EURACTIV News
German budget blocked again, leaving subsidy feud with farmers unresolved
Germany’s largest opposition party, the conservative CDU, blocked a decisive vote on parts of the annual budget scheduled for Friday (2 February), leaving unresolved the feud over agricultural subsidies that had led to mass protests of farmers in recent weeks.
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The Brief – Meloni, the new Merkel?
Diplomats agree that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni played a key role in taming Viktor Orban during the extraordinary EU summit on Thursday (1 February). Their ideological closeness helped – which possibly augurs a bright future for Meloni.
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Farmers’ discontent as a stress test for the EU single market
Last week, Spanish lorries full of fruit, vegetables, wine and ham were dumped by French farmers during blockades in south-east France and Brittany. The row continued this Tuesday.
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Quantum technology tops 2024 work programme for EU standards
The European Commission published on Friday (2 February) its annual work programme for European standardisation, with four out of eight policy priorities addressing standard setting in technology, and quantum computation infrastructure topping the list.
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EU countries give crucial nod to first-of-a-kind Artificial Intelligence law
The ambassadors of the 27 countries of the European Union unanimously adopted the world’s first comprehensive rulebook for Artificial Intelligence, rubber-stamping the political agreement that was reached in December.
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MEPs concerned about Hungarian digital authority’s lack of independence
In a letter dated Tuesday (30 January), MEPs expressed their concerns about the independence of Hungary’s appointed authority to enforce the EU’s Digital Services Act.
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French ecology minister lays out agenda for 2024
2024 will be a busy year for French green policy, according to the broad outlines of the agenda presented by Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Béchu on Wednesday (31 January).
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All eyes on COREPER, from a convention to a declaration
Welcome to Euractiv’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
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EU agrees new law granting consumers a ‘right to repair’ products
European consumers will have the right to have common household appliances, including mobile phones, repaired, while EU countries will have to produce schemes to boost repair rates according to a new law adopted on Friday (2 February).
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What’s the point of economic forecasts?
At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, is predicting the future of the world economy useful - or even possible?
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Migration pact will get first vote of approval by EU Parliament in April
Following a political provisional agreement on the migration pact reached by EU institutions last December, the European Parliament will hold the first vote of formal approval in its plenary session in April, according to a note from the Parliament's agenda-setting body, seen by Euractiv.
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Hungary’s divided society: The cost of Orbán’s politics
In the heart of Europe lies a society held captive by its own leadership, a tale of deepening division under the watch of Hungary's self-proclaimed 'street fighter' Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, writes Gergely Hajdu.
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Sweden’s NATO application on Hungarian agenda, delays still expected
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Bulgarian PM saying a mini Schengen between Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece would be illegal, the Swedish NATO application being on Hungary’s agenda but delays are still expected, and so much more.
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Ukrainian army chief explains strategies amid uncertainty over his future
Army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi laid out a set of priorities for Ukraine and named challenges blighting the country's war effort in an opinion piece published on Thursday after several media outlets reported that he could be dismissed from his post.
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EU-Mercosur trade agreement negotiations halted hours before signing, says Macron
Negotiations on the EU-Mercosur common free trade agreement have been halted, confirmed French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday following the European Council meeting, effectively cancelling an EU Commissioner’s trip hours before he was meant to travel to Brazil to sign it.
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On the path to UN’s Global Digital Compact
As the United Nations are preparing to adopt the Global Digital Compact later this year, we discussed this initiative with Tech Envoy Amandeep Singh Gill and what it means for internet governance, Artificial Intelligence and the EU’s international projection on digital policy.
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Serbia and Russia pledge deeper cooperation after warm ‘brotherly’ welcome
Serbia and Russia have further strengthened their ties in recent days with the signing of a health agreement between the two countries and the announcement of a military drone delivery from Moscow.
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Romanian PM backpedals on military chief’s claims: ‘We will not engage in any war’
Romania “will not engage in any war”, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in an attempt to ease concerns following Lieutenant General Gheorghiță Vlad’s statement that Romanians should brace themselves for a potential conflict.
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NATO reaffirms support for Bosnia’s territorial integrity
NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană on Thursday (1 February) reaffirmed the Alliance's support for Bosnia during a visit to Sarajevo, condemning the "secessionist policies" of Bosnian Serb leaders.
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Bulgaria, Romania, Greece ‘mini Schengen’ would be illegal, says Denkov
Removing borders between the three nations would go against EU legislation, and their governments have no intention of starting official discussions of a zone without border control because it would be illegal, said Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov on Thursday.
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