Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte Set to Clinch Coalition Deal - by Diederik Baazil-

March’s general election consolidated Rutte’s VVD as the Netherlands’ biggest party bufragmented parliament complicated the coalition math. Negotiations have dragged on ever since, amid a coronavirus crisis that hit the country hard.

The government will likely be sworn in this January.

Traditionally, the second-largest party takes the finance ministry, meaning that Christian Democrat Wopke Hoekstra won’t keep his job as finance minister.

Read more at: Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte Set to Clinch Coalition Deal - Bloomberg

EU-Britain Relations: Brexit: EU, UK finally clinch ′historic′ trade deal

he United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to a post-Brexit free trade deal, sealing the UK's exit from the bloc, the UK government and EU announced on Thursday.

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference on Thursday that: "It was a long and winding road, but we have a good deal to show for it."

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted an image of himself in front of a British flag with his thumbs up. The picture was accompanied by the text: "The deal is done."

Read more at: Brexit: EU, UK finally clinch ′historic′ trade deal | News | DW | 24.12.2020

EU summit: Leaders reach landmark €1.82 trillion COVID-19 recovery deal and budget

Speaking to reporters, European Council president Charles Michel called it a "good deal", stating that "Europe is solid".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, underlined important concessions made in the search for a compromise, saying she regretted the cuts to "modern policies" in research and innovation.

French president Emmanuel Macron called it an "historic day for Europe".

The recovery plan includes €390 billion worth of grants and €360 billion worth of loans due to a compromise with the so-called frugal four, now five, countries — Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

Read more at :
EU summit: Leaders reach landmark €1.82 trillion COVID-19 recovery deal and budget | Euronews

EU-Mercosur: Farmers , environmentalists slam "sell-out" deal

Farmers, environmentalists slam ‘sell-out’ EU-Mercosur trade deal European farmers and environmentalists have denounced a historic trade deal signed between the EU and South American countries as a "dark moment", warning of unfair competition and dire consequences for the climate.

Read more at: 

http://www.france24.com/en/20190629-eu-south-america-agriculture-trade-mercosur-farmers-environmentalists

The Digest Group                   
Almere-Digest
EU-Digst
Insure-Digest 
Turkish-Digest 

For additional information, including advertising rates - e-mail: Freeplanet@protonmail.com

EU Summit: Migrant Processing, Cooperation: as EU Members reach a deal on migrants early Saturday 29/6 morning

'Italy is not alone anymore': EU leaders reach agreement on migrant processing

Read full report at::

CBC News Report EU Migrant deal

Shared via the CBC News Android App

The Environment: EU leaders agree CO2 emissions cut

EU leaders have reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.

The binding decision came after heated discussions at a summit in Brussels, as some members had argued that their varied interests should be protected.

Correspondents say the final deal is a compromise between countries that rely heavily on coal, and those willing to instil greater emissions cuts.

Environmental groups welcomed the deal, but said it did not go far enough.
The bloc also agreed to boost the use of renewable energy to 27% in the total energy mix and increase energy efficiency to at least 27%.

There were deep divisions within the EU on emissions cuts.

Poland, which is heavily reliant on coal, fears that the costs of decarbonising its economy will slow business growth. Its concerns at the summit were echoed by other central and east European members.

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said afterwards that some poorer EU members would get help - including additional funds - in reaching the agreed targets.

The UK also had opposed nationally binding targets for renewables - mainly wind, solar and hydroelectric power. It is embracing shale gas and nuclear as alternatives to the current over-reliance on oil and gas imports.

Note EU-Digest: Lets hope, China, India and US follow suit .....

Read more: BBC News - EU leaders agree CO2 emissions cut

Greece reaches long-delayed deal on bailout loans - by Elena Becatoros and Nicholas Paphitis

Greece concluded seven months of tortuous negotiations with its international debt inspectors Tuesday, reaching a deal that will allow it to access a long-delayed rescue loan installment.

The deal does not require Greece to impose any new austerity policies, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras insisted, as he outlined a series of relief measures for the most needy. "Today a long period of tribulations has ended, and a new beginning is being made," Samaras said. 

Greece has depended on its bailout from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund since mid-2010. Payment of the rescue loans depend on the country meeting criteria in spending cuts, tax increases and reforms. Greece's progress in meeting the targets is reviewed regularly by the debt inspectors, collectively known as the 'troika'.

Greece began this latest round of negotiations in September. Talks had snagged on several issues, including public sector firings and market reforms.

"These were seven very, very difficult months," said Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, adding that the text of the agreement was being written up.

Read more: Greece reaches long-delayed deal on bailout loans - Yahoo News