EURACTIV News
EU eyes end of energy tax waivers for air and sea transport sectors
The European Union is studying a reform of energy taxes to align them with climate targets, an EU document showed, listing as possible measures higher minimum tax rates, fossil fuel levies and the end of waivers for the air and sea transport sectors.
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No request to look into different olive oil prices, Commission says
The European Commission has not received any formal request to launch an investigation into the different pricing levels on the EU olive oil market, a source at the EU executive has informed EURACTIV.com.
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Russia’s ruling party loses a third of seats in Moscow election after protests
Russia’s ruling United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, has lost one third of its seats in the Moscow city assembly, final polling data cited by Russian news agencies showed on Monday (9 September), in an awkward setback for the Kremlin.
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Italy’s PM seeks EU reform as government wins confidence vote
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called Monday (9 September) for the reform of European Union budget rules and cooperation on immigration as his new government won a parliamentary confidence vote.
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Johnson tells parliament: You can tie my hands, but I will not delay Brexit
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday (10 September) he would not request an extension to Brexit, hours after a law came into force demanding that he delay Britain's departure from the European Union until 2020 unless he can strike a divorce deal.
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EU stresses support for Cuba even as US hikes sanctions
The European Union is committed to helping Cuba develop its economy, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday (10 September), during a three-day trip to Havana, even as the United States hikes sanctions on the Communist-run island.
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The EU’s search for tough cybersecurity standards
Appearing before MEPs in the European Parliament's Industry Committee last week, the new head of the EU's cybersecurity agency said he hopes the EU's recently adopted cybersecurity framework will become the "the new global standard for trust."
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The Brief – How the outgoing Cypriot Commissioner got burnt
The moral of the following story is that, even in Brussels, you can get easily burnt if you stick your neck out and forget where you came from. The latest to find that out appears to have been Commissioner Christos Stylianides.
Categories: EurActiv
Two-thirds of deaths of under 75-year-olds could have been prevented
In 2016, the deaths of 1.2 million Europeans under 75 were considered premature and could have been prevented, according to a report by Eurostat. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
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EIB begins metamorphosis into climate bank
European Investment Bank (EIB) directors will begin discussing on Tuesday (10 September) an updated lending policy which could see the EU bank stop funding fossil fuel projects. But some member states and even the European Commission might push for a more reserved approach.
Categories: EurActiv
Fragmented EU leftist forces struggle to find their feet
Following their defeat in the last EU elections, the progressive forces in Europe found themselves in an uneasy position.
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Iran slams European powers as nuclear deal unravels
Iran's atomic agency chief hit out Sunday (8 September) at European powers, saying their broken promises gave the Islamic republic little choice but to scale back its commitments under a nuclear deal.
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Greek PM urges talks, rejects Turkish refugee ‘threats’
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis rejected on Sunday (8 September) Turkish "threats" to let Syrian refugees come en masse to Europe unless more international aid was provided and called for neighbourly dialogue instead.
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EU countries have ‘no concrete plans’ to phase out fossil fuel subsidies: report
Not a single EU member state has so far spelt out a comprehensive plan to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies, despite a commitment taken at the G20 ten years ago to eliminate them by 2025, according to a fresh analysis of the bloc’s 28 National Energy and Climate Plans.
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Ex-interior minister Gakharia confirmed as Georgian PM
Georgia's parliament on Sunday (8 September) confirmed an ex-interior minister accused of cracking down on protesters as the country's new prime minister, fuelling political tensions in the ex-Soviet nation.
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US will sanction whoever purchases Iran’s oil, official says
The United States will continue to impose sanctions on whoever purchases Iran's oil or conducts business with Iran's Revolutionary Guards and no oil waivers will be re-issued, a US official said on Sunday (8 September).
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Poland’s foreign ministry condemns attack on Israeli students
Poland's foreign ministry on Sunday (8 September) condemned violence against a group of Israeli students beaten at a Warsaw nightclub early on Saturday, following criticism that Polish leaders are not doing enough to denounce antisemitism.
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US, Turkey launch joint patrols in northeast Syria
The United States and Turkey on Sunday (8 September) began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces who battled the Islamic State jihadist group.
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Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners in first sign of thawing relations
Russia and Ukraine swapped dozens of prisoners on Saturday (7 September) in a carefully-negotiated rapprochement that brought Western praise and could thaw a freeze in relations since Moscow's annexation of the Crimea region in 2014.
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UK lawmakers to block election again, as constitutional crisis intensifies
The chances of an election before the UK leaves the EU are rapidly receding but the political and constitutional battle between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and parliamentarians is set to continue to intensify.
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