Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called Monday (9 September) for the reform of European Union budget rules and cooperation on immigration as his new government won a parliamentary confidence vote. After a heated debate, 343 MPs backed the incoming coalition of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and centre-left Democratic Party, while 263 voted against, according to the official count. Much of Conte’s first speech to parliament earlier in the day was dedicated to chiding the previous populist coalition for endless bickering, and promising the new government would be better behaved….
Read MoreDay: September 10, 2019
Estonia loses its place in the outgoing commission of Junker
Estonia has decided not to retain a European Commissioner for the rest of the current EU executive’s mandate, instead allowing nominee Kadri Simson to prepare for her duties under President-elect Ursula von der Leyen. Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas announced on Monday (9 September) that his country will make do with no representation in Jean-Claude Juncker’s outgoing Commission, which ends its mandate on 31 October. Ratas had initially proposed former economy minister Kadri Simson for the interim role, following Andrus Ansip’s decision to up sticks from the Berlaymont and serve…
Read MoreSearching for Digital Freedom in a Populous World
As the EU enters new and uncharted waters in the digital world, a number of pressing questions emerge as to how the bloc can distinguish itself in a highly competitive marketplace. With input from high-level political officials, industry leaders and key stakeholders, this special report examines the ways in which Europe is working towards establishing a leading role in the technologies of tomorrow, including 5G and cloud infrastructure. Nevertheless, on the crest of good intentions, Europe also faces a myriad of challenges. Such include ensuring that cybersecurity standards meet trust…
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