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Alice Tidey

Europe News

EU 'held hostage' by Hungary over Russian oil ban, Lithuania claims

Twelve days after the Commission unveiled its plans to impose a phased embargo on Russian oil, negotiations are still dragging on. Hungary is now being accused of keeping the sanction package "hostage".

This will impact your life

EU's plan to tackle online child abuse spark privacy rights fears

Privacy activists are sounding the alarm over the European Commission's plans to clamp down on online child abuse, warning that it would usher in "mass surveillance" in the bloc.

Europe News

Explained: Why EU countries are at odds over treaty changes

Supporters of treaty changes say that it will make the EU quicker to respond to crises like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine but opponents say it will take too much political energy that's currently needed elsewhere.

Europe News

How will Sinn Fein's win in Northern Ireland impact Brexit?

The historic vote in Northern Ireland was succeeded by well-rehearsed accusations of inflexibility from both Brussels and London.

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Europe News

Can the EU or Ukraine ever use Russia's frozen assets?

The answer is: maybe. But it will take a lot of time and legal fees.

Europe Decoded

Orban criticises EU plans to sanction head of Russian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Kirill's support of Putin and the war has already drawn condemnation with Pope Francis warning him not to become "Putin's altar boy".

Europe News

MEPs back COVID pass extension to June 2023

The majority of EU member states no longer require other EU citizens to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter their territory.

Europe News

MEPs refuse to approve Frontex's budget amid misconduct allegations

MEPs are withholding approval of Frontex's budget until they are allowed to see a report on alleged human rights violations by agency staff.

Europe News

MEPs want to reform how they're elected. Here's how.

EU lawmakers have approved draft legislation to reform the bloc's parliamentary elections which they hope will lead to greater engagement and transparency.

Europe Decoded

EU immigration is broken. Brussels is unlikely to fix it.

EU rhetoric concentrates on fighting illegal immigration when only a tiny fraction of new arrivals come to Europe illegally. The vast majority of skilled migrants are doing low-skill jobs despite Europe's growing labour shortage.

Europe Decoded

EU anti-fake news agency starts debunking in Chinese

MEPs have meanwhile called for the bloc to adopt specific sanctions for cases of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.

World News

Frontex chief resigns over probe on human rights violations at borders

Fabrice Leggeri's resignation comes a day after an investigative report said the EU border agency had illegally forced back nearly 1,000 asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea.

Europe Decoded

Poland and Bulgaria could manage without Russia gas but not for long

Gazprom's decision to switch off the taps won't hit consumers just yet but industries in Poland and Bulgaria are likely to be hit.

Europe News

EU blasts 'blackmail' as Russia cuts gas tap to Poland and Bulgaria

Ursula von der Leyen called Gazprom's decision "yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail" while Charles Michel said it was an "aggressive unilateral move by Russia'.

World News

EU triggers rule of law mechanism for first time against Hungary

The Commission is coming after EU funds Orban and his allies are accused of having funneled away to line their pockets.

Europe News

EU allows Spain and Portugal to cap electricity prices temporarily

The political agreement should result in electricity bills being temporarily halved for about 40% of Spanish and Portuguese consumers with regulated rates.

Europe News

Brussels wants greater Eurojust role in Ukraine war crimes probe

The European Commission wants to boost Eurojust's role to enable the judicial agency to collect and store evidence of alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Europe News

'Significant win' for Brussels as France, Slovenia back pro-EU leaders

There were congratulatory messages across the EU27 as French voters backed Macron over Le Pen, and people in Slovenia preferred liberal newcomer Robert Golob to populist PM Janez Janša.

Europe Decoded

How China's Ukraine stance may be final straw for eastern EU countries

China sent a special representative to Central and Eastern European countries this week to bolster relations, frayed by the conflict in Ukraine. Was it too little too late?

Europe News

EU strikes deal to force tech giants to tackle disinformation

Some commentators have expressed concerns over the impact the key piece of legislation could have on freedom of speech.

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