#ITALY: PM Renzi In Escalating Conflict With Merkel, EU, Over Migrant Funding

[world politics news]

The tensions between Rome and Brussels have intensified, with a tough exchange of words in the light of the unfolding refugee crisis. Rome is blocking a European Union plan to provide Turkey with €3 billion in aid, claiming that the amount earmarked for the country (approximately €300 million) should be exempted from the public deficit.

#EU: Euro Comm. Pres. Juncker Says "Quite Sure" Deal Can Be Reached With UK To Meet Its Demands To Stay In EU

[world politics news]

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says that he is "quite sure" the EU and Britain would reach a deal at February’s summit on London’s renegotiation demands to stay in the bloc before a UK referendum this Fall on whether to leave the EU. He said he hopes it can even be moved up to this summer if a deal is reached early.

#EU: First Day Of Emergency EU Summit Ends Without Greek Deal; More Talks Planned

[world politics news]

The first day of an emergecy EU summit on the Greek financial crisis ended Monday without a deal, but EU officials optimistically predicted a deal could be reached within a week. Greece risks defaulting on its debt June 30, when it faces a bailout repayment it will not be able to make without more emergency funds.

Pictured: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (left) with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker.

#HUNGARY: European Comm. Pres. Promises Hungarian PM "A Fight" If He Doesn't Rule Out Re-Introduction Of Death Penalty

[world politics news]

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says that if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán doesn’t make clear he has no intention to reintroduce the death penalty in his country, "there will be a fight." Meanwhile, a Commission spokesperson hinted that the move risked Hungary losing its voting rights in the Union.

Pictured: Viktor Orbán 

#EU: Europe Needs Its Own Army, Says EuroComm. Pres.; UK Immediately Rejects

[world politics news]

European Commission Pres. Jean-Claude Juncker says the European Union needs its own army to help address the problem that it is not “taken entirely seriously” as an international force. An EU army  would help the EU to persuade Russia that it was serious about defending its values. The UK, however, immediately rejected the idea.


INFO: Jean-Claude Juncker is the 12th and current President of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union. He is the former prime minister of Luxembourg.

#ITALY: #EU Comm. Pres. #Juncker Responds to Italian PM #Renzi's Attack: "Not the Leader of a Gang of Bureaucrats"

[world politics news]

In the latest in an ongoing war of words between Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the European Union, European Commission Pres. Jean-Claude Juncker hit back at Renzi's recent remarks about him and the EU, saying he is “not the leader of a gang of bureaucrat.".

#LUXEMBOURG

Ruling Party Suffers Losses But Retains Parliament [world politics news]

Socialist Party head Etienne Schneider shakes hands at the polls Sunday.