European Council

After days of disputes between Romanian leaders over the right to name the country’s future EU Commissioner, Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Friday announced that Dacian Ciolos, the current EU Commissioner for Agriculture, is the preferred option for the post.

Romania's President and Prime Minister are battling over the right to nominate a European Commissioner. And their dispute is putting an important position for Romania at risk.

Ironically, both leaders want the same man, the current EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, to retain his post. Ciolos, 44, has reportedly done a good job during his two years as EU Commissioner.

The US and EU have widened the list of sanctions against Russia targeting individuals as well as financial institutions and defense companies, Wednesday.

The US has issued sanctions against major banks including Gazprombank, defense firms and energy companies including Rosneft, the BBC reports.

Germany takes leading role in promoting EU integration for Balkans

Germany is taking a leadership role in the Balkans' integration to the European Union.

Leaders of western Balkan countries are invited to a high-profile conference next month in Germany to support their integration prospects into the European Union.

Leaders of EU member states are due to pick the next European Council President and the union's top diplomat at a Brussels summit starting Wednesday.

Foreign policy screening to start in Brussels

BRUSSELS -- The “screening” of Chapter 31 - foreign, security and defense policy - in Serbia’s EU accession process will begin on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS - The “screening” of Chapter 31 (Foreign, security and defense policy) in Serbia’s EU accession process will begin Tuesday.

The Serbian delegation will be comprised of Minister without Portfolio in charge of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic, Assistant Foreign Minister Miomir Udovicki and head of the negotiating team Tanja Miscevic.

U.S. wants to see "strong EU foreign policy chief"

After Catherine Ashton leaves office as EU's foreign policy chief, the United States would like to see "a strong personality" take over.

This is according to Michael Leigh, senior advisor to the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States, whose analysis was published on the organization's website.

The Constitutional Court of Romania on Wednesday unanimously ruled that there was no juridical conflict of a constitutional nature between the Government and the Presidency over the representation of Romania at a June summit meeting of the European Council.

The ruling is final and generally binding.

Violonist Alexandru Tomescu on Wednesday will be decorated with the Order of the Star of Italy, the Knight Class, for special merits in promoting the Italian culture.