Frans Timmermans

The European Commission told Romania on Wednesday not to take backward steps in terms of anti-graft reforms, and to reconsider a set of controversial justice laws that have triggered the country's largest protests since the fall of communism.

A meeting of the heads of the Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) is held in Sofia on 22nd of January.

The forum was opened by Bulgarian National Assembly Chairperson Tsveta Karayancheva.

Faced with possible EU sanctions for a series of controversial judicial changes which Brussels believes threaten the country's rule of law and democratic values, the Polish government could push the country out of the bloc if it stops being a recipient of EU funds, Donald Tusk, the EU Council president, has warned.

The Commission can not conclude that the indicators have been fulfilled.

The European Commission today presented the new progress report on Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. The Commission's 17 recommendations in the January report are announced. 

"We see progress in many areas, but still more work is needed," said EU Commission First Vice President Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, on the Commission's report on progress in Bulgaria under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism, reported BGNES. 

The European Union is seeking feedback on the impact of fake news as part of a move to help the bloc's 500 million citizens assess news sources and make sure that social platforms such as Facebook live up to their responsibilities.

The Greek islanders in the eastern Aegean who have helped thousands of refugees under adverse conditions are "heroes," according to the European Commission's First Vice President Frans Timmermans.

Supporters of Catalan independence have begun occupying polling stations in a bid to protect Sunday’s vote from a crackdown by the Spanish government.

The vice-president of Spain’s secessionist north-eastern region warned that backers of Catalonia’s independence would cast their ballots even if national police “took voting stations by assault”.

The vast majority of Muslims in the EU have a high sense of trust in democratic institutions despite experiencing widespread discrimination and harassment, a major survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) shows.

The European Union announced Saturday it had launched legal action against Poland’s rightwing government over a new law that it fears will erode judicial independence.