Poland and Brussels to kiss and make up – POLITICO

The European Commission launched the so-called Article 7 sanctions procedure, which can see a country lose its voting rights in the European Council, in 2017 against Poland under the previous Law and Justice government. The move came after the government introduced reforms which the EU’s top court found violated rule-of-law standards. When Prime Minister Donald … Read more

Belgium’s Reynders eyes top job at Council of Europe – POLITICO

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is hoping to become the next secretary-general of the Council of Europe, the international human rights organization, which would mark a hiatus in his career in EU politics. The news, which was first reported by Belgian media outlets Le Soir and De Tijd, was confirmed to POLITICO by a Belgian official … Read more

Charles Michel to run for EU election, triggering top job scramble – POLITICO

European Council President Charles Michel will run as a candidate for the European parliamentary election in June, he told three Belgian media outlets. A spokesperson for Michel confirmed the announcement to POLITICO. Michel plans to take up his seat in the European Parliament mid-July if he’s elected, meaning EU leaders will have to agree quickly … Read more

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in Belgian elections: La Libre – POLITICO

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in the Belgian elections, local media La Libre reported on Saturday. Claise, an investigating judge who recused himself in mid-2023 from the European Parliament corruption probe, may join the federal list of Défi, a French-speaking centrist party with two seats in Belgium’s federal parliament. Claise declined to comment when contacted … Read more

Judges get dragged into Spain’s toxic politics – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. MADRID — Spain’s latest political turmoil is extending a years-long battle between the two main parties over appointments of top judges.  In recent months, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez secured a new term by offering an amnesty deal to Catalan separatists in exchange for political support. … Read more