News archive
Single EU patent court 'will increase costs for SMEs'
The planned creation of a single European patent court could make the enforcement of intellectual property rights more difficult and more costly for businesses, conclude a committee of British MPs
UK defence secretary to back German military reform
The UK's defence secretary Philip Hammond is to urge Germany to reform its armed forces and take part in more international operations, it has been reported
Europe urged to focus on jobs as unemployment rises
Europe's political leaders face growing calls to switch their focus from austerity-only policies to structural reforms and job creation as unemployment continues to rise
GM debate in Europe based on 'emotion, not evidence'
Genetically modified crops and animals could help Europe lead the way when it comes to tackling global issues like food security - claims new EU chief scientist
EU leaders threaten Euro 2012 boycott over Tymoshenko
Ukraine's co-hosting of Euro 2012 has threatened to descend into a diplomatic knockabout after European leaders warned they might boycott the event in protest at the treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko
EU chiefs criticised over €12m private jet deal
The European Commission has come under fire after signing a contract worth up to €12m for private jets for its leading officials
Too much EU aid goes to 'richer' nations, say MPs
Not enough of the European Union's development aid reaches the poorest people in the world, according to British members of parliament
Spain hit by downgrade as unemployment soars
The economic crisis in Spain deepens as a credit rating downgrade by S&P is followed by another rise in unemployment and falling retail sales
Guy Verhofstadt in interview - we need 'radical' pro-EU movement
The man tipped to be the next president of the European Commission talks exclusively to Dean Carroll about his ambitions for a truly federal Europe and a more proactive EU foreign policy
'Extraordinary' solutions possible in Tymoshenko case
A senior Ukrainian politician suggests the country's dispute with the EU over Yulia Tymoshenko's imprisonment might be resolved in order to finalise an association agreement, writes Francesco Guarascio
Europe sees rise in 'lone wolf' terror attacks
The number of terrorist attacks in Europe fell last year but there was a trend towards plots by solo actors such as Anders Breivik, according to Europol's annual report
EU refers Hungary to court but clears way for aid talks
The European Commission has cleared the path for aid talks with Hungary after accepting assurances on the independence of its central bank, but referred the country to the EU's top court in two other cases
UK back in recession, official figures show
The UK is back in recession, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, which showed that the economy contracted by 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2012
EU lifts Burma sanctions but tightens noose on Syria
The European Union has lifted all of its sanctions on Burma, except for an arms embargo, following "historic" reforms –but restrictions on the Syrian regime have been tightened
Debt continues to rise in EU even as deficits fall
The ratio of public debt to gross domestic product in the European Union and the eurozone rose last year despite member states bringing down their deficits, according to Eurostat