European Union

Die ganze Nacht über tagten die 28 Staats- und Regierungschefs in Brüssel, am Morgen vermeldeten Medien eine Einigung: Bootsflüchtlinge sollen künftig in Aufnahmelagern in der EU gesammelt und von dort aus in Staaten verteilt werden, die freiwillig mitmachen. Gleichzeitig sollen auch in Nordafrika Flüchtlingslager entstehen. Ist das der Durchbruch im EU-weiten Streit um Abschottung oder Flüchtlingsaufnahme?

Die Visegrád-Staaten, Österreich, Italien: In immer mehr Ländern Europas sind Regierungen am Ruder, die auf die Souveränität der Nationalstaaten und auf Abschottung in der Migrationsfrage drängen. Diesen Trend sehen Kommentatoren mit Besorgnis, suchen nach Ursachen und machen Vorschläge, wie man ihn umkehren könnte.

Nach Überfällen auf Roma-Camps in mehreren ukrainischen Städten ist nun ein 24-jähriger Rom ungarischer Herkunft von mutmaßlichen Neonazis erstochen worden. Vier weitere Roma, darunter ein zehnjähriger Junge, wurden verletzt. Sieben Tatverdächtige sitzen in Untersuchungshaft. Kommentatoren erwarten eine Reaktion von den ukrainischen und den ungarischen Behörden.

In Brussels EU heads of state and government are discussing budget politics, border controls and other future questions for the Union. Journalists are taking the opportunity to sketch out their visions for a truly reformed and citizen-friendly EU.

US leader Donald Trump asked French president Emmanuel Macron "Why don't you leave the EU?" when the two men met in Washington in April, according to a report in the Washington Post. He also offered Macron a bilateral trade deal as an incentive to quit the union, the US daily said, citing two EU officials as sources. The White House declined to deny or corroborate the account.

Macedonia will be invited to join Nato at its summit in July and should complete formalities, including ratification by all 29 current Nato members, between one year and two years later, Nato head Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels with Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev on Friday. Stoltenberg said Skopje's "historic opportunity" depended on Macedonian and Greek people agreeing to Macedonia's new name in referendums in autumn.

EU leaders pledged in Brussels on Thursday to intensify efforts to strengthen military cooperation within the bloc and reduce its reliance on the United States, amid growing doubts over the continued US involvement in transatlantic security.

Does the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have the competence to redefine marriage for all EU citizens? On 5 June, the EU’s highest court has claimed that it does, argues Adina Portaru.

EU leaders will continue their meeting in Brussels on Friday at 11am, two hours later than scheduled, after a long overnight debate on migration. The leaders, without UK prime minister Theresa May, will first discuss the progress of Brexit talks. Then they will discuss the eurozone, specifically the banking union and the future of bailout fund the European Stability Mechanism, and whether to transform it to a monetary fund.

EU leaders quietly agreed to roll over economic sanctions on Russia for another six months in the small hours of Friday at a summit in Brussels. The decision came despite qualms voiced by the new government in Italy, an EU source told EUobserver, but "almost none" other EU states argued against the move, the source said. The sanctions were imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ongoing ceasefire violations there.