Euobserver.com

Catalonia celebrated on Wednesday its national day - while awaiting the trial verdict on 12 Catalan separatists, former politicians of Carles Puigdemont's government. That decision is expected for early October.

A Scottish court has ruled that prime minister Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament was "unlawful". The case was brought by campaigners, backed by 75 MPs and peers from the House of Lords. Johnson prorogued parliament this week, until 14 October. Labour's Brexit spokesman, Kier Starmer, said the PM should immediately recall parliament. Downing Street said it was "disappointed" and would appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

The EU-backed idea of a Palestinian state will be impossible if Israel fulfils its latest boast to annex parts of the West Bank, Arab countries have warned.

Three central European commission nominees can expect to feel the heat from MEPs later this month, with the Hungarian candidate emerging as the most controversial.

Paradoxically, the lack of popularity may be part of the strength of the European project. Citizens may not be super-enthusiastic about the EU, but when emotions run too high in politics, hotheads may take over.

A cross-party group of British MPs is in the making to bring back one of the Brexit deal proposals of Theresa May, and of organising a second referendum in the last two weeks of October, according to the Guardian. Not only members of the opposition, but also current and former Conservatives would be open to the idea, amidst worries that PM Boris Johnson is still backing a no-deal Brexit.

The EU's defence union project is to get its own offices and staff in Brussels, von der Leyen has said, but prospects of a joint armed forces remain dim.

The European Commission on Tuesday told EUobserver that "it stands ready to consider supporting" a plan to evacuate refugees and migrants stuck in Libya to Rwanda. The plan was put together between the African Union, Rwanda, and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). An initial batch of 500 people is soon set to be evacuated. The transfer scheme is similar to one previously set up for Niger.

The European Court of Justice has annulled a decision from the European Commission to give Russian gas company Gazprom privileged access to the North Stream 2 pipeline. Poland filed the case arguing that this pipeline bypasses central and eastern Europe and could endanger its gas supply. The EU commission had opened up 50 percent extra space for gas to pass by the pipeline, granting Gazprom the existing other half.

European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday told reporters in Brussels that Turkey has not made any progress towards possible future membership of the European Union. "As regards Turkey, I have not seen this progress in the last years. On the contrary...Turkey needs to show that it wants to be closer to European values, to European rules, the rule of law, liberty and fundamental values," she said.

The recorded transcripts of Jamal Khashoggi's final words before the journalist was killed by Saudi agents have been published by Turkey's Sabah newspaper. Khashoggi, who wrote a column for the Washington Post, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018. After the murder, EUobserver revealed the Saudis were paying the College of Europe to lobby EU officials and MEPs as part of a rebranding exercise.

Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte said during a parliamentary debate that his government wants to reform Europe's budget rules in order to help economic recovery, Reuters reported. "We want to review the stability and growth pact so that EU rules help growth and sustainable development in Italy and the whole of Europe," Conte explained. The PM earlier said Italy will stop its anti-EU populism, a trademark of the former government.

EU Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced that Frans Timmermans will coordinate the European 'Green Deal' and climate action policies.

The new EU commission president unveiled her team that includes three executive vice-presidents and eight vice-presidents. She promises a commission that will listen and provides answers.

The upcoming European Commission has shuffled migration policy into a euphemistic new "Protecting our European Way of Life" European commissioner portfolio, headed by former spokesman Margartis Schinas. Some MEPs are not happy.

EU commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled her new team and their portfolios for the next college of European commissioners.

The Nordic region will become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

EU Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said that there will be a new directorate created in the commission focusing on the defence industry and space. France's Sylvie Goulard will be in charge of the internal market, but will also be responsible for industrial policy, promoting the digital single market, and the defence industry, von der Leyen announced, adding: "EU will never be a military alliance."

Margaritis Schinas, the former EU Commission chief spokesperson, will become the new European commissioner for "Protecting our Way of European Life". Migration will be among the issues he will have to handle.

Hungary, whose government has been taken to court over its domestic judicial measures in recent years by the commission, will get the enlargement portfolio in the new EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen. Laszlo Trocsanyi is nominated for the position. As Hungary's former justice minister, his mandate oversaw controversial legal measures challenged by the previous commission for breaking EU rules.