EU countries back legal action against UK over post-Brexit grace period...
EU member countries on Tuesday backed the European Commission’s proposal to take legal action against the U.K. over its decision to unilaterally extend the grace periods for Irish Sea border checks,...
View ArticleBorrell: EU’s controversial Cuba ambassador made ‘mistakes’
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Wednesday that the bloc’s ambassador to Cuba, Alberto Navarro, had committed “mistakes” — a remark that came after the diplomat signed a...
View ArticleMEPs again postpone setting date to ratify Brexit deal
Leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups on Thursday postponed for the second time a decision on when lawmakers will vote on the post-Brexit trade deal. “Recent developments with the U.K....
View ArticleBorrell says EU’s Cuba ambassador committed ‘failures’ but won’t fire him
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell upbraided the bloc’s ambassador to Cuba for his “unwise” and “regrettable” decision to sign a controversial letter to U.S. President Joe Biden — but he won’t sack...
View ArticleBrussels launches legal action against UK over Brexit breach
The European Commission Monday launched twin-track legal action against the British government over its decision to unilaterally delay the introduction of post-Brexit checks on goods entering Northern...
View ArticleMeet Richard Szostak: The EU’s new Brexit divorce mediator
LONDON — Richard Szostak has been handed a task that some would consider impossible: Breaking the EU-U.K. logjam over its divorce agreement as tempers flare over the pandemic. As the head of a new EU...
View ArticleYour all-in-one guide to Belgium’s coronavirus vaccine rollout
For weeks, Belgium’s vaccine rollout has been the object of scorn. The country has 579,000 doses currently lying unused in a freezer, even though authorities say they largely abandoned the practice...
View ArticleEU sanctions 11 Myanmar military officials over coup
The EU on Monday imposed sanctions on 11 high-ranking Myanmar military and administration officials who stand accused of orchestrating a military coup in early February. Ten of the targeted...
View ArticleMerkel warns EU ‘to be very careful’ with vaccine export bans
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday urged the EU “to be very careful” with vaccine export bans and stressed that EU leaders will “seek dialogue” with the U.K. over a vaccine dispute. The...
View ArticleEU moves toward six-week vaccine export cut
The European Commission is proposing controversial new rules that would let the EU slash vaccine exports for six weeks to places like the U.K. and U.S. — countries that are either receiving EU-made...
View ArticleGermany urges Commission to purchase Sputnik vaccine at EU level
Germany is urging the European Commission to launch a joint purchase of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for the EU, a German official said Wednesday. “We have asked the Commission” to launch a procurement...
View ArticleMerkel to Germans: Don’t be so negative!
Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged her fellow German citizens on Thursday to combat the pandemic with optimism instead of complaints about restrictions and vaccine delays, proclaiming: “We will...
View ArticleFrustrated EU leaders pass vaccine fight to ambassadors
Suddenly, the EU’s top diplomats — the Committee of Permanent Representatives — look more like the Committee of Pro-Rata Referees. After EU heads of state and government spent hours arguing during a...
View ArticleJoe Biden, honorary EU leader for a day
The 28th head of state and government in the European Council video summit on Thursday was sitting with a funny star-spangled red, white and blue flag behind him. U.S. President Joe Biden joined the...
View ArticleProfessor Nein: Economist threatens EU recovery fund
Bernd Lucke has gotten Germany to halt ratification of the EU’s €750 billion coronavirus recovery fund, sending chills through European capitals. But he insists he’s doing the European Union a favor....
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Sofa, so bad: Turkish seating snafu hits von der Leyen, Michel
Three presidents, two chairs, one awkward photo-op. When European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip...
View ArticleBavaria to sign preliminary purchase agreement for Sputnik vaccine
Germany’s southern region of Bavaria will sign a provisional agreement to buy doses of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, state premier Markus Söder told reporters. Söder said at a press...
View ArticleCharles Michel on Sofagate: ‘I deeply regret this situation’
European Council President Charles Michel admitted he may have made a mistake during what has been dubbed Sofagate, but said he feared speaking out would have caused a diplomatic incident. In a TV...
View ArticleLaschet urges quick decision on chancellor candidate as CDU/CSU leadership meets
The leadership of Germany’s governing CDU/CSU group gathered for talks Sunday, with new CDU head Armin Laschet urging it to decide “very quickly” on a chancellor candidate for September’s general...
View ArticleBattle on for German conservatives as Bavarian leader enters race for chancellor
Germany’s governing conservative bloc is heading for a showdown to choose a candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor, as the leaders of both the CDU and CSU parties announced their willingness...
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