Browsing: EU Featured

Thousands marched across Paris and other French cities in what unions hoped would be one of the biggest May Day demonstrations in years. Galvanised by previous protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plans, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, protesters marched with a sense of determination.

As the UK prepares to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation, we focus on the love affair between the British royal family and Paris, which has been both long and reciprocal. A series of landmarks are dedicated to British monarchs in the capital, such as Avenue Victoria – named after Queen Victoria, who in 1855 made the first state visit to Paris in over 400 years. In 1918, George V Avenue was renamed in honour of the British king for recognition of his role as monarch during World War I.

Germany launches on Monday a new flat-rate public transport ticket valid across the country, but the 49-euro ($54) price point has raised doubts about the pass’s potential impact.

French retailer Auchan said on Sunday it was fully co-operating with the French justice authorities in a probe into business practices at its Russian arm.

Pope Francis thanked Hungarians on Saturday for welcoming Ukrainian refugees and urged them to help anyone in need, as he begged for a culture of charity in a country where the prime minister has justified firm anti-immigration policies with fears that migration threatens Europe’s Christian culture.

A global credit ratings agency downgraded French debt worthiness a notch on Saturday, citing pension reform protests as a cause. Two weeks after the contested reform passed, persistent social movements threaten to erase the financial gains that the French government expected.

An apparent drone strike started a fire at a fuel storage facility in Sevastopol, the main port in Moscow-annexed Crimea, on Saturday, the Moscow-installed governor there said. The strike came as Russia hurled missiles at cities across Ukraine early Friday, killing at least 26 civilians in the first large-scale air strikes in nearly two months. Follow FRANCE 24’s live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

Panelists elaborated on the EU Pharma Package and the potential showdown with the pharma sector and called Europe out for being late to the Artificial Intelligence party.

Record breaking temperatures in some Spanish areas, as April sees new highs. #StateOfTheUnion

Talking Europe interviews Jo?o Gomes Cravinho, Portugal’s top diplomat. He discusses whether Portugal’s ally, Brazil, could have a role to play in talks between Ukraine and Russia one day – this after the president of Brazil, which has not imposed sanctions on Russia, nor sent ammunition to Kyiv, called for a negotiated settlement. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited Portugal as part of a European diplomatic tour. Cravinho also talks about EU and NATO support to Ukraine, as well as Portugal’s relations with China in the light of how Lisbon approaches the questions of both Macau and Taiwan.

The fallout continues from Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about China and the US. On his way back from a state visit to China, the French president said that Europe should not be a “follower” of either Washington or Beijing, or get caught up in any escalation. Despite the resulting backlash on both sides of the Atlantic, he stood by the comments, saying on a later trip to the Netherlands that being a US ally doesn’t mean being a “vassal”.

A report by the New Economics Foundation looks into the challenge of reconciling the European Green Deal with the bloc’s fiscal rules.

As online violence targeting women continues to rise, artificial intelligence is set to take trolling to a whole new level. So will the European Union’s new Digital Services Act make tech platforms a safe place for women? Annette Young talks to Asha Allen from the Centre for Democracy and Technology. Also members of Uganda’s lesbian community bravely speak out as the Ugandan parliament passes sweeping anti-gay legislation that criminalises anybody identifying as LGBTQ+. This as the country’s president urges politicians to reconsider the bill.

Pope Francis, starting a trip to Hungary, on Friday pointedly warned of the dangers of rising nationalism in Europe and told the Budapest government that accepting migrants along with the rest of the continent would be a true sign of Christianity.

An OECD report released on Tuesday described workers as receiving a double blow to their livelihoods.

Britain’s High Court ruled Thursday that part of a strike by thousands of nurses planned for next week is illegal, handing a small victory to the government in its bitter dispute with public sector unions.

Spain’s national weather service said temperatures would “reach values typical of summer” across most of the country, with a high of 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) forecast Thursday for the southern Guadalquivir Valley.

S&D Leader Iratxe Garc?a said EPP Chair Manfred Weber was “making a fool of himself” after Weber attacked the European Commission’s partiality.

The new system aims to make medicines more affordable and available for citizens across the bloc but the sector is criticising key measures.

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday a series of legislative proposals to reform the EU’s fiscal rules.

The bodies of 11 people, (including a child) have washed up on the shores of Libya -after their boat sank while they were trying to cross the Mediterranean. At least four people were able to swim to safety. FRANCE 24’s James Mulholland tells us more.

In Spain, scorching temperatures are set to break records for April. A week of unprecedented heat’s on the way bringing with it concerns over the country’s water reserves and warnings of wildfires. FRANCE 24’s Charlotte Hughes tells us more.

In an interview with Euronews, Emily O’Reilly said citizens were “almost predestined” to distrust the EU institutions.

The new law will mean greater investments in new technologies, as well as industries that contaminate wastewater having to pay-to-pollute.

Tech companies with over 45 million active monthly users are considered “very large” by the European Commission and have to respect certain privacy and transparency obligations.