Rappler's latest stories on European Union
EU chief makes bid to break recovery fund deadlock
Finland, Sweden, Hungary, and the Netherlands all voice concerns over the European Union's proposed 750-billion-euro fund to recover from the coronavirus pandemic's economic impact
Volkswagen can be sued anywhere in EU, says top court
This is another setback for Volkswagen as it faces a wave of cases stemming from its emissions scandal
Merkel calls for swift agreement on EU virus package
'Our common objective is to find a quick agreement as time is running out due to the economic crisis. We must not waste time. The poorest are paying the price,' says German Chancellor Angela Merkel
EU sees eurozone economy crashing 8.7% in 2020
'The economic impact of the lockdown is more severe than we initially expected,' says European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis
EU, UK warn of big differences as Brexit talks move to London
The talks this month are being held in a more limited format than earlier rounds, in hopes that a more personal encounter can deliver a breakthrough
Pakistan Int'l Airlines suspended in Europe over fake pilot license scandal
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency tells Pakistan International Airlines 'they have lost their confidence' in the carrier
Merkel kicks off EU presidency with Brexit warning
(UPDATED) The veteran leader is speaking on the first day of Germany's six-month EU presidency, set to be dominated by the pandemic and its economic fallout
EU says 'essential' that freedoms be protected in Hong Kong
Hong Kong police say they arrested at least 180 people on Wednesday, July 1 – including 7 under a new national security law – as thousands of protesters defy a ban to rally on the anniversary of the city's handover to China
EU reopens borders to 15 countries but U.S. excluded
China makes it to the list, which will be updated every two weeks, but on the condition that Beijing does the same for Europeans
EU trade chief Hogan drops out of WTO race
European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan says he will instead focus on challenges confronting the EU
Merkel, Macron meet as Germany takes on high-stakes EU presidency
Berlin's chairing of the bloc will be its last with Merkel in charge, and could be the one that defines the legacy of the leader dubbed the 'eternal chancellor'
EU, Britain intensify talks on post-Brexit future
Hopes are that the intensification of the discussions will make it possible to deliver results after previous sessions, of mainly videolink talks, achieved little
Stars help raise billions in EU vaccine drive
Dwayne Johnson, Miley Cyrus, and Coldplay are among the performers in the star-studded fundraiser
Britain has to accept weaker economic ties with EU – Merkel
'If the United Kingdom does not want regulations comparable to that of Europe in terms of the environment, the labor market or social norms, our relations will lose intensity,' says German Chancellor Angela Merkel
U.S. considering new taxes on $3.1 billion in European products
The United States lists products from France, Germany, Spain, or Britain, ranging from olives to decaffeinated coffee, as possibly subject to the new tariffs
Virus lockdown could fuel radicalization – Europol
Europol director Catherine De Bolle says the pandemic's worldwide economic and social impacts could escalate existing discontents
Europe 2020 auto sales to plunge record 25% – industry group
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association calls on governments to help the car industry recover and safeguard jobs
EU urges China to reconsider Hong Kong security law
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says she had warned the Chinese leaders that Hong Kong owes its economic success to its autonomy from Beijing
With ties in the balance, EU and China hold tense summit
China and the EU both say they want to strengthen ties, but the relationship is tangled in a thicket of disagreements on topics ranging from trade and investment rules to human rights and national security
EU hits Ressa verdict, urges PH to protect free press
'We expect the Philippines, like all countries, to uphold its international human rights obligations and protect and promote fundamental freedoms,' says the European Union External Action Service
EU takes aim at Apple in landmark antitrust cases
(UPDATED) The European Commission also launches an in-depth investigation into Apple Pay, due to concerns the payment system is shutting out rivals
More 'oomph': UK's Johnson eyes Brexit trade deal by July
(UPDATED) Both sides hope the intervention of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen could revive proceedings
Media calls on EU to crack down on online disinformation
Broadcasters, publishers, and journalists call on the European Commission to implement 'much stronger measures' to combat disinformation on internet platforms such as Google and Facebook
Pompeo talks to EU ministers as rifts fester
The meeting between EU foreign ministers with US counterpart Mike Pompeo kicks off a crunch week for US-Europe ties
EU backs Twitter in Trump fact-check row
The European Commission's top official on countering disinformation praises Twitter for tagging two claims made by Trump last month about postal ballots in US elections
EU accuses China, Russia of virus disinformation campaigns
The European Commission also accuses major online platforms of doing too little to help fact-checkers tackle the 'infodemic'
Stalemate after 4th round of post-Brexit talks
The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier reports 'no significant progress this week,' accusing London of backtracking on divorce terms agreed in 2019
Post-Brexit trade talks resume but little sign of breakthrough
With the sides camped out in conflicting visions of the way ahead, few experts expect this week's talks to bear fruit
'Starting point': EU's frugal members cool on recovery plan
Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden want emergency help for countries badly hit by the coronavirus to take the form of one-off loans
New turbulence in high-stakes Lufthansa rescue drama
Lufthansa says its supervisory board is currently 'unable to approve' the aid package from Germany, as conditions must be 'analyzed intensively'
Battle ahead for EU's massive virus recovery plan
If passed, this proposal would be the biggest European Union stimulus package in history. But Germany predicts talks would drag on until the end of 2020.
European auto market hit by record sales plunge
New car registrations in the 27 European Union markets fall by 76.3% in April 2020
Macron, Merkel agree 500-billion-euro virus recovery plan for Europe
The Merkel-Macron plan now faces a potentially painful negotiation with all 27 member states of the European Union and then a vote in European Parliament
Britain, EU in post-Brexit trade talks stalemate
EU negotiator Michel Barnier says 'no progress has been possible on the more difficult subjects,' despite Britain now having provided suggested texts in almost all areas of disagreement
Migrant smuggling set to surge as coronavirus lockdown eases – Europol
Europol said in its latest report that illegal migration slowed down during the coronavirus lockdown, but was bound to shoot up once restrictions are lifted
EU virus recovery plan delayed by clashing visions
Critics fear that the commission will use creative accounting to puff up the numbers by claiming that spending will be multiplied by as much as 45 times by private investment in the real economy
EU, Britain restart push on post-Brexit ties amid virus gloom
The EU side accuses Britain of focusing only on issues dear to them and ignoring those essential for EU members, such as fishing, or on agreeing on minimum standards for health and the environment
Euro ministers back crisis credit, split on next steps
A plan to allot 240 billion euros ($260 billion) for credit lines gets approval from eurozone ministers
Europe's 'historic' recession threatens eurozone survival
The European Union estimates that the eurozone economy would shrink by 7.7% in 2020, a 'recession of historic proportions'
EU approves 7 billion euros in French state aid to Air France
Without this approved aid, 'Air France would likely face the risk of bankruptcy,' says the European Commission
Virus lockdown measures hammer EU economy in Q1 2020
The European Union suffers its sharpest quarter-on-quarter drop in gross domestic product since statistics agency Eurostat began compiling the figures in 1995
U.S. passes new stimulus, EU divided as virus costs soar
In Europe, the worst-hit continent with 110,000 deaths, EU leaders haggle by video conference over their own package that could top one trillion euros
Europe races to shield virus-hit firms from bargain hunters
European Union nations seek to bolster their defenses against hostile takeovers that could see key technologies and know-how being lost to countries like China and the United States
Virus lockdowns send European car sales down 55%
All carmakers suffer, but Fiat Chrysler sees the worst drop in March 2020 as it is heavily dependent upon its home market of Italy
EU aims to bar 'predatory' takeovers of weakened firms
A statement from European Union trade ministers does not identify potential threats, but participants later make it clear China is the main source of concern
Brussels eyes 1.5-trillion-euro virus recovery fund
The European Commission is 'working on new financing instruments' to fight the 'unprecedented' coronavirus pandemic
The EU's 500-billion-euro coronavirus emergency deal
Here's what European Union finance ministers agreed on during a crunch meeting on their economic response to the coronavirus pandemic
EU finance ministers agree on coronavirus rescue deal
The package agreed is worth about 500 billion euros ($546 billion), short of what many observers believe is necessary to restart the European economy when the health crisis recedes
EU rescue talks fail as Netherlands blocks virus compromise
Bickering European Union finance ministers are unable to bridge differences on how to rebuild their economies
EU announces 15 billion euros to fight coronavirus worldwide
Beating the pandemic in Europe alone is not enough, officials say, pointing out that if coronavirus continues to rage elsewhere in the world, it will simply return in time
