the EU

Puigdemont accuses EU of not defending rights in Catalonia

london - Emirates voice

Catalonia’s sacked president Carles Puigdemont on Monday repeated accusations that the European Union is failing to defend fundamental rights in the wealthy Spanish region. During his first foreign visit since leaving Spain to live in voluntary exile in Brussels on 30 October, Puigdemont told students at the University of Copenhagen the EU showed “failures” in the face of crises both inside and outside itsRead more

EU removes eight countries from tax haven list

Brussels - Emiratesvoice

The EU on Tuesday removed eight countries including Panama and South Korea from its new tax haven blacklist, a European source said, a move that has drawn criticism from activists. The United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Mongolia, Macau, Grenada and Barbados were also lifted, in a change of mind that comes just weeks after the bloc unveiled its original list ofRead more

Europe brings on charm and blue skies

VENICE - Emiratesvoice

Chinese tourists are big spenders and with the numbers visiting Europe set to soar by nearly 70 per cent over the next five years, the countries of the Old Continent are rolling out the red carpet to make the guests feel welcome. A total 12.4 million Chinese, mostly in guided tour groups, came to Europe in 2017, according to theRead more

Dutch shocked by call to ban EU electric pulse fishing

Netherlands - Emiratesvoice

The black clouds hanging over the boats in Dutch ports on Friday (Jan 19) were not the remnants of wild winter gales, but harbingers of another devastating storm brewing for Dutch fishermen. On Tuesday, the European Parliament struck what may prove to be the death knell for some of the Dutch fishing fleet by demanding a ban on electric pulseRead more

Brexit special trade agreement possible

LONDON - Emiratesvoice

French President Emmanuel Macron said a special post-Brexit trade agreement between Britain and the EU was certainly possible but would not involve full access to the single market, in a BBC interview to be screened Sunday. Macron, who met British Prime Minister Theresa May for talks on Thursday, said there could not be complete single market access without fully signingRead more

EU clears Qualcomm megabuyout of semiconductor rival NXP

london - Emiratesvoice

The EU's anti-trust authority on Thursday approved US semiconductor maker Qualcomm's $47-billion purchase of Dutch rival NXP, the biggest ever in the sector.The European Commission said it had given the go-ahead to the transaction after an "in-depth investigation", but subject to conditions. The deal announced is aimed at extending Qualcomm's dominance in powering smartphones and extending its footprint into theRead more

EU agrees to sanctions against Venezuelan officials

Brussels - Emiratesvoice

The EU agreed to add Venezuelan officials to its sanctions blacklist on Thursday, European sources said, the first time the bloc has targeted individual members of President Nicolas Maduro's embattled regime. Seven individuals have been blacklisted according to diplomats, making them subject to asset freezes and travel bans.Read more

EU to remove Panama, seven others from tax haven blacklist

Brussels - Emiratesvoice

The EU will remove Panama, South Korea and six other countries from its recently unveiled EU tax blacklist at a meeting of finance ministers next week, a European Union official said on Tuesday. "Barring a major surprise, EU finance ministers should remove eight countries from the blacklist of tax havens," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.Read more

No Brexit deal would cost Scotland £12.7bn: study

Edinburgh - Emiratesvoice

Scotland's economy would shrink by 8.5 percent if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon warned Monday as she pushed for Britain to stay in the European single market. "There is no option short of EU membership that is as good as being in the EU," First Minister Sturgeon said as she presented an analysis ofRead more

Jiri Drahos, the singing scientist running

Abu Dhabi. - Emirates Voice

Jiri Drahos, a Czech presidential candidate who will face-off against pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman in a run-off in 15 days, is a pro-European scientist with a life-long passion for music. The chemist and former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences won 26.58 percent in the first round of the presidential election on Friday and Saturday, against Zeman's 38.6 percent. Drahos hasRead more