A round up of the latest European developments from our team in Brussels
EU executive keeps an eye on over-spenders
ADVERTISEMENT
As the EU executive releases its economic forecasts, a word of advice was given to member states who have broken the bloc’s spending rules in the past.
Portugal looks to be one of the first to exit the Commission’s spending review, known as the Excessive Deficit Procedure.
Officials in Brussels hope France and Spain will follow afterwards.
Hungary and Slovakia challenge EU refugee quotas
Hungary and Slovakia have told the European Union’s top court that sharing out asylum-seekers among member-states in a quota system is unlawful. The dispute is putting pressure on relations with other member states and threatens serious division within the bloc.
Many other EU states have also dragged their feet and only 18,119 people out of the 160,000 target have moved from Greece and Italy. The plan, which was put in place a year and a half ago, expires in September.
Potential new European commissioner for Bulgaria
Mariya Gabriel, an Member if the European Parliament (MEP) looks poised to become Bulgaria’s new European commissioner.
Mariya Gabriel, a member of the European People’s Party was picked by the Bulgarian government for the post.
But she’ll have to face a job interview with Jean-Claude Juncker and a grilling from MEPs before she can take up the role.