Global significance of #China and #India relationship is evident: Indian official

By People’s Daily India and China are big emerging economies and rising powers, and the global significance of this bilateral relationship is evident, said Dr. TCA Raghavan, Director General of Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) during a recent interview with People’s Daily, writes Yuan Jirong, People’s Daily. Raghavan said he was looking forward to […]

Trade Commissioner Cecilia #Malmström visits port of #Rotterdam

By EU Reporter Correspondent Commissioner Cecilia Malmström (pictured) is in Rotterdam today (15 October) to meet with customs officials and food safety inspectors and take a closer look at the facilities at the EU’s largest port. The Netherlands is the entry point for 40% of goods entering the continent. Commissioner Malmström said: “Everything we import […]

#StateAid – Commission approves €380 million German rescue aid to #Condor

By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, Germany’s plans to grant a temporary €380 million loan to charter airline Condor. The measure will contribute to ensuring the orderly continuation of air transport services and avoid disruptions for passengers, without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. On 25 […]

#JunckerPlan supports energy solutions company in #Spain and energy-efficient social housing in #Germany

By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has signed two agreements under the Juncker Plan’s European Fund for Strategic Investments. The EIB is providing real estate company Vivawest with €300 million to build around 2,300 energy-efficient homes across North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Almost a fifth of these homes will be for social […]

Hohlmeier: Fighting #ClimateChange is priority for the EU’s 2020 budget

By EU Reporter Correspondent Monika Hohlmeier The EU’s budget for 2020 should include more climate action funding and higher investment in sustainable technologies, according to Monika Hohlmeier, Parliament’s budget negotiator. The Parliament will vote on its position for next year’s budget on 23 October. German EPP member Monika Hohlmeier, chair of the budgetary control committee, […]

A mixed picture on economic reforms in #Ukraine

By Guest contributor Upon his election as the new President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) sent emissaries to Brussels to reassure his western allies that he was committed to continuing the process of economic reform initiated by his predecessor. Since then, the former comedian’s Servant of the People party has won a crushing victory in […]

#Copyright – Dialogue between platforms and rights holders starts tomorrow

By EU Reporter Correspondent The first meeting of the stakeholder dialogue on the application of Article 17 of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market on the use of protected content by online content-sharing service providers will take place tomorrow in Brussels. The stakeholders will discuss best practices on how content-sharing platforms and […]

Rule-breaking #Booker judges honour Atwood, Evaristo with rare double prize

By Guest contributor Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments and Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other jointly won the Booker Prize on Monday in a surprise double award in which the literary prize recognised its oldest and first black woman winners, writes Marie-Louise Gumuchian. The authors will split the £50,000 ($62,800) annual prize, the judging panel said. The […]

A question of trust: British pollsters battle to call looming #UKElection

By EU Reporter Correspondent British pollsters have a big problem to solve as the country heads towards an election: Brexit has scrambled traditional political allegiances and they say it is harder than ever to know whether voters are telling them the truth, write William James and Kylie MacLellan. Polling companies, many of whom underestimated support […]

#Brexit deal ‘more and more difficult’ this week, EU summit to discuss delay

By Guest contributor Agreeing a Brexit divorce deal has become “more and more difficultâ€� this week but was still possible, the bloc’s Brexit negotiator said on Tuesday (15 October), while Finland’s EU minister said the bloc’s leaders would discuss another delay, write Robin Emmott, Jan Strupczewski and Marine Strauss. EU ministers gather in Luxembourg for […]

Plans to keep #EUBudget funding in 2020 in event of no-deal #Brexit

By EU Reporter Correspondent UK Researchers, students and farmers would continue to get EU support in the event of a no-deal Brexit, under provisions adopted by the Budgets Committee on Monday (14 October) The Budget Committee approved a measure to make sure that EU funds for 2019 and 2020 are fully available if the UK […]

#EPP – More money to fight #ClimateChange

By EU Reporter Correspondent A Resolution adopted on 14 October by the European Parliament’s Budgets Committee echoes and supports the outcome of the vote of 1365 amendments to the Council’s reading of the 2020 Budget. “Innovation, research and competitiveness are key priorities for next year’s EU Budget. We want more money for Horizon 2020, for […]

Germany to maintain level field for #5G vendors

By Guest contributor Germany was tipped to be on the brink of allowing Huawei to supply equipment for 5G networks in the country, ignoring calls from the US to ban the under-fire Chinese vendor, Reuters reports. A senior government source told the publication the country is set to publish a “security catalogueâ€� this week, which […]

#ClimateChange activists target London’s financial district

By Guest contributor Climate change activists targeted London’s financial district on Monday (14 October) blocking Bank junction, vowing a day of disruption for major institutions which they said were financing an environmental catastrophe, writes Guy Faulconbridge. Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked the streets around Bank in the heart of the City of London. “The City of […]

#Kövesi – Council confirms Laura CodruÅ£a Kövesi as first European chief prosecutor #EPPO

By EU Reporter Correspondent The Council today (14 October) agreed to the appointment of Laura CodruÅ£a Kövesi (pictured) to be the first European chief prosecutor. The appointment must now also be confirmed by the European Parliament, which will be a formality as the European Parliament has already let the Council know that Kövesi is their […]