Belgium

BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU leaders will hold video talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hoping to make progress on trade and investment, even as tensions mount between Beijing and the West over Hong Kong and the treatment of minority Uighurs.

The virtual meeting between top Chinese officials and EU Council President Charles Michel, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, replaces a full summit with all 27 European leaders which had to be cancelled because of coronavirus.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies in the European Union (EU) have a less favorable view than last year on the ease of doing business in the bloc, but they are willing to increase investment when the situation gets better, a survey published on Thursday shows.

The survey, conducted by China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and Roland Berger, a global strategy consultancy, is part of CCCEU's annual recommendation report titled "Acting for Common Future: Chinese Enterprises in the EU Striving for Growth amid Slowdown and Regulatory Hurdles."

BRUSSELS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled its first-ever Strategic Foresight Report, which aims to identify challenges and opportunities to better steer the European Union's (EU) strategic choices.

The document is meant to support the Commission in designing "future-proof" policies and legislation that serves both the current needs and longer-term aspirations of European citizens.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The post-pandemic top priority for the European Union (EU) is implementing the recovery package agreed by EU leaders and ensuring that the aid reaches the people, the European Commission's top echelons told the Brussels Economic Forum on Tuesday.

Addressing the annual economic event, executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni both stressed the importance of building economies for future generations.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive commission is proposing its experienced Latvian vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, to take over the post as trade chief of the bloc following the resignation of Ireland’s Phil Hogan.

Dombrovskis had already been holding the post temporarily since Hogan’s resignation on Aug. 26. He now fills a vital job in dealing with the United States, China and post-Brexit Britain, with all three demanding near daily attention.

“We are currently in turbulent waters,” Dombrovskis said.

Brussels, Sep 8 (AP/PTI) The European Union's executive commission is proposing its experienced Latvian vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis, to take over the post as trade chief of the bloc following the resignation of Ireland's Phil Hogan.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement as she named European Parliament heavyweight Mairead McGuinness as the new financial services commissioner to fill Ireland's seat at the table.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union aims to impose economic sanctions on 31 senior Belarus officials including the country’s interior minister by mid-September, three EU diplomats said, in response to an Aug. 9 election that the West says was rigged.

Almost a month into mass demonstrations against the outcome of the contest, in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory to prolong his 26-year-old rule, the EU aims to punish the government crackdown and support calls for fresh elections.

BRUSSELS. Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Friday unveiled a plan for a coordinated approach to the restriction of movement resulting from measures being implemented by individual member states to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In a proposal to the European Council, the Commission said it wanted the restrictions on free movement to be coordinated and clearly communicated at the level of the European Union (EU).

LJUBLJANA/BRUSSELS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The recent resurgence of COVID-19 in many parts of Europe is challenging the preparation work of most schools, as they are set to open their campuses to students for the new school year in the coming days.

Ensuring the compulsory education while keeping kids safe has become a top priority for many European governments, which are rolling out various measures to hope to make it work.

MULTIPLE MEASURES, ONE GOAL

30 Aug 2020; MEMO: A former advisor to the Belgian prime minister said Turkey’s position on the Eastern Mediterranean is relevant.

“Turkey actually has a point,” Koert Debeuf said in a tweet.

He also shared a map highlighting territorial waters based on the agreement between Greece and Italy on the countries’ exclusive economic zones.

“Greek territorial waters are a bit out of proportion compared with the Turkish one," he added.