Heard in Europe

Stanishev likely to get 2nd term

February 26, 2015

Incumbent PES President has no competitor, and is likely to be reelected as President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) later this year. Stanishev, a former Bulgarian Prime minister (2005-2009), was elected to the post in 2012, but had taken the job already in 2011 when his predecessor, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, stepped down on… » read more

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Development Policy, Member States, Bulgaria

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Speedy Moscovici

February 25, 2015

Why the rush to make announcements on imbalances within the stability and growth pact today? The press conference originally planned for the beginning of next week slipped into hacks’ inboxes marked urgent on Wednesday afternoon (25 February). “The College [of Commissioners] spent so much time discussing the issue and a decision had been made so… » read more

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Uncategorized

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Circular Economy package officially dead

The College of Commissioners today (25 February) adopted the executive’s 2015 work programme at their meeting in Brussels, signalling the end of the Circular Economy package of waste, incineration and recycling laws. The package will be withdrawn and resubmitted later this year, despite protests from the European Parliament and EU environment ministers. Although long-expected, the… » read more

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Energy, European Commission

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Betting on Brexit

February 23, 2015

Think the UK is leaving the EU? Wanna bet? Well, from Thursday, you can. Ladbrokes will start taking bets on the UK leaving the EU, giving Eurosceptics and Europhiles alike the chance to put their money where their mouth is. The company is already taking bets on the date of the referendum. The current favourite,… » read more

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UK in Europe

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EU renewables shortfall to be put out to tender?

February 16, 2015

How can you make sure you hit an EU-wide binding target for renewable energy, if you don’t have binding targets at the national level? It’s a problem Commission officials have struggled with since the 2030 climate and energy targets were agreed by EU leaders last October. Heard in Europe hears tell that one renewable energy… » read more

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Climate & Environment, Energy

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Spokes watching the wheels go round

February 12, 2015

Since Juncker came to power, the whole European Commission has been a hive of activity. Well not the whole Commission, according to whispers that have wound their way to Heard in Europe. A number of former spokespeople have found themselves somewhat at a loose end since the transition. Not all “spokes” got a plum reassignment… » read more

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EU Elections 2014, Press, Uncategorized

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Parliament hands hotels a boost in business

February 10, 2015

Brussels hotels are set for a boost in business after the European Parliament suspended a swathe of events for security reasons. Events for external visitors held in the Parliament by individual MEPs are banned as of this week. Only receptions and other meetings hosted by the conference of presidents, the bureau, the quaestors, the committees,… » read more

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Charlie Hebdo, Terrorism

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Heard in Europe

EurActiv's newsroom blogs on the talk of the town in Brussels, European capitals and across the EU

We're at the beginning of a new calendar year, but also a new legislative period, with new political teams in the European Commission and Parliament. In the final months of 2014, we heard policymakers saying that ‘it’s now or never’, in order to restore trust and confidence in the EU, which has suffered heavy blows from the ongoing economic-political crisis.

We have a small window of opportunity ahead of 2017, when both France and Germany will go to the polls, and the UK is expected to hold a referendum on its membership in the EU. Now or never is the time to make policymakers accountable for the choices they make. Now or never, responsibility and leadership will take centre-stage.

EurActiv has decided to put some  meat on the dry bones of EU politics and show a different face of Europe. Our editors and journalists in Brussels, and 12 European capitals, will report on what they hear through the grapevine.

NOW OR NEVER … we hope you feel the same. We’d love to hear from you heardineurope@euractiv.com

Daniela Vincenti, EurActiv.com editor-in-chief