European Council related content 

EU leaders to discuss tax issues today, with Ireland under pressure over its tax rates. European Union leaders meeting this afternoon (22 May) in Brussels will discuss tax...

A round-up of international press on Monday, 20 May. France and Germany are too divided to issue, as had been planned, a joint discussion paper on economic policy...

Compromise expected on single supervisor plans. Members of the European Parliament will next week (20-23 May) debate the launch of free-trade talks with the US and adopt a...

Euroscepticism grows in Cameron's own party. David Cameron, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, is struggling to defend his policy on the UK's membership of the...

Calls to extend scope of savings tax directive. The failure of finance ministers to reach a deal on tax evasion at their meeting on Tuesday (14 May) means that the issue is...

Staff unions at the Council of Ministers are struggling to get across to national governments the message that they are downtrodden and oppressed. Wanting to intensify their...

Results leave Bulgaria facing prospect of a coalition government with no majority in parliament Bulgaria faces a period of prolonged instability after snap elections on...

Optimism is in short supply in the EU and the Italians are particularly struggling to stay positive A seat inside the Brussels beltway is not necessarily the best location...

Even Herman Van Rompuy could not have access to the EU institutions on the May 1 Bank Holiday. When Enrico Letta came to Brussels last week, making his first trip abroad as...

Two sides are intensifying negotiations on the 2013 budget, regarded as a precondition for talks on the longer-term budget. The European Union's member states and the...

Italy's new prime minister calls for a shift to stimulus on his first trip abroad. Enrico Letta, Italy's new prime minister, has called on fellow European Union leaders to...

Enrico Letta needs to earn his place at the EU's top table. Italy has a government, at least for the moment. The rest of the European Union can take some comfort from the...

Enrico Letta to meet EU leaders in Brussels Enrico Letta, Italy's new centre-left prime minister, is expected to ask for more time to meet the European Union's fiscal...

‘Grand coalition' with strong European credentials ends two months of uncertainty. Enrico Letta, Italy's new centre-left prime minister, has appointed Emma Bonino, a...

Maltese paper publishes OLAF report into Dalli resignation. The full report of the investigation by the European Union's anti-fraud agency OLAF which resulted in the forced...

Contracts would set economic targets for member states. Industry ministers meeting in Dublin on 2-3 May are to discuss a proposal for legally binding contracts setting out...

Europe's malaise has striking similarities to the Great Depression Charles P. Kindleberger, the great economic historian, once noted that the Great Depression was so deep and...

Consumer-protection portfolio earmarked for Croatia's former EU affairs minister. Neven Mimica was today designated as Croatia's first European commissioner by José...

Proposal realises “worst fears” of staff unions. The retirement age of European Union officials should be raised to 67, staff contributions to the EU pension scheme...

Foreign ministers will also discuss Mali and the Eastern partnership. The European Union's foreign ministers will next week (22-23 April) end most sanctions against Myanmar...