Jean-Claude Juncker

President Klaus Iohannis says the Sunday march in Paris, which he has attended, was more than an expression of French solidarity and showed international oneness.

Photo credit: (c) ALEX MICSIK / AGERPRES FLOW

Latvia favors "policy of conditionality" toward EU hopefuls

BRUSSELS -- Latvia will during its presidency of the EU pursue an enlargement policy based on "the principle of conditionality," reads the country's program.

Latvia assumes EU's rotating presidency

BELGRADE -- Latvia has taken over from Italy the presidency of the European Union, saying its priorities are increased competitiveness and energy independence of the Union.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has extended an invitation Jean-Claude Juncker to visit Turkey, as he called to congratulate the EU chief over his "new" post after being elected head of the European Commission back in July.

The EU's 28 heads of state or government, who met in Brussels for the European Council summit on Thursday, approved the EUR 315 billion investment plan of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

President Traian Basescu said on Thursday that the Government may obtain derogation from the European Commission to increase the defence budget by 0.3 percent if it submits a "solid documentation"; he also said he would inform European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker of this matter.

The European Commission has decided to ask all member states to provide information about their tax rulings to ensure compliance with the EU's state aid rules.

The European Parliament overwhelmingly backed the recognition of a Palestinian state "in principle" on Dec. 17, following a series of votes on the issue in EU nations that have enraged Israel.
     

Rounding off a two-day visit to Athens on Tuesday, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici urged the government to push through pending economic reforms and indicated that Brussels has “its preferences” in which governments it wants to deal with.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta stressed on Monday that the meeting he had with visiting European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen at Victoria Palace (the Govt's offices) earlier in the day had gone very well and had focused on unveiling the new 315 billion euro investment plan announced by the EU executive's chief Jean-Claude Juncker.