Ireland's Donohoe re-elected Eurogroup president
The Irishman, who hails from the same centre-right European People's Party political family as European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, secured all twenty votes from the single currency area's finance ministers, three diplomats said. He will now lead the group for a third two-and-a-half year term.
Cuerpo and Šadžius, both socialists, had withdrawn their candidacies after failing to garner sufficient support from other member states.
In a statement, Donohoe pledged to be "a genuine and honest broker" who will ensure that "all voices and positions are taken into account".
"It will be my task to further strengthen our common currency area and facilitate tangible progress on our key work streams during this next mandate – from budgetary coordination to the Capital Markets Union, and from the digital euro to the Banking Union," he added.
Established in 1997, the Eurogroup played a critical role in determining economic policy during the eurozone crisis in the 2010s, although its influence has faded somewhat in recent years as the bloc's economic fortunes have largely improved.
The group typically meets once a month, usually in Brussels, on the eve of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, which includes economy and finance ministers from all 27 EU member states.
(vib)
UPDATE: Updated to include confirmation of diplomats and quotes from Donohoe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euractiv
7 hours ago
- Euractiv
Maroš Šefčovič and the Art of Survival
Morning. Here's the latest in Europe: Ukraine: Trump tells EU leaders he plans to meet Putin and Zelenskyy as early as next week Populism: At inauguration, Nawrocki vows to defend Polish sovereignty, takes aim at Brussels Migration: Macron tightens visa rules for Algerian diplomats, escalating deportation row This is Eddy Wax. Email me here. Send me a confidential tip via Signal @EddyWax.94 In the capital After two decades in Brussels, Maroš Šefčovič is once again at the centre of transatlantic diplomacy – this time, negotiating a deal with Donald Trump. Šefčovič, now in charge of trade, has spent his career threading Europe's thorniest needles, from gas deals with Moscow to Brexit, earning himself the nickname 'Mr. Fix It.' These days, he's also 'Mr. Sell It,' defending the US tariff deal that many in Paris and Berlin consider uncomfortably soft, even as he haggles over its fine print and chases trade agreements with other nations, from South America to India, to broaden the bloc's reach. 'A deal is better than a trade war,' Šefčovič told The Capitals by email. 'It would be easy to seek popularity by taking a hard line but that risks crippling tariffs, stalled trade and damaged transatlantic relations for a generation, perhaps. I choose to keep pushing for an agreement.' On staying another term? 'This time, I truly don't think so – though, I have said that before,' he said, with a smiley face emoji. Read my full profile here. Trump moves toward Ukraine ceasefire talks The US president is reportedly preparing to meet Vladimir Putin as early as next week, followed by a three-way meeting that would include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Washington ramps up efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. In a national address last night, the Ukrainian president said Russia appeared 'more inclined' toward a ceasefire, crediting mounting international pressure. The comments came after Trump disclosed that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a 'highly productive meeting' with Putin in Moscow – just days ahead of a deadline Trump set for Russia to reach a deal to end the war or face US sanctions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was notably absent from the call. According to Bloomberg, Moscow may offer to suspend airstrikes in exchange for sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Trump has imposed an additional 25% levy on Indian goods, punishing New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil, a lifeline for Moscow's war effort. In the wake of the "biggest trade deal ever" last month... ... the EU and US have repeatedly clashed over what was actually agreed – but on economic security, both sides appear united, with China clearly in their sights, Euractiv's Thomas Møller-Nielsen writes. A fight over Brussels green space A former railway yard just north of Brussels, now one of Belgium's most biodiverse urban sites, is at the centre of a growing political standoff. Plans to build over 500 homes – many of them social housing – have drawn pushback from the green party Ecolo, which has proposed a construction moratorium across similar sites until the city updates its 25-year-old land use plan. With support from several parties, including the liberal MR and Flemish nationalists, the proposal reflects a broader EU tension: how to meet urging housing needs without sacrificing fragile green spaces. Similar debates are unfolding from Lisbon to Berlin as climate woes collide with real estate pressure. Read more. Poland's president throws down the gauntlet Law & Justice-backed Karol Nawrocki pledged a tougher line on Brussels as he was sworn in as president yesterday. Promising to defend 'a sovereign Poland,' Nawrocki rejected the idea of being a 'subsidiary farm' of the EU and accused Donald Tusk's government of failing to stand up for national interests. He also vowed to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. Read more. Meanwhile... Tensions with Berlin flared after Warsaw sacked its coordinator for German-Polish relations, Krzysztof Ruchniewicz, and abolished the post entirely on this week. Berlin officials were reportedly upset by the move, which followed reports that Ruchniewicz had suggested returning cultural artefacts moved during World War II – a claim he denies. Berlin is pressing Warsaw to fill the 'big gap' the dismissal has left. The capitals PARIS | France is pulling back a 2013 deal with Algeria that exempted diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements, a symbolic break that reflects deeper unease. President Emmanuel Macron's move follows mounting tensions, over migration, colonial memory, and a recent knife attack by an Algerian national France had long tried to repatriate. BERLIN | A media group controlled by family of the late Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is edging closer to a takeover of German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1, raising concerns in Berlin about press freedom. Germany's culture minister warned that editorial independence must be preserved as the deal advances. Read more. ROME | Lawmakers here now have 60 days to decide whether to approve criminal proceedings against three senior officials – Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovan – over the release of Osama al‑Masri Njeem, a Libyan general wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. PM Giorgia Meloni has defended the move, saying the decision was made collectively. VILNIUS | Lithuania's ruling Social Democrats party have nominated Social Affairs Minister Inga Ruginienė as its candidate for PM, following the resignation of Gintautas Paluckas. A former trade union leader, Ruginienė pledged to steer the coalition with a firmer focus on social justice. MADRID | Spain's defence ministry has ruled out buying US F-35 fighter jets for its armed forces' air fleet, opting instead for European alternatives like the Eurofighter or the Future Combat Air System, according to El País. Madrid had reportedly been in early talks with US contractors to replace its Harrier AV8Bs, due to be phased out in 2030. ZAGREB | Croatia plans to use EU-backed defence loans to boost Ukraine's military, PM Andrej Plenković told Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a call. The assistance will come through the EU's SAFE programme, which allows countries to jointly purchase arms for Ukraine, with Croatia among 18 EU states expressing interest. Read more. BRATISLAVA | Prime Minister Robert Fico's criminal law reform has impacted more than 3,000 cases since coming into force last year, according to an analysis by watchdog Zastavme Korupciu. Shortened statutes of limitation and reclassification of offences have led to dozens of high-profile cases being dropped, said the NGO. Despite EU concerns, the government has largely stood by the law, arguing that punishment under the framework can, in some cases, be harsher. Also on Euractiv Spain's smelly algae invasion creeps further into Europe The slimy stuff has apparently now been found as far away as Sicily and the Bay of Biscay The seas off southern Spain are turning brown. A Pacific invader, rugulopteryx okamurae, is blanketing the seafloor and upending marine life. It may soon reach France, Sicily – and beyond. No power, no glory: The expensive weakness of the EU in Israel-Palestine Europe has a history of making statements and issuing declarations on Israel and Palestine. But it has largely failed to act on its words. Europe's Gaza inaction undermines its credibility, writes Gershon Baskin, the Middle East Director of the UK-based International Communities Organization. If the bloc wants to be more than a payer, it must use its leverage – even if that means being called antisemitic. Contributors: Martina Monti, Thomas Møller-Nielsen, Nick Alipour, Bárbara Machado, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer, Inés Fernández-Pontes, Sara Bertolli, Aleksandra Krzysztoszek, Barbara Zmušková Editors: Christina Zhao, Sofia Mandilara
Euractiv
12 hours ago
- Euractiv
What the EU-US deal means for Brussels' ties to China
Since clinching the 'biggest trade deal ever' last month, the EU and US have repeatedly clashed over what was actually agreed – but on economic security, they seem firmly aligned, with China in their sights. Despite offering conflicting accounts of the deal, both sides explicitly pledged to 'enhance supply chain resilience', 'address non-market policies', and 'cooperate' on investment screening and export controls. All of which appears a thinly veiled reference to reducing dependence on China for strategic products and protecting Western industries from increasingly fierce Chinese competition. Economic security was also 'one of the easier issues' in recent EU-US talks, a senior European Commission official said. 'All the economic security tools and instruments that we have make for a good conversation,' the official said, adding that further discussions are planned. The use of near-identical language suggests the EU – officially committed to 'de-risking but not decoupling' from China – is moving closer to America's tougher stance, analysts say. 'I think it's just the final sign that the EU is throwing in its lot with the US on China,' said Varg Folkman, an analyst at the European Policy Centre, a Brussels-based think-tank. 'I definitely think it's going to be viewed like that by the Chinese – they would be fools not to do it.' Beijing, which has condemned previous US trade deals with the UK and Vietnam, reacted slightly more mildly to the EU–US agreement. 'We firmly oppose any party's move to strike a deal at the cost of China's interests,' said China's foreign affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun last Monday – one day after the EU-US deal was announced. Few details Despite broad commitments, Brussels has offered little clarity on how the EU and the US plan to jointly address Beijing's 'overcapacities' or its grip over the world's supply of critical minerals, essential for cars, smartphones, and other advanced technologies. 'It seems to me that not all of the information about the EU-US deal has been released – especially when it comes to the economic security part,' said Alicia García Herrero, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank. 'We're missing a big part of that picture.' The senior Commission official said that a forthcoming EU-US joint statement on the deal – which is '90-95% ready' – will not offer specific details on economic security cooperation, but will instead contain 'fairly general language' that Brussels will 'develop [as] we go." García Herrero said the vagueness is likely intentional, as China is not only the world's second-largest economy but also the EU's second-largest trading partner. Japan, which struck a similar deal with Washington last month, has also refrained from elaborating on how it plans to cooperate with the US over its China policy, she noted. 'The Japanese didn't put on paper their disagreements and what they're going to do, because it's too risky,' García Herrero said. 'For Europe, it would also raise questions: 'Are we encircling China?' So there's no point.' Tit for (trade) spat The deal also comes amid worsening EU-China ties, long strained by human rights concerns and Taiwan's status. Beijing's introduction of sweeping export controls on critical minerals earlier this year – which came in response to Trump's imposition of a 145% blanket levy on Beijing – has rattled EU policymakers and forced temporary production shutdowns in Europe. China's growing ties with Russia have exacerbated tensions as European leaders scramble to sustain support for Ukraine amid mounting Russian attacks and fading US backing. Yet Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and promised to end the Ukraine war 'within 24 hours,' has recently shifted tone – threatening 'secondary tariffs' on India and China for purchasing Russian oil. Some analysts suggest Brussels may have won that shift as a concession during trade negotiations. 'On the issue of Europe's economic security, the US has, in my view, been willing to offer something: it is putting pressure on India and China to cut ties with Russia,' said García Herrero. "The US wants to encircle China and cut it out of supply chains. Europe is saying, 'Fine, I'm with you' – but they want the US to get tougher on Russia." 'A flimsy foundation' Still, others question whether the EU-US deal offers much foundation for economic or political cooperation. 'Given the overall shakiness of the deal,' the commitment to boost economic security cooperation 'looks like a flimsy foundation for serious transatlantic cooperation,' said Nils Redeker, deputy director at the Jacques Delors Centre. Redeker argued the EU's China policy has been weakened by 'internal divisions' that also severely hindered the bloc's negotiations with Washington. He pointed to the sharp divisions among EU capitals over the Commission's decision last year to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The levies were strongly backed by France but fiercely opposed by Germany, whose export-oriented car sector is heavily tied to the Chinese market. 'One key lesson from the deal with the US is that the EU still hasn't found its strategic footing in a rapidly changing trade landscape,' Redeker said. 'And for now, the same goes for its approach to China.' (de, mm)
Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
EU staff could strike over Gaza
Welcome to the Capitals by Eddy Wax. Get in touch. Were you forwarded this newsletter by a friend? Sign up here. In today's edition: Civil servants push for Gaza action Budget rift: Merz vs von der Leyen Trump threatens EU with 35% levy Diplomat investigated over sexist blog 'Endemic' police abuse in Kosovo In the capital As the hunger crisis in Gaza deepens, a growing chorus of EU staffers are contemplating strike action, contending that their institutions have failed to exert sufficient pressure on Israel to let vital humanitarian aid into the besieged region. The proposal is still in its early stages, and key trade unions, whose support is essential, have so far hesitated to back the move, according to four civil servants involved. Oreste Madia, a policy officer in the European Commission, has sent an open letter to President Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, the bloc's foreign policy chief, warning that Europe's moral authority is at stake. The letter – which Madia says has already garnered over 1,300 signatures from staffers across various institutions – calls for 'bold and principled action now', urging the EU to leverage its position as Israel's largest trading partner to demand compliance with international humanitarian law. Madia has set a target of 6,000 signatures, and warned that if EU leadership fails to respond, strikes may follow. 'We are talking to lawyers to see if there are unions we can connect with and call a strike,' he said. 'We are fighting for the very soul of the EU,' Madia declared. 'If I am complicit in a genocide, what am I doing here?' The accusation of genocide hits a sensitive chord for Israel, a nation born in the wake of the Holocaust. As defined in international law, it refers to acts committed with the intent to partially or wholly destroy a group. To substantiate such a charge, international law requires proof of intent – which Israeli leaders fiercely deny, insisting that Hamas wants to ruin the Jewish state. Meanwhile, EU Staff for Peace, a collective that supports but did not initiate the letter, has been staging weekly protests outside European institutions in Brussels, banging pots and pans and fasting in solidarity with Gaza. According to a letter seen by Euractiv, their pressure tactics have included challenging staff representatives over the presence of an Israeli military attaché in the Berlaymont, as well as the 'intimidation' and 'interrogation' they've faced in advocating for Palestinian rights. Tensions within the EU are palpable. Two signatories likened Israel's actions with Nazism before immediately retracting their comments. All four civil servants I spoke to stressed that their aim is simply to make the EU comply with its own stated values and international law, as they are obligated to do as civil servants. In the political sphere, Socialists, Greens and Left-wing lawmakers have put out a statement calling Israel's actions in Gaza 'genocide' and demanding urgent action from EU leadership. The EU's top socialist, Commissioner Teresa Ribera, has described Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza as an unacceptable provocation. Since Hamas' attack on 7 October 2023, about 1,200 Israelis including over 700 civilians were killed, and 251 hostages were taken to Gaza, according to Reuters. Since then, Israel's military response has devastated the densely packed enclave, claiming the lives of more than 61,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, whose figures have been deemed reliable by the UN and other international bodies. On Tuesday, Belgium confirmed it would vote in favour of the Commission's proposal to partly suspend Israel from the EU's flagship Horizon research programme. The move could be green lit as early as 13 August if a qualified majority emerges – though that remains elusive. As global crises reshape our world... Chris Kremidas-Courtney, senior visiting fellow at European Policy Centre, believes the need for divergent thinkers has never been more urgent. He argues that it's not conventional expertise but polymaths – those who can see new paths and connect knowledge across disciplines – that will guide us forward. In an era of chaos, as the old order crumbles, we must learn to walk without a clear path, and that requires embracing the very minds we've too often sidelined, Kremidas-Courtney writes in his latest op-ed. Budget rift: Merz vs von der Leyen Late on budget reveal day, German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius sharply criticised the Commission's proposal as 'not sellable' in the current climate of fiscal restraint. His blunt remarks – which came hours after von der Leyen's unveiling of the proposal in July – reflect the growing chasm between Berlin and Brussels. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has long been frustrated by what he sees as the Commission's failure to tackle deregulation and competitiveness. Despite a personal rapport with von der Leyen, this policy rift signals tough battles ahead, particularly with the German elections looming. Read more. Trump threatens EU with 35% levy Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to slap the EU with a blanket 35% levy if Brussels fails to fulfill its pledge to invest $600 (€518) billion in American infrastructure. 'They gave us $600 billion that we can invest in anything we want,' the US president told CNBC. 'I can do anything I want with it.' The promised investments are part of last month's EU-US trade deal, which also includes a flat 15% tariff on most EU goods. Read more. Diplomat investigated over sexist blog Austria is reeling from the resignation of its EU ambassador, Thomas Oberreiter, after allegations surfaced that he authored a graphically misogynistic sex blog. Foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has ordered a sweeping review of IT security, led by her security policy advisor Thomas Starlinger, the ministry said. According to Austria's Der Standard , Oberreiter's emails could have been hacked. The capitals BERLIN | In a rare move, the Commission directly rebuffed German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's criticism that the EU is 'too weak' on trade policy, stating its decisions were aligned with signals from member states, including Berlin. Klingbeil's remarks, made during a US visit, were seen as a jab at the executive, which holds exclusive control over trade policy. French President Emmanuel Macron made similar remarks last week. The Commission has suspended retaliatory tariffs, with hopes that the US will honour a pledge to reduce car tariffs. Read more. WARSAW | PiS-backed Karol Nawrocki will be sworn in as Poland's president today after a narrow victory in June. The inauguration will open with a mass, followed by a secular ceremony. Nawrocki faced scrutiny during the race for alleged ties to the criminal underworld, a dubious property deal, and participation in a football-hooligan brawl, which he did not deny. Despite reported irregularities in the vote count, the Supreme Court upheld the election. Read more. MADRID | Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticised the EU's response to Israel's aid blockade in Gaza, calling it 'too little too late' in an interview on Onda Cero, a national radio network. Albares echoed PM Pedro Sánchez's call for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, condemning Israel's 'heinous crimes' and reaffirming Spain's refusal to recognise the 'illegal annexation' of Gaza and the West Bank. The remarks reflect the nation's increasingly vocal stance on the ongoing conflict. STOCKHOLM | Sweden will send €238 million in military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket ammo, as part of a €433 million joint package with Denmark and Norway. The initiative, backed by NATO and the US, aims to quickly deliver air defence systems from European stockpiles to bolster Ukraine's defences. Read more. BUCHAREST | Ion Iliescu, Romania's first post-Communist president, passed away yesterday at 95, leaving a legacy that mingles democratic promise with state violence. A central figure in the country's post-1989 transition, Iliescu guided Romanians through the fragile early years of democracy, but later faced charges of crimes against humanity over the brutal 1990 'Mineriada' crackdown. Read more. PRAGUE | Czech NGOs, in an open letter, pressured the conservative government to criticise Israel's 'indiscriminate and disproportionate' military operations in Gaza. But foreign minister Jan Lipavský declined, saying it will avoid making declaratory gestures and stick to quiet diplomacy and aid instead. Read more. VILNIUS | Lithuania has renewed calls for NATO to enhance air defences in the Baltic region following a series of suspected Russian drone incursions into its airspace. Despite growing attention on European air defence, officials warn of persistent gaps, urging the full implementation of NATO's rotational air defence model. Read more. Also on Euractiv
