European Union

The Syrian regime and Russia have carried out intense airstrikes against the last major rebel stronghold in the province of Idlib. The UN has warned that the operation could result in a humanitarian catastrophe in view of the roughly three million civilians living in the province. Commentators explain the interests of Assad, Russia, Europe and Turkey in what looks set to be the last battle in the war.

The EU Parliament will once again debate a reform aimed at bringing copyright into line with the Internet era on Wednesday. Under the reform instead of the controversial upload filters licences would be introduced for certain content, which platforms like Google News would have to purchase before posting the content online. Commentators' reactions to the reform initiative are for the most part positive.

As discussion continues about a possible territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has visited northern Kosovo. During his visit to this area which is mainly inhabited by Serbs he said he opposed any change to the current borders and rejected the idea that Serbia could soon recognise Kosovo. What does this mean for the outcome of the conflict?

As France changes environment minister, we must collectively admit that a very poor job has been done with Europe's Clean Energy Package, writes Yamina Saheb.

The Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the European liberals and democrats (ALDE), confirmed in an interview with our partner Ouest-France that he will be campaigning with French President Emmanuel Macron at the European elections in May 2019. The common movement will be launched in October.  

Written by Etienne Bassot and Wolfgang Hiller,

© European Union, 2018; EP – Daina Le Lardic

As the current European Commission enters the final stage of its mandate and with less than nine months to go until the European Parliament elections in May 2019, the immediate period ahead will be crucial for Jean-Claude Juncker and his fellow Commissioners in delivering on the promises and commitments for his five-year term.

What is the state of play of the various legislative and other initiatives announced by the Commission since taking office in 2014? How many of the commitments made have led to formal proposals so far? And how many of those proposals – whether in the form of legislation, other major political initiatives, or international agreements – have been brought to fruition, demonstrating that the EU institutions have collectively ‘delivered’?

This paper takes stock of what the Commission has done – or not done – both with regard to its own commitments and in response to explicit requests for action made by the European Parliament, with both a statistical breakdown and a qualitative evaluation. It forms part of the on-going series of evaluations being issued throughout the 2014-2019 Commission’s period in office.

Our analysis suggests that overall, almost four years after taking office, the Commission has tabled 89 per cent of proposals foreseen (482 out of 543). These have to be discussed by the European Parliament and Council, and negotiations are needed to reach their final adoption and publication, a democratic process which takes time. So far, 40 per cent of Commission proposals have been adopted by the co-legislators (216 out of 543), and another 34 per cent are proceeding well (183 out of 543). Progress varies from one policy field to another. With regard to the tabling of proposals, the rate is high in areas such as international trade, justice and fundamental rights, and the union of democratic change (98, 93 and 100 per cent respectively). However, in the areas of jobs, growth and investment, almost a quarter of the proposals expected (23 per cent) have still not been submitted. As for adoption of proposals by the co-legislators, in some priority areas, such as the digital single market, and justice and fundamental rights, almost half of the proposals submitted have been adopted (46 and 42 per cent respectively); in others, such as jobs, growth and investment, progress is slower (28 per cent). Overall, evidence nevertheless suggests that, step by step, the European institutions are collectively enacting the ‘Juncker plan’, but that work still remains to be done. European institutions are aware that, with less than nine months to go until the next parliamentary elections, they need to show that Europe can deliver for its citizens when and where it matters.

This paper seeks to provide an independent, objective and authoritative tool for Members of the European Parliament and those interested more widely to assess the performance to date of the current Commission. It is both exhaustive – in covering all the ten priority areas that the Commission set itself – and selective – as it focuses, for each priority, on the main initiatives and their latest developments. It aims to be both quantitative and qualitative: for each of the ten priorities, it offers a quantitative snapshot of the various initiatives at the key stages of their adoption, complemented by a qualitative assessment of the situation. These graphs are regularly updated on the ‘Legislative Train Schedule‘ which features on the European Parliament’s website.

In this edition, Section 3 introduces a special feature on the next multiannual budget plan, which it is hoped can be adopted during the course of this parliamentary term.

Read the full study on ‘The Juncker Commission’s ten priorities: State of play in autumn 2018‘.

The Juncker Commission’s ten priorities: Legislative delivery to date (01 August 2018)

German chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Macedonian people to "seize" the chance to vote in a referendum on a name depute with Greece later this month. "This is a historic chance that a generation has only once. Don't stay at home: seize the democratic opportunity," she said in Skopje Saturday. Adoption of the new name, "Northern Macedonia', could unlock the Balkan country's EU and Nato bids.

Minutes published Friday show that the group leaders want the European Parliament to have another look at how to reform the controversial office expenses system.

Liberal MEPs want to form an anti-nationalist "movement" with French leader Emmanuel Macron to contest the far right in next year's EU election.

The EU has urged activists in Kosovo to let Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic visit the ethnic-Serb town of Banje in north Kosovo after former guerrilla fighters blocked him over the weekend. "We urge those responsible to ... secure the safe passage," EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said on Sunday. "Full commitment to peace and security ... are the things we need now," she said, amid talks on a Kosovo-Serbia land-swap deal.