News - European Union

06/03/2013 - INTERNET

EU fines Microsoft over web browser options

The EU on Wednesday fined computer giant Microsoft €561 million for failing to honour a promise that it would provide customers with a choice of web browsers, the first time Brussels has sanctioned a company for not living up to past commitments.

02/03/2013 - TALKING EUROPE

General Patrick de Rousiers, Chairman, EU Military Committee

The EU’s most senior military official says he wants signals from political leaders that there is a will to invest in European defence. General Patrick de Rousiers, who chairs the EU Military Committee, dissects budget cuts and ponders how nations can still pool resources effectively. De Rousiers also gives us his take on security threats in Mali and Syria.

27/02/2013 - THE INTERVIEW

Matthew Levitt, Former Counter-Terrorism Official at the FBI and US Treasury Department

Lebanon’s Hezbollah party is making headlines as the EU mulls whether to add the group to its list of terrorist entities. This comes after Bulgaria pointed the finger at Hezbollah for a bombing that killed 5 Israelis there last summer. For more on this issue, Marc Perelman speaks to Matthew Levitt, a former counterterrorism official with the FBI and US Treasury Department and an expert on Hezbollah.

27/02/2013 - IN THE FRENCH PAPERS

'Crisis in Italy, malaise in Europe'

FRENCH PAPERS, Weds. 27/02/13: French papers largely focus on the Italian election and how Europe is reacting. La Croix says the result sends a message to Italian politicians to clean up their act and is a warning for austerity-driven Brussels. Le Figaro takes a closer look at Egyptian tourism after the fatal hot air balloon accident. And Libération profiles a steamy kiss-and-tell about former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

21/02/2013 - THE INTERVIEW

Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid

Kristalina Georgieva, who has recently come back from Mali, speaks to Marc Perelman about the need to stabilise the country’s food security situation. Already struggling to cope with several droughts, Malians now face political instability, ethnic tensions and a continuing Islamist threat that have worsened the food crisis.

20/02/2013 - THE INTERVIEW

Tonio Borg, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy

How should the EU fight food fraud? In the light of the horsemeat scandal, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer policy Tonio Borg outlines ways to improve monitoring. But he stresses that it's up to member states to put the legal screws on cheats.

19/02/2013 - SWITZERLAND

Nestlé pulls beef meals after finding horsemeat traces

Food giant Nestlé withdrew beef pasta meals from sale in Spain and Italy on Monday after they tested positive for horse DNA. The Europe-wide scandal has forced several food companies to pull products amid consumer anger and accusations of fraud.

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25/02/2013 - EUROPEAN UNION

EU amends Syria arms sanctions to protect citizens

EU governments on Monday agreed to extend sanctions against Syria for another three months but plan to alter an arms embargo to allow more non-lethal aid and technical assistance into the country.

18/02/2013 - FRANCE

France reinstates licence for firm in horsemeat scandal

France has partially reinstated the operating licence for Spanghero, the French meat-processing firm accused of knowingly labelling horsemeat as beef, after its licence to process meat was suspended last week.

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18/02/2013 - INTERNET

EU agencies to sanction Google over privacy violations

EU data-protection agencies will take action against internet giant Google after it failed to comply with EU privacy laws, France's CNIL organistaion said on Monday. European agencies warned Google in October to comply or face legal action.

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European Union

‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government