News archive

One year to save the EU, claim federalists on Europe Day
The failure of political leaders to get to grips with the economic crisis has allowed nationalist forces to gain the ascendency and threaten the European Union's existence, a group promoting a federalist vision of the bloc's future has argues

EU looks to strengthen freedom of movement
The European Commission puts forward a series of measures that it says will 'reinforce' people's fundamental rights, with the focus making it easier to live and work in other EU member states

Why no women on British banknotes except the Queen?
The governor of the Bank of England has announced that the only female face on British banknotes, apart from the Queen, is to be replaced by a man – which cannot be right, argues Mary Honeyball

Claims Chinese firms destroying European industry by 'dumping'
It is 'too late' to protect European industry from Asia's economic might, writes Justin Stares after listening to allegations of solar panel dumping levelled at China

Europe's prisons at breaking point due to overcrowding
Rising costs, overcrowded cells and limited use of non-custodial measures mean penal institutions are struggling to cope with the pressure on resources at a time of austerity – the Council of Europe has warned

Recovery 'too slow' to reduce unemployment
The European Commission today lowered its expectations for the eurozone economy and produced dramatic figures revealing the damage done to Cyprus in the wake of its international bail-out

Eurosceptic UKIP makes election gains across Britain
Eurosceptic UKIP made significant gains at the ballot box in Britain last night, coming second in a parliamentary by-election and securing a number of seats on local councils

ECB implements 'inevitable' interest rate cut
The ECB cuts interest rates to a new record low in a move described as 'inevitable' by one analyst on the back of data highlighting the fragility of the eurozone economy

Economic crisis hits press freedom in Europe
The economic crisis in the EU saw the development of an 'increasingly hostile' environment for journalists in Greece and led to a wider sense that the media could not fulfil its vital role in holding authority to account, a report says

Costly 'Star Wars' defence programme needs a rethink
The risk of wasting large sums of money at a time of savage defence cuts should help US senators to reassess their views on missile defence and Europeans must influence the debate - writes Clara Marina O'Donnell

Tymoshenko detention 'arbitrary' says European court
MEPs call for the immediate release from prison of Ukraine's opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko after judges rule that her pre-trial detention was 'arbitrary' and unlawful

Barroso's EU legacy is one of failure and bullying small states
José Manuel Barroso's administration is arguably a bully among small member states and a wallflower among the big boys, writes Justin Stares as he assesses the European Commission president's last two mandates

Entrepreneurs in Europe need a rebrand
Many professionals in Europe look down on entrepreneurialism because they feel it is an American phenomenon but new businesses drives economic growth – writes Zilvinas Silenas

EU to ban pesticides linked to bee decline
The European Commission will go ahead with restrictions on insecticides linked to declining bee populations after member states were unable to reach a qualified majority decision

Eurosceptic parties win Iceland election
Iceland's bid for EU membership has been thrown into doubt after parties opposed to entry won Saturday's parliamentary elections