Hungary to penalise NGOs that aid illegal immigrants

Individuals or groups who help migrants not entitled to protection to submit requests for asylum or who help illegal migrants to gain status to stay in Hungary will be liable to jail under a new bill submitted to parliament.

Britain can't agree trade deals before Brexit : Mogherini

Britain cannot negotiate new trade deals until it leaves the EU, the bloc's foreign policy chief said today after US President-elect Donald Trump backed a speedy trade agreement with Britain.

Europe a safe haven for terror groups (Erdogan)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Europe on Tuesday of being a safe haven for the political wings of terrorist groups and said it was a "black comedy" for Europe to lecture Turkey on changing its anti-terrorism laws.

Migrant crisis: Austria passes controversial new asylum law

Austria has passed a controversial new law that restricts the right of asylum and allows most claimants to be rejected directly at the border.

Turkey's Erdogan files $32k lawsuit against opposition leader who called him a 'dictator'

 Attorneys for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan have filed a lawsuit against a major opposition leader for stating that Erdogan is a dictator, presidential sources and the opposition party told Reuters. The president is reportedly seeking $32,000 in damages.

Obama blasts Congress for not passing stricter gun control laws after Oregon college shooting

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday slammed Congress for failing to pass stricter gun control laws after an Oregon college campus shooting left at least 10 people dead.

France moves to ban food waste in supermarkets

In a rare show of unity, France's parliament voted unanimously Thursday to ban food waste in big supermarkets by outlawing the destruction of unsold food products.

Ukraine expands army over security threats

Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved a bill to expand the country's army to 250,000 troops, the parliamentary press service said.

The bill, submitted by President Petro Poroshenko and requiring at least 226 votes to get approved, was supported by 270 lawmakers.

Ukraine Needs US to Buy Arms on World Market

Ukraine has encountered difficulties purchasing defensive weapons from other countries without the United States licensing an onward export, US Assistance Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said during the hearing at the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

EU to work closer with Turkey,Egypt and Gulf countries to combat terrorism

EU leaders have agreed on sharing intelligence with not only member states, but also with other countries, including Turkey,Egypt and Gulf countries to combat terrorism, it was announced Monday.

Banking union made easy: a five-minute guide to the EU's new rules

A banking union is being set up by the EU to help keep Europe's financial system stable and prevent another crisis from taking place. It requires finding a fast and efficient way to deal with failing banks while ensuring that taxpayers are spared from paying for bankers' mistakes. As MEPs prepare to vote on 15 April on an agreement with the Council on how to deal with failing banks, we take a closer look at the issues involved. Read on for an overview of how banking in Europe is about to change.

Protection of minors in the digital age

In an era of rapid technological change digital media convergence, a major question is whether the existing legislation is sufficient to deal with challenges related to the protection of minors.
The internet and all online platforms are interactive environments rather than passive media as television is. As such, they raise, in a prompt and urgent manner, issues of accessibility to content or types of content that may harm the physical, moral and spiritual development of minors, issues related to specific types of crimes through computers that can be connected with audio-visual content etc.

Bulgaria Top Cop Blocks Road to Main Winter Resort Bansko

Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov participated Sunday in a protest that blocked the entrance to Bulgaria's top winter resort, Bansko.
Tsvetanov expressed support for Bansko residents, who for a thrid day in a row have come out to request an expansion of ski facilities in the resort.
The action of Bulgaria's top cop and Vice-PM is a culmination of a string of high-ranking visits to the protests, which saw Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva and vice minister for tourism Ivo Marinov also showing up.
"I am convinced that in a very short time, protesters' demands will be satisfied. Their requests will be heard at the very first cabinet sitting in 2013," stated Tsvetanov.
8,000 Bansko residents, organized by mayor Georgi Ikonomov, have submitted to Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev a petition requesting for expansion of facilities in the resort.