European Union

Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu, at the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council, organised in Zagreb, endorsed the idea of an evaluation mechanism on justice and rule of law for all member countries. "Although it was an informal meeting of the JHA Council, we discussed substantial topics.

Former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker says in an interview with Kathimerini that Greece could have been expelled from the eurozone in 2015 if he had not stepped in to smooth out tensions between Athens and other member states.

In March the government is anticipating a positive decision by the Eurogroup regarding at least one of the three requests it has submitted to the creditors so as to secure some additional fiscal space, according to a senior Finance Ministry official.

The European Investment Bank signed an agreement with the Greek government on Friday for a loan to finance 50 percent of the cost for the 48-million-euro expansion and modernization of the Demokritos National Center for Scientific Research in Athens, the largest public research center in Greece.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Jan. 24 hailed "a new chapter" in Britain's history as he signed its divorce treaty with the EU, clearing another hurdle before the country exits the bloc on Jan. 31.    

The Brexit Bill was approved by the UK Parliament earlier this week after the House of Commons rejected amendments tabled by the House of Lords.
British Brexit Minister Steve Barclay posted the news on his Twitter account.

The government's negotiations with the country's creditors are focused on five fronts, as Athens seeks to secure additional fiscal space so it can implement tax breaks and handouts in accordance with its policy. Among the government targets for this year are cutting the solidarity levy and the further reduction of the Single Property Tax (ENFIA).

The UK is ready to leave the EU on January 31st. This was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

After the Brexit bill was approved by the House of Commons, it was also voted on by the House of Lords on Wednesday. The document must now be signed by Queen Elizabeth. This is expected to happen today or tomorrow, after which it will enter into force.

EU countries can restrict or exclude high-risk 5G providers from core parts of their telecoms network infrastructure under new guidelines to be issued by the European Commission next week, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Today, the European Commission set out its ideas for shaping the Conference on the Future of Europe, which should be launched on Europe Day, 9 May 2020 and run for two years.