On 13 May 2019, the Council adopted the EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world for 2018. The report noted that in 2018 the EU remained at the forefront of the protection and promotion of human rights in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. The EU engaged in activities across the globe in line with the objectives set out in the EU action plan on human rights and democracy (2015-2019). The Council recognised that in a volatile...

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On World Press Freedom Day we celebrate the essential role of a free press not only as a conveyer of reliable and accurate news, but as a pillar of democracy. The quality of democratic processes is linked to the state of freedom of expression as well as media freedom and pluralism. There is no democracy without a truly free press. While bearing the great responsibility to guarantee checked and correct news to the public, free, diverse and independent media are...

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Speech by Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, 1 May 2019 Introduction Sustained economic expansion over the past six years and greater banking sector resilience have supported financial stability within the euro area. But the recent softening of growth prospects heightens risks. The financial stability environment has become more challenging than it was a year ago. The risks that have been with us for some time now – a possible disorderly increase in risk premia, debt sustainability concerns, low bank profitability...

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What was the European Parliament like during its 2014-2019 term? Find out some interesting facts ahead of the European elections on 23-26 May that will shape the next Parliament. Less than half of the MEPs that arrived in July 2014 were new to the Parliament. Some 51.5% had served as MEPs previously. Greece had the largest proportion of new MEPs at 90.5%. The share of women MEPs was 36.9% at the start of the term, decreasing slightly to 36.5% at end...

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A new round of tariffs between the United States and its main partners would only cause a “modest decrease” in the pace of economic growth in the euro zone, according to research by the European Central Bank. The study simulated a two-way, 10 percent increase in tariff and other trade barriers between the world’s largest economy and all its partners. It showed an “overall modest decrease in activity” in the euro area due to fading global confidence outweighing a boost to...

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