Category Archives: Politics

Political Press Releases & News distributed via EuropaWire

Latvian officials press case for Eurozone membership with MEPs

Posted on 27, February 2013 by

27-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Latvia’s top economic brass presented its credentials for joining the Eurozone to the EP Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Tuesday. MEPs’ questions focused on the sustainability of Latvia’s impressive turnaround, how social policy needs could be … Read the full press release →

Posted in Banks, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, Latvia, Politics

Joint statement by the Heads of Mission of the European Union, the OSCE, and the United States in Skopje

Posted on 27, February 2013 by

Brussels, 27-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Joint statement by the Heads of Mission of the European Union, the OSCE, and the United States in Skopje The Heads of Mission of the European Union, the OSCE, and the United States in Skopje today issued … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, European Union, Government, North Macedonia, Politics

Interest in EU affairs has grown in recent years, reveals latest opinion poll

Posted on 27, February 2013 by

Europeans are increasingly interested in European affairs, and a majority want to be informed on what happens at EU level, reveals a recently-published Eurobarometer survey. The economic crisis remains a key concern, as it has done since 2008, and a … Read the full press release →

Posted in Economy, European Union, Government, Politics, Society

What did the EU ever do for the mobile industry?

Posted on 27, February 2013 by

Brussels, 27-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — What did the EU ever do for the mobile industry? Made consumers happy: roaming price caps have delivered €15 billion in savings Made the market work more efficiently: forcing mobile “termination rates” to reflect costs has helped retail mobile … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Government, Internet & Online, Politics, Society, Technology, Telecom

EU-Albania: Elections will be crucial test of democracy

Posted on 27, February 2013 by

Brussels, 27-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Brussels (25th February) – Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met Chairman of the Socialist Movement for Integration Ilir META in Brussels today to exchange views on the follow-up to the Council Conclusions from … Read the full press release →

Posted in Albania, Belgium, European Union, Government, Politics

Offshore oil and gas operations: financial liability for all operators

Posted on 26, February 2013 by

26-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — A provisional deal on proposed legislation for the safety of offshore oil and gas operations was struck by MEPs and Council negotiators on Thursday. Before oil and gas firms could get a licence to drill, the directive … Read the full press release →

Posted in Business, Energy, Gas & Oil, European Union, Financial, Government, Law, Politics, Security & Safety

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt discuss trade and EU budget in Dublin

Posted on 26, February 2013 by

26-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Enda Kenny today met with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt in Dublin for a meeting dominated by Presidency matters. At the centre of the discussion was the contribution which … Read the full press release →

Posted in Business, European Union, Financial, Government, International Trade, Ireland, Politics, Sweden

Simon Coveney TD, The Irish Minister for Agriculture calls for significant progress on key CAP reform issues

Posted on 26, February 2013 by

26-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, will chair the second meeting of the Agrifish Council under the Irish Presidency on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th February. In the agriculture area, Ministers will … Read the full press release →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, Ireland, Politics, Society

Internal Energy Market a key discussion at Energy Council in Brussels

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — EU Energy Ministers discussed two key energy papers at today’s TTE (Energy) Council in Brussels: the Communication on the Internal Energy Market and the ‘ILUC’ legislative proposal amending the Directives on the promotion of the use of … Read the full press release →

Posted in Energy, Gas & Oil, European Union, Government, Infrastructure & Utilities, Politics

Minister for Agriculture determined to achieve collective agreement for the early introduction of effective discards ban under reformed CFP

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney TD, will be seeking agreement from his European colleagues at next week’s Fisheries Council on when and how introduce an effective discards ban in the context of the reform … Read the full press release →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, European Union, Food & Beverage, Government, Ireland, Politics

Tobacco in the EU: Exposure to second hand smoke reduced, but still too high, says Commission report

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Protection from second hand smoke has improved considerably in the EU, according to a report published by the Commission today. 28% of Europeans were exposed to second hand smoke in bars in 2012 – down from 46% … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, European Union, Government, Healthcare, Politics, Society

Irish Presidency intensifies negotiations with European Institutions on future EU budget

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

President Schulz to join President Barroso in Dublin next week for key meetings with Irish Presidency 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The Irish Presidency has this week intensified discussions on the future seven-year budget, the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF). The Irish Presidency … Read the full press release →

Posted in Economy, European Union, Financial, Government, Ireland, Law, Politics

President Barroso on the result of the presidential elections in Cyprus

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — In my own name and in the name of the European Commission, I warmly congratulate Nikos Anastasiades on his election as the President of Cyprus. The Cypriot people have given Mr. Anastasiades a strong mandate to implement … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Cyprus, European Union, Government, Politics

Audit leads EU to rethink “temporary accommodation” rules after natural disasters

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Luxembourg, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Following a report from the EU auditors, the European Commission is to clarify rules on financing “temporary accommodation” following natural disasters. The report examined events following the April 2009 earthquake that hit the Italian Abruzzi region and … Read the full press release →

Posted in European Union, Financial, Government, Luxembourg, Politics, Society

The Council: Agricultural measures for outermost regions and Aegean islands

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Today the Council adopted regulations laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the EU (67/12) and in the smaller Aegean islands (68/12) following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament. In November last year, … Read the full press release →

Posted in Agriculture, Belgium, European Union, Government, Greece, Politics

SPEECH: Statement by President Barroso following his meeting with Mr Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

José Manuel Durão Barroso – President of the European Commission Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Let me wholeheartedly welcome Prime Minister Stoltenberg in Brussels. I am very glad that my friend Jens Stoltenberg could follow my invitation swiftly further to my visit to … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, European Union, Government, Norway, Politics

Speech: The future evolution of the Economic and Monetary Union

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Olli REHN – Vice-President of the European Commission and member of the Commission responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro Interparliamentary Meeting/Dublin, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Honourable Minister, Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for the invitation to … Read the full press release →

Posted in European Union, Financial, Government, Ireland, Politics, Society

Irish Minister for Agriculture discusses today’s Agrifish Council in Brussels

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Irish Minister for Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney TD, is chairing today’s meeting of the Agrifish Council in Brussels. He gave a doorstep interview as he arrived at the meeting.  The Irish Presidency’s approach to this … Read the full press release →

Posted in Agriculture, Belgium, European Union, Government, Ireland, Politics

Fighting evasion: Commission launches consultations on EU Taxpayer’s Code and EU Tax Identification Number

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Today the European Commission launched two public consultations on specific measures which could improve tax collection and ensure better tax compliance across the EU. The first consultation is on the development of a European Taxpayer’s Code, which … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, Law, Politics, Society

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore speaks with EP Budget Committee Chair Lamassoure on MFF

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, met Mr Alain Lamassoure, Chair of the European Parliament’s Budgetary Committee, in Dublin today to discuss the future of the EU’s … Read the full press release →

Posted in Business, Economy, European Union, Financial, Government, Ireland, Politics

How new trade deals can boost jobs and growth in the EU – Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union can give a major boost at EU level to the kind of progress that the Government is already making in Ireland on job market reform and job … Read the full press release →

Posted in Business, European Union, Government, International Trade, Investment, Ireland, Politics, Society

Commissioner Malmström presents Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation with Georgia

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Today in Tbilisi, Georgia, Commissioner Malmström will hand the Action Plan for Visa Liberalisation over to Georgia’s authorities. The presentation of the Action Plan represents a further step towards full visa liberalisation. It clearly sets out all … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Government, Politics

Minister Sherlock: Science a core part of employment creation and retention

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — At Trinity College Dublin today, Minister Sean Sherlock gave an opening address to the European Intersectoral Summit on Research and Innovation (EISRI) at Trinity College Dublin. Minister Sherlock , who chairs EU Research Ministers within the Competitiveness … Read the full press release →

Posted in Education, European Union, Government, Ireland, Politics, Science, Society

SPEECH – Ensuring the sustainability of EU pension systems

Posted on 25, February 2013 by

László ANDOR – European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Conference on “Emerging Challenges in the Impact of Taxes on Pensions” Brussels, 25-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin by thanking the Presidents of Pensions Europe, … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, Investment, Politics, Society

European defence industry: strategic independence before competiteveness

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European defence industry’s role in ensuring the EU’s strategic independence must come before competitiveness, said security and defence MEPs in their debate on Wednesday with Commissioner Michel Barnier. Mr Barnier called for a new impetus for … Read the full press release →

Posted in Defence, European Union, Government, Politics, Security & Safety, Society

Energy Council meeting in Brussels to discuss Internal Energy Market

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, will chair a one day meeting of the TTE Council (Energy) in Brussels tomorrow, during which EU Ministers for Energy will discuss a range of issues … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, Energy, Gas & Oil, European Union, Government, Ireland, Politics

Media freedom: MEPs call for annual EU monitoring of member states’ media laws

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Investigative journalism should be supported in the EU and media independence protected from political and economic pressures, says the Civil Liberties Committee in a resolution on media freedom voted on Thursday. MEPs want annual EU-wide monitoring of … Read the full press release →

Posted in Business, European Union, Government, Law, Media, Politics, Society

Irish Energy Minister discusses today’s TTE Council in Brussels

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, is chairing today’s meeting of the TTE (Energy) Council in Brussels. He gave a doorstep interview as he arrived at the meeting.  The Irish Presidency’s approach to this … Read the full press release →

Posted in Energy, Gas & Oil, European Union, Government, Ireland, Politics

Adjustment and growth in the euro area economies – Speech by Benoît Cœuré

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

Speech by Benoît Cœuré, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, Nova School of Business and Economics and the Banco de Portugal, Lisbon, 22 February 2013 Portugal, Lisbon, 22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Introduction [1]   Dear Governor Costa, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great … Read the full press release →

Posted in Banks, Business, Economy, European Union, Financial, Government, Investment, Politics, Portugal

Environment: Commission refers Sweden back to Court over industrial permits, asks for fines

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

Brussels, 22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission is taking Sweden back to Court for its failure to license industrial installations that are operating without permits. Despite an earlier Court judgement on this matter, Sweden has still not licensed two major industrial … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, Environment, European Union, Government, Law, Politics, Society, Sweden

Taxation: Commission refers France and Luxembourg to the Court of Justice over reduced VAT rates on ebooks

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

Brussels, 22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has decided to refer France and Luxembourg to the Court of Justice of the European Union for applying reduced rates of VAT to ebooks. EU law is very clear on which goods and services … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, France, Government, Internet & Online, Law, Luxembourg, Politics

External policy: EU must raise its game or become irrelevant, say MEPs

Posted on 22, February 2013 by

22-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — If it is to avoid a further loss of global influence, the EU must use its existing foreign policy tools much more efficiently and it must devise a new security strategy, said MEPs on Thursday. They were … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Defence, European Union, Government, Italy, Poland, Politics, Security & Safety, Society, Spain, Sweden

Commissioner Oettinger welcomes political agreement on offshore legislation

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Brussels, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy said: “I welcome this major step enhancing the safety of offshore oil and gas production in the EU. Past accidents have shown the devastating consequences when things go badly wrong offshore. … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, Energy, Gas & Oil, European Union, Government, Industrial, Law, Politics, Security & Safety

February infringements package: main decisions

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Brussels, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — February infringements package: main decisions In its monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is pursuing legal action against Member States for failing to comply properly with their obligations under EU law. These decisions covering many … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, European Union, Financial, Government, Law, Politics, Society

Speech: Fighting poverty and preserving democracy through social investment

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

László ANDOR – European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Council of Europe Conference on Poverty and Inequalities in Societies of Human Rights / Strasbourg Strasbourg, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to the Council of Europe … Read the full press release →

Posted in European Union, France, Government, Investment, Politics, Society

Speech: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Opening free trade negotiations with the United States

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Karel De Gucht – European Commissioner for Trade Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament / Brussels Brussels, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The importance of the agreement The word historic is often abused, used for each and every occasion. However, today … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, International Trade, Politics

Connecticut Senator visits Airbus

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Blagnac,  21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Richard Blumenthal, the United States Senator for the state of Connecticut, led a delegation of home-state aerospace manufacturers in a visit to Airbus, in Toulouse, France. Airbus is the largest export customer of the U.S. aerospace … Read the full press release →

Posted in Aviation & Aerospace, Business, Defence, France, Politics

State aid: Commission temporarily approves rescue aid for Crédit Immobilier de France

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Brussels, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has granted temporary approval to France, under the EU state aid rules, to provide Crédit Immobilier de France (CIF) with a €18 billion state guarantee. This guarantee is necessary to cover CIF’s urgent liquidity needs and … Read the full press release →

Posted in Banks, Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, France, Government, Investment, Law, Politics

LeaderSHIP 2020 – Ensuring future of shipbuilding in Europe

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

Brussels, 21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ —  Today the new LeaderSHIP 2020 strategy to increase the competitiveness of European maritime technology was presented by Vice President of the European Commission responsible for enterprise and industry policy Antonio Tajani, together with SEA Europe, the … Read the full press release →

Posted in Belgium, Business, European Union, Financial, Government, Industrial, Politics, Transportation & Logistics

How to clear away doubts about the Euro

Posted on 21, February 2013 by

21-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The EESC insists on the need for further integration and solidarity to transform the European Monetary Union into a genuine economic, political and social union. An important element in this process is an active role of the … Read the full press release →

Posted in Banks, Business, Economy, European Union, Financial, Government, Politics, Society