News from EUobserver.com

[Agenda] EU leaders discuss energy and tax next WEEK

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:36:29 GMT

Energy and tax policy are on next WEEK’s agenda as European leaders gather in Brussels to discuss the issues at the EU summit on Wednesday.

[Ticker] IMF: Cyprus should return to growth in 2015

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:36 GMT

Cyprus should return to growth in 2015 after three years of deep recession, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday. The report said real GDP should grow by 1.1% in 2015, after dropping 8.7% this year and 3.9% in 2014.

[Ticker] Eurozone bank 'stress tests' delayed until next year

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:11 GMT

So-called stress tests, a review of eurozone banks' assets - bonds, capital - that should have been published this year will probably be published by mid-2014, European Central Bank board member Yves Mersch said Friday in London. The review is needed before the ECB starts supervising eurozone's biggest banks.

[Ticker] Westerwelle in Serbia and Kosovo to speed up deal

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:27:11 GMT

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle will travel to Belgrade and Pristina Sunday and Monday to help speed up the implementation of a deal that would have "parallel Serbian structures" removed from Kosovo. Westerwelle's spokesman Friday said Bundestag approval is required for further EU steps, with a decision pending in June.

[Ticker] Merkel: Hollande's euro government idea 'interesting'

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:26:00 GMT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel finds "interesting" the idea proposed by French President Francois Hollande of a eurozone-only government, her spokesman said Friday. But he also pointed to the fact that eurozone leaders meet at least twice a year and that eurobonds continue to be a taboo topic in Germany.

Culture to get special treatment in US trade talks, Barroso says

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:30:57 GMT

Special treatment of culture "makes sense" European Commission President Barroso has said in relation to upcoming EU-US trade talks.

[Ticker] Schaeuble blames EU commission for inaction on youth unemployment

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:29:54 GMT

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has blamed the EU commission for dragging its feet on actions against youth unemployment in Europe. "In the end nothing happens because they are all blocking each other," he said about the 27 commissioners during a conference in Berlin.

Europeans expect bleak future, survey finds

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:28:42 GMT

Europeans expect a more difficult and uncertain economic future than their parent, according to an opinion poll released Friday.

Hollande calls for euro government to beat recession

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:25:26 GMT

French President Hollande has called for a eurozone government to counter a recession which threatens "the very identity" of Europe.

[Analysis] Cold War politics hang over EU shale gas revolution

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:14 GMT

The shale gas revolution has taken its time to arrive in Europe, where post-Cold-War politics will play a large part in developments.

[Ticker] Germany buries Eurohawk drone project

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:09:14 GMT

Germany has decided to end a drone project despite investing €500 million in the prototype, amid concerns that the Eurohawk violates EU rules and would not get certified. “We prefer to pull the plug. Better an end with horror than horror without end,” defence minister Thomas De Maiziere told parliament.

[Ticker] European jihadists in Syria spook Germany

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:07:57 GMT

Germany wants to prevent European jihadists in Syria from returning to Europe, reports the Guardian. German interior minister Hans-Peter Friedrich wants a two-year entry ban for suspected extremists. He fears the returnees would create 'homegrown' cells. Up to 700 European passport holders are fighting in Syria, around 40 are German.

[Ticker] China wants EU to drop telecoms probe

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:07:04 GMT

China has warned the EU against launching a formal investigation into anti-dumping practices in mobile telecommunications network equipment, reports Al Jazeera. "We hope the EU will not take actions that do no good to either side," said China's commerce ministry spokesman Shen Danyang. China is the EU's biggest trading partner.

EU sets timeline for single telecoms market

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:05:46 GMT

Digital agenda commissioner Kroes has promised to roll out a single telecoms market throughout the EU before leaving office.

[Ticker] Russia positions warships near Syria

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:02:54 GMT

Russia has deployed around a dozen warships to its naval base near Syria, reports the Wall Street Journal. A senior US defence official called it "a show of force" to warn the West not intervene in a war where the use of chemical weapons may have been used.

Greens launch US-style primary for EU top jobs

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:01:45 GMT

The European Greens will hold US-style primary elections to select candidates for the EU's top jobs at the next European elections.

Protests as Germany opens giant Barbie house

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:57:56 GMT

A giant Barbie doll house opened its gates in Berlin on Thursday amid protests criticising its "sexist" image.

[Focus] EU ministers urge Reding to do more for gay rights

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:24:18 GMT

Fourteen member states have backed a petition urging the European Commission to do more for the rights of sexual minorities, with the last major initiative several years ago.

[Ticker] Unpopular French leader blames EU for recession

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:33:23 GMT

French leader Francois Hollande, with his economy in recession and his popularity in tatters, has in a Paris speech blamed EU austerity policy for creating a recession which is "threatening the very identity of Europe." He added: "My duty is to bring Europe out of its lethargy."

[Ticker] Bizarre twist in Bulgaria election drama

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:33 GMT

Bulgaria's centre-right Gerb party, which narrowly won recent elections, said the result should be annulled because opposition parties held news conferences on the day before the vote in violation of campaign silence rules. The press conferences came after police found 350,000 illegally printed ballot papers in a Gerb-official-owned printing house.

Response to Hungary is test for EU

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:21:46 GMT

Faced with a deteriorating situation on human rights and democracy in Hungary, Brussels has failed to show the necessary resolve.

[Focus] Targeted action requires clear plan … LGBTI issues are no different

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:37:41 GMT

If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex person in the EU, there is a strong chance you have experienced homophobia or even violence at school.

[Ticker] EU ministers agree fisheries reform

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:27:58 GMT

EU fisheries ministers have agreed to overhaul the Union's common fisheries policy, including an eventual ban on the controversial practice of discarding healthy fish at sea. The ban will be phased in gradually, starting in 2015, while fish quotas will be based on scientific advice on the "maximum sustainable yield."

[Ticker] UK bank governor attacks FTT

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:27:27 GMT

Bank of England governor Mervyn King has launched an attack on plans by 11 EU countries to impose a tax on financial transactions. Speaking on Wednesday, King said that he could “not find anyone within the central banking community who thinks it is a good idea.”

[Ticker] Barroso demands French reform programme

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:26:53 GMT

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has called on France to present a radical package of economic reforms if the country is to be given an extra two years to correct its budget deficit. France, which has fallen into a triple dip recession, needs to "regain its competitiveness," Barroso commented.