Eszter Zalan
EUobserver
Belgium
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Past articles by Eszter:
Consumer bills and creeping war top EU citizens' fears, finds survey
Even those EU citizens who have not encountered a lot of difficulties are worried about the cost of living (91 percent), with 96 percent of those who deal with difficulties most of the time worried too. → Read More
Forecasting and profiling, or bias and discrimination?
A showdown is likely among MEPs and governments over the EU Commission's proposal on Artificial Intelligence and fundamental rights. The legislation, likely to be agreed next year, will be key in fighting discrimination in the virtual and real world. → Read More
Moldova hit by spillover of Russia's war
Last week, the EU pledged €250m to help Moldova tackle the energy crisis consisting of €100m in loans, another €100m in grants, and €50m directed to help the most vulnerable citizens. → Read More
EU leaders urge for stability in the UK 'as soon as possible'
Some see the UK's turmoil as a result of Brexit. The UK and the EU are still locked in negotiations after London, under Truss' leadership, planned to upend existing agreements on post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland. → Read More
Bosnia recommended for EU candidacy, but Serbia warned
The EU, in June, already granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and to Georgia with conditions — with the Russian aggression speeding up the accession process. → Read More
Hungary 'no longer a full democracy', MEPs set to declare
The European Parliament is the first EU institution expected to say that one of the 27 EU members is not a fully-fledged democracy. But that has little consequence for Hungary — more to the EU. → Read More
Former Czech PM Babiš goes on trial for misuse of EU funds
Andrej Babiš denies wrongdoing and argues the process is politically-motivated ahead of the presidential election — in which he is expected to run for the (largely ceremonial) position. → Read More
Almost 10m people left Ukraine as Russia eyes more gains
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow will consolidate its territorial gains in the south, saying that the West has provided long-range weapons to Ukraine, now Russia must push back. → Read More
G7 leaders discuss further sanctions against Russia
While Kyiv endured the heaviest bombing it has seen in weeks, G7 leaders have discussed putting a price cap on Moscow's oil revenues and raise new tariffs on Russian goods. → Read More
EU opens door to Ukraine in 'geopolitical' summit
EU leaders will also discuss eurozone issues with European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde, as more and more leaders are worried about voters' distress at soaring inflation. → Read More
Europe's growing oligarch problem comes under scrutiny
EU needs to do more to tackle "oligarch structures" in its member states, lawmakers tell European Commission. → Read More
Polish president in bid for EU 'unity' in face of Russia threat
Andrzej Duda said his rule-of-law proposal was met with approval and "relief" by both the EU Commission's Ursula von der Leyen and the European Council's Charles Michel. → Read More
MEPs hear testimony from Pegasus spy victims
The renewed calls for action on Pegasus surveillance in Poland and Hungary came after Hungary's data protection authority, headed by an appointee of prime minister Viktor Orbán, said victims were legitimate targets. → Read More
Allies keep close eye on Orbán's Moscow visit
"If he only goes there to talk about Russian investments in Hungary, that is a proof of non-European behaviour," an EU official said ahead of the Hungarian prime minister's visit to Moscow. → Read More
EU takes WTO action against China over 'bullying' Lithuania
The move signifies a further escalation between the two economic giants. It is also a politically symbolic move by the EU towards one of its smaller member states. → Read More
EU leaders agree on new sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine
Leaders also said the EU "encourages diplomatic efforts and supports the Normandy format in achieving the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements." → Read More
EU spends record €198bn on defence in 2020
However, data from the European Defence Agency shows that since 2016 there has been "significant reduction" in joint defence procurement. → Read More
Polish rule-of-law debate boils over to EU summit
The summit discussion comes after the EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said this week the bloc's executive will take action against Warsaw, for challenging the supremacy of EU law. → Read More
Election means three-party German government likely
The two main rivals both have said they will try to head the next government. But the splintered election result means either will need both the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats to form a majority. → Read More
Rule-of-law issues still hold up Hungary-Poland recovery plans
EU economic commissioner Paolo Gentiloni specified that Poland's challenge to the primacy of EU law over domestic law is partly holding up the approval of the recovery plan. → Read More