European Union

Liviu Dragnea, head of Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) and of the Chamber of Deputies, is refusing to step down despite having been sentenced last week in the first instance for abuse of power. Thousands once again took to the streets in protest against the dismantling of the rule of law in Romania. But commentators doubt that the public outcry will make any difference - particularly as the EU is remaining silent.

Committee and political group meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Court of Auditors says in critical report that Europe does not have a high-speed rail 'network', "only a patchwork of national high-speed lines, planned and built by the member states in isolation".

Paulo Rangel meets Brian Maguire over a coffee to talk about reshaping the Eurozone, and how the lessons of the economic crisis are driving a serious reform agenda, designed to protect Europe from future melt-downs.

MEPs and MPs from ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries call for closer cooperation to tackle counterfeit products in their future cooperation agreement. EURACTIV.fr reports.

France.com v EUIPO - France (FRANCE.com)
Intellectual and industrial property
The sign ‘france.com’ cannot be registered as an EU trade mark

MB
SOPO
A person who has changed gender cannot be required to annul the marriage which he or she entered into before that change of gender in order to be entitled to receive a retirement pension at the age provided for persons of the sex which he or she has acquired

For Andrej Babis, a businessman turned politician, EU membership is a matter of conviction as much as of economic opportunities, in a country still looking for a purpose.

The speaker of Corsica's regional parliament, Jean-Guy Talamoni, said Monday that the French island was ready to open its port to the Lifeline, the boat of German NGO Mission Lifeline with some 230 migrants on board. Italy and Malta have refused to let the boat dock on their territory, as has Spain, which accepted the Aquarius, another boat, earlier this month.

US motorbike maker Harley Davidson announced on Monday it would move part of its production outside the US, citing EU tariffs as a reason. New taxes on Harley Davidson are part of the EU's "counter-balancing" measures taken in reaction to tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imposed by US president Donald Trump. In a tweet, Trump said he was "surprised" by Harley Davison's decision, which he called a "white flag".

Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday that he wanted "reception centres situated at the southern border of Libya to prevent Tripoli becoming a bottleneck." In a visit to Libya's capital Tripoli, he argued that migrant centres in Italy would be "a problem for Italy and for Libya itself because the death fluxes would not stop." However Libyan deputy premier Ahmed Maiteeq said the idea was against Libyan law.

The European Banking Authority warned Monday that UK financial institutions' preparations for Brexit were "inadequate" for a no-deal scenario. It said in a report that "there remains a material possibility" that negotiations between the UK and the EU end with no agreement, and that the transition period following the UK's exit "does not provide legal certainty". It said financial institutions should do more to identity the risks.

It is our hope, that the rising of a reformed new Ukraine will demonstrate to Russia that 19th century aggression will not be tolerated nor prove itself worthwhile in our 21st century Europe, write Denmark and Ukraine's prime ministers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday (26 June) celebrated winning sweeping new powers in a decisive election victory, as his main rival accepted the outcome despite complaints over an unequal campaign that alarmed the EU.

The eighth meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at Ministerial level was held today in Luxembourg to open negotiations on Chapter 13 - Fisheries and Chapter 33 - Financial and budgetary provisions.

A group of European countries known as the “Green Growth Group” have called on the European Commission to update the EU’s pledge at the United Nation’s next annual climate meeting in December this year, and chart a pathway consistent with a 1.5°C global warming scenario by 2050.

An overwhelming majority of member states have voiced support for stricter EU rules on drinking water, saying the same level of safety should apply to products coming in contact with water as for those coming in contact with food.