GOP Longs for the '50s, Democrats Crave Change, Report: U.S. Cities Struggle With Walkability, Pentagon Threatens Turkey After Missile Test. Basic facts and figures on EU population and size, economy, employment levels and quality of life, and also some basic information about EU administration, its staff, languages and location. The EU is active in a wide range of policy areas, from human rights to transport and trade. Newsroom - European Union. The EU institutions and bodies offer numerous subscription services, ranging from the latest headlines to specialised publications. Protecting the health and safety of citizens is the EU's top priority. A series of 5 short videos on energy, intended as teaching material for 12-15 year-olds, are now available. February 24, 2020, 5:15 pm, by The European Commission, acting on behalf of the European Union member states, has approved an advanced purchase agreement for 200 million doses of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine. The Shift Asked about the success fees, GEM confirmed both the payment of the success fees to shareholders (its total share was €6.167 million) and the fees paid to Fenech’s company (€2.5 million were meant to be paid), claiming these fees “are normal for projects of this kind” and adding that they were “pre-approved by the banks providing financing to Electrogas”. Now, new findings show that the over €16 million in ‘success fees’ – a form of commission, typically used to pay external advisors as a reward for procuring finance or assisting with a successful transaction – was also kept hidden from the European Commission, according to the leaked emails. Included the immediate payment of €18 million worth of Liquidated Damages plus interest, which amount was also postponed by the government at the last minute by 18 years interest free until the 10th year. November 12, 2018, 2:58 pm. One minute later, Fenech replied: “All, please call it ‘development fee’ NOT ‘success fee’. In December 2013, the concession was awarded to the Electrogas consortium which then sought to implement the project and finalise the negotiation of the agreements. The NAO noted that on 28 July 2015, Electrogas refinanced the Bank of Valletta interim loan by entering into a €450 million Bridge Loan Facility with multiple banks (with Bank of Valletta acting as lead bank and facility agent). Sept. 24 (UPI) --The European Commission revealed Thursday it plans to regulate cryptocurrencies in an effort to make them safer for owners and investors. The president of the European Commission says she is going into self-isolation with immediate effect after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19. The Shift also asked, in light of the contract with Fenech’s company, whether GEM ever received any income or fees (e.g. The EU has a unique institutional set-up where broad priorities are set by the European Council; decision-making involves European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission and number of other institutions. Drawdowns under both loans were made to and approved by Bank of Valletta first as lender and subsequently as facility agent. by One of the key points was obtaining access to funding in order to commence construction. European Commission Chief Leaves EU Summit After COVID-19 Contact By Reuters , Wire Service Content Oct. 15, 2020 By Reuters , Wire Service Content Oct. 15, 2020, at 10:37 a.m. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. The EU has a unique institutional set-up where broad priorities are set by the European Council; decision-making involves European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission and number of other institutions. Factsheet - 23 new research projects against coronavirus Second special Horizon 2020 request for expressions of interest The main EU institutions each have a press room with facilities for journalists, where briefings and conferences are organised regularly. Facebook Twitter 5.27pm EDT 17:27 The government had denied this risk existed. A physician by training, von der Leyen was forced into quarantine last week after she had contact with another infected person. Fast facts, background information, progress and more in depth information on main EU issues. The two-day meeting was called to discuss Brexit and climate change, but a debate on the pandemic was added to the agenda after a second spike of infections across Europe. Basic facts and figures on EU population and size, economy, employment levels and quality of life, and also some basic information about EU administration, its staff, languages and location. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney says a specialised committee will meet again on Friday. October 16, 2020, 4:20 pm. In September the head of the European Council and chairman of EU summits, Charles Michel, had to postpone a leaders' meeting for a week after going into quarantine. The coronavirus pandemic has prompted massive government spending while revenues dipped slightly. Fenech, the Tumas Group heir accused of conspiring to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, was also the owner of Dubai company 17 Black, the kickback company registered in the Ajman Free Zone that Caruana Galizia was investigating. It is also a platform for political, cultural and social commentary from civil society. European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic speaks of his concerns about the UK’s legislation for trading around the Irish border after the transition period. Further, leaked documents seen by The Shift also show that the Commission outright questioned the government about the €430 million State guarantee and whether, since this was never mentioned at tender stage, there was a risk of the tender’s legal validity being challenged. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. The EU has a unique institutional set-up where broad priorities are set by the European Council; decision-making involves European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission and number of other institutions. Minutes before going back into quarantine on Thursday, she had urged leaders to agree on common rules for the length of self-isolation. The summit continued after her departure, a spokesman for the European Council said. by Further, the Commission noted, any prior advantages, including the State guarantee, were likely going to be treated as “unlawful aid”. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives to deliver a statement, in Brussels, Belgium October 14, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/PoolReuters. The EU has a unique institutional set-up where broad priorities are set by the European Council; decision-making involves European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission and number of other institutions. The multi-million Electrogas project continues to be of interest to investigators and journalists alike, most notably given its potential links to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination in 2017. Electrogas shareholders (GEM Holdings, SOCAR, News 16 October 2020 EU27 agri-food trade sustains growth in spite of the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit The European Commission publishes latest agri-food trade figures for January to June 2020. Internal emails show mentions of a focus on potential “overcompensation” worried Electrogas shareholders, particularly Siemens. The EU is active in a wide range of policy areas, from human rights to transport and trade. The unusual warning from the Defense Department against a NATO ally came hours after reports that Turkey had test-fired a Russian air defense system in violation of U.S. sanctions. Documents seen by The Shift show that the Commission indicated to the government that, given the flawed tender process and State Aid already disbursed, it would need to satisfy the Commission that the concession fell under a particular framework (the Services of General Economic Interest Framework) which required, among other things, that there be no “overcompensation”. On 15 and 16 October, the European Council adopted conclusions on COVID-19, EU-UK relations, climate change and external relations. That same day, Electrogas requested a drawdown from Bank of Valletta of €38.4 million from the loan to cover myriad expenses including over €3 million in legal and advisory fees.