has not chosen its official candidate to become Commissioner. The UMP is questioning Pierre Moscovici’s credibility
in the eyes of the European Parliament, while the left wants a female commissioner for political parity.
EurActiv France reports.
Europe's installed wind capacity will increase at a slower rate to the end of the decade than previously estimated, due to regulatory uncertainty
and weak economic growth, an industry association said on Wednesday (23 July).
Protests in central Budapest remain ongoing since Sunday (20 July), after a controversial monument dedicated to “all the victims” of Hungary’s
German occupation was erected during the night of 20 to 21 July, the Hungarian press reports.
EU foreign ministers threatened Russia yesterday (22 July) with harsher sanctions over Ukraine that could inflict wider damage on its economy
following the downing of a Malaysian airliner, but delayed action for a few days.
The downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight in eastern Ukraine has highlighted how unmanned aircraft could help Europe when it comes to
surveillance operations in warzones.
Germany and the United Kingdom have 18 of the 30 most polluting energy plants in the European Union, according to a study by green NGOs,
funded by the European Union.
EXCLUSIVE / Further efforts are needed by member states to reach the EU's energy saving target of 20% by 2020, the European Commission
said in a leaked draft communication obtained by EurActiv. The Commission also watered down the target for 2030 considerably in the latest draft.
Social spending is decreasing across Europe, even though it could curb the negative impacts of the economic crisis,
EurActiv France reports.
The peer-to-peer property renting website, artAirbnb, makes it possible for people in crisis-stricken states to earn extra money, but the
company itself has placed its headquarters in places like Ireland, Jersey and Delaware to avoid paying tax. EurActiv
France reports.
Dozens of high-ranking police officers were detained in Turkey today (22 July) accused of involvement in spying and illegal wire-tapping
during an investigation into corruption in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's inner circle, CNN Turk said.
Russia imposed a temporary ban on Moldovan fruit imports on Friday (18 July), adding to an already existing ban on wine imports, the measures
being seen as a punishment for Moldova’s signature and ratification of an Association Agreement with the EU.
Italy's navy said it rescued nearly 1,800 migrants in overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean over the weekend, and a merchant ship recovered
five bodies from a sinking rubber raft off the coast of Libya.
EU foreign affairs ministers meet today (22 July) to speed up the implementation of sanctions against Russia decided by EU leaders on 16
July, one day before the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was brought down. No further sanctions are expected at this stage, diplomats said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing for Günther Oettinger to be assigned the trade portfolio in the new European Commission, fuelling
optimism in Germany’s economic sector. EurActiv Germany reports.
Britain, Germany and France agreed on Sunday they should be ready to ratchet up sanctions on Russia over the downing of a Malaysian jet
carrying 298 passengers when European foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday (22 July).
Third country citizens awaiting deportation must be detained separately from regular prisoners, the European Court of Justice ruled on
Thursday (17 July), rejecting detention practices in several of Germany's Länder. EurActiv Germany reports.
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Interviews
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Since the political crisis erupted in Yemen in 2011, the country has begun to move towards democracy. Many challenges remain in the country,
wracked by civil unrest and widespread water and food insecurity, says Bishow Parajuli, the UN World Food Programme's representative in Yemen.
A Free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur, the South American regional organisation is under preparation, but agricultural issues
still remain as one of the major obstacles, Kinga Brudzińska told EurActiv Poland in an exclusive interview.
Mobile phone operators don’t use the spectrum they already have and forcing broadcasters to change the radio frequencies they currently
use could hit major spectacles such as the World Cup and Eurovision Song Contest, said Simon Fell of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in an exclusive interview with EurActiv.
The majority won by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in the European Parliament was not an attempt to save face, says Green MEP
Reinhard Bütikofer. The legislator voted for Juncker because the centre-right politician shares many positions of the European Greens, and could set a new EU course on issues like immigration policy, TTIP and socio-economic policy.
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LinksDossiers
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Between 2007 and 2013, youth unemployment reached record highs across Europe, dramatically increasing from 15.7% to 23.4%, according to
Eurostat. EU heads of state and government agreed in February 2013 to launch a €6 billion Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to get more young people into work.
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Opinion / Analysis
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In contrast to neighbouring Ukraine, strong governance makes Estonia less vulnerable to internal challenges to stability. Yet, potential
economic sanctions on Russia could have a profound impact on the Baltic state too, writes Jan Hofmeyr.
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Jean-Claude Juncker was elected European Commission president on the basis of a social, even hopeful ten-point plan for Europe. Now, MEPs
bear the responsibility to hold him into account on these promises, writes Bernadette Ségol.
Scottish citizens head to the polls on 18 September to vote on independence in a referendum. An independent Scotland will play a constructive
role in addressing some of the central challenges facing the EU, writes Fiona Hyslop.
The Italian presidency puts forward smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as one of its priorities, leading the EU in the coming months.
But what does this mean, exactly, for the European citizen, Luigi Epomiceno wonders.
The questions surrounding the investor-state dispute settlement are not about "corporate profits" or "promoting foreign investment", but
about the role of international courts in global governance, writes Simon Lester.
A European energy union is increasingly on the agenda, as tensions with Russia rise and the EU is confronted with its energy dependence
on Russian gas. But replicating the model of the banking union is a naive approach, Ivana Jemelkova and Hans Hack write.
Juncker's election might mark a new phase of European construction. But the Union's institutional, political and constitutional foundations
need renovation, writes Yves Bertoncini.
The project of a 'single European airspace' is currently in gridlock. Negotiators focus on fragmented solutions rather than building shared
infrastructure through integrated technology, writes Matthias Finger.
It is shocking how, five days into the crisis following the crash of Malaysia Airlines' MH17 flight, European leaders can only threaten
Moscow with more sanctions, writes Judy Dempsey.
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