Jorge Liboreiro

Europe News

EU agrees new sanctions on Russia, with an import ban on diamonds

The European Union agreed on Monday to slap Russia with a fresh round of sanctions that includes the long-awaited ban on diamonds, a valuable revenue stream for the Kremlin that has until now remained untouched.

18/12/2023

Europe News

'We take rule of law seriously': Tusk seeks access to frozen EU funds

Donald Tusk, the newly elected prime minister of Poland, pledged on Friday to treat the rule of law "very seriously" and spend European funds in a "proper manner," an overture designed to turn the page on eight years of confrontation between Warsaw and Brussels.

15/12/2023

Europe News

EU opens accession talks with Ukraine but Orbán vetoes aid package

The European Union decided Thursday to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. But hours later, Viktor Orbán used his veto power to block a €50-billion aid package for the war-battered nation.

14/12/2023

Europe News

Orbán threatens to blow up Ukraine policy as EU leaders meet

Leaders of the European Union are gathering today in Brussels for a two-day summit where the future of the bloc's Ukraine policy will be defined.

14/12/2023

Europe News

Hungary gets €10 billion in frozen EU funds amid Orbán's threats

The European Commission allowed on Wednesday the release of €10 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary, almost a year after the money was frozen over the country's failure to address persistent rule-of-law concerns.

13/12/2023

Europe News

EU foreign ministers slam Hungary's 'deplorable' threats on Ukraine

Foreign affairs ministers of the European Union have closed ranks to rebuke Hungary for its continued threats to derail the bloc's support for Ukraine.

11/12/2023

Europe News

Austria proposes 'Air Schengen' for Romania and Bulgaria

Austria has softened its veto on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria by proposing the abolition of border checks at airports.

11/12/2023

Europe News

EU set to roll out world's first AI regulation after 35-hour talks

Member states and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary deal on the AI Act, the world's first attempt to regulate the fast-evolving technology in a comprehensive, ethics-based manner.

08/12/2023

Europe News

Marathon Brussels talks fail to reach deal on EU AI Act

The European Parliament and member states failed on Thursday to reach a political deal on the AI Act following marathon talks in Brussels that stretched over 22 hours.

07/12/2023

Europe News

Austria still opposed to Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria

Austria is still firmly opposed to the long-coveted Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, arguing the passport-free area needs to become "better" before becoming "bigger."

05/12/2023

Europe Decoded

Explained: Why truckers are blockading the EU's border with Ukraine

Polish truck drivers have spent nearly a month blockading different crossing points along the border with Ukraine. Last Friday, Slovak drivers joined the protest, turning the dispute into an all-out European crisis.

04/12/2023

Europe Decoded

Brussels braces for a politically explosive December

The European Union's to-do list for the month of December is nothing short of sensational.

01/12/2023

Europe News

Brussels could soon unblock €10 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary

The European Commission is preparing to adopt next month a decision that could unblock up to €10 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary, which has been denied the cash over persistent rule-of-law concerns.

30/11/2023

Europe News

Brussels threatens Poland with lawsuit over blockade at Ukraine border

The European Commission has harshly denounced the blockade at the Ukrainian border instigated by Polish truckers and farmers, threatening legal action against the government in Warsaw.

29/11/2023

Europe News

EU needs to curb irregular migration to prevent far-right surge: Weber

The next elections to the European Parliament risk unleashing a far-right surge if governments are unable to prove they can manage migration, Manfred Weber has warned.

29/11/2023

Europe News

Migrant smugglers to face up to 15 years in prison under new EU rules

The European Commission is seeking to toughen penalties for human traffickers as the bloc struggles to bring down the number of migrants lured in by networks of smugglers.

28/11/2023

Europe Decoded

Why the EU is so worried about China's anti-espionage law

For the past half year, high-ranking officials of the European Union have raised the alarm about China's anti-espionage law.

28/11/2023

Europe News

Hungary to get €920 million in EU recovery funds without conditions

The European Commission approved on Thursday the revised version of Hungary’s recovery and resilience plan, a decision that foresees the release of €920 million without strings attached.

23/11/2023

Europe News

'No justifiable reason' to keep Bulgaria out of Schengen, says Metsola

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, voiced on Wednesday her unconditional support for Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen Area in anticipation of a high-stakes vote next month.

22/11/2023

Europe News

Poland gets EU greenlight for first €5B payment of recovery funds

The European Commission on Tuesday greenlighted Poland's revised COVID-19 recovery plan, now worth almost €60 billion.

21/11/2023