The eu parliament

Italy's Economy Ministry announced on Tuesday that an informal agreement had been reached with the European Commission over its budget plan. The move would mark the end of a standoff between Italy and the EU over its debt. "Great satisfaction for the result achieved," Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said in a brief statement. Salvini did not provide any details of the deal. The agreement is expected to be made formal when it gains the approval of officials in Brussels on Wednesday, a spokeswoman of Italy's Economy Ministry said. Read more: Italy's economic plight, and why it matters Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged caution, saying that "it is necessary to wait for the procedure to be completed in order to consider the negotiation definitively concluded."  He is expected to address the Italian parliament on Wednesday, his office said. Conte announced last week that Italy was ready to reduce its 2019 deficit from 2.4 to 2.04 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) … [Read more...] about Italy strikes deal with EU over budget

Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, was today elected to the European parliament. The far-right leader won a seat in the North West region. Earlier Andrew Brons, another British National party politician won in the Yorkshire and Humber area. It is the first time the party has had an MEP elected. Griffin's victory was only confirmed shortly before 2am after a two-hour cliffhanger over the last of the North West's eight seats saw the Greens fall narrowly behind the BNP and Ukip just failed to pull ahead enough to win a third seat. There were furious scenes at the declaration when the highest polling candidate, Sir Robert Atkins, described the BNP as "an aberration" and condemned Griffin's success as sad day for British politics. He was followed by Labour's Arlene McCarthy, who came second in votes cast and told the crowd at Manchester town hall that the BNP was "a party whose members include convicted rapists". Both won loud applause – but also jeers from BNP supporters in the … [Read more...] about EU elections: BNP’s Nick Griffin wins seat in European parliament

The European Union has called for the immediate release of 13 people arrested by Turkish police for alleged links to the businessman and activist, Osman Kavala, during early morning raids on Friday. "Repeated detentions of critical voices and the continued widespread pressure on civil society representatives run counter to the Turkish government's declared commitment to human rights," the EU statement said. Police had issued arrest warrants for 20 people associated with Kavala's Anatolia Culture Association prior to the raids, according to Turkey's DHA news agency. They are suspected of "creating chaos and mayhem" and "seeking to overthrow the government," state-owned Anadolu Agency reported. The Cumhuriyet newspaper said they were also accused of trying to bring in foreign "activists" to support anti-government protests. The dean of the law school at Istanbul Bilgi University and mathematics professor Betul Tanbay, who also serves as the vice president of the European Mathematical … [Read more...] about EU calls on Turkey to release 13 people arrested for links to Gezi Park protests

Theresa May was accused last night by a former cabinet colleague of planning the “biggest giveaway of sovereignty in modern times”, as she faced a potentially devastating pincer movement from Tory remainers and leavers condemning her Brexit plans. The day after Jo Johnson, the pro-remain brother of former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, resigned from the government and called for a second referendum on Brexit, former education secretary Justine Greening launched an attack on the prime minister, saying her plans would leave the country in the “worst of all worlds”. Piling yet more pressure on May, Greening – who resigned from the cabinet in January – backed the former transport minister’s call for another public vote and said MPs should reject the prime minister’s deal. Greening told the Observer: “The parliamentary deadlock has been clear for some time. It’s crucial now for parliament to vote down this plan, because it is the … [Read more...] about Justine Greening says Theresa May is ‘handing power to EU’ in Brexit deal

Nigel Farage has accused the Prime Minister of copying him after seizing the Tory Party reins in July. The Brexit Party leader also unveiled plans to launch another political party after predicting Boris Johnson will win on Thursday. He wants to start the Reform Party to offer “real, radical, political reform”, he said. He vowed to spoil his general election ballot paper after choosing not to field a Brexit Party candidate in his Kent constituency. Accusing the PM of imitating the Brexit Party's strategy, Mr Farage said: “Our success - in terms of the way we’ve branded things, styled things, put on rallies, used social media - was indeed noticed. “In fact, the Conservative Party have copied almost very single piece of it.” Taunting the Tory leader’s campaign tactics, Mr Farage raged: “I think he has been following me around the United Kingdom, even visiting the same factories that I have been to a couple of weeks before.” He … [Read more...] about Nigel Farage accuses Boris Johnson of copying him in general election campaign