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Added on the 19/07/2017 11:53:01 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
During a press conference with Belgian PM Alexander de Croo and Polish Pm Donald Tusk, EU chief, Ursula Von der Leyen, announces that aid for Poland frozen over rule-of-law row has now been unblocked. SOUNDBITE
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says Poland will only receive the money from its 35.4-billion euro ($38 billion) post-Covid economic recovery package if it carries out rule of law reforms. She says the EU's approval of the plan announced on Wednesday is "important" but only "a first step, as the money will be disbursed when the reforms and investments are in place". SOUNDBITE
The EU says there is "no excuse" for Turkey to abandon the rule of law after the failed coup, which led to thousands of arrests made in the armed forces and judiciary. Yiming Woo reports.
Images of Poland's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, gathering in Warsaw as they are expected to loose the majority in the country's parliamentary elections. The opposition party Civic Coalition (liberal), along with the Third Way and Left parties are tipped to win 248 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, according to an exit poll. IMAGES
The EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis warned Tuesday that Chinese regulations governing the transfer of data out of the country, including a revised anti-espionage law, could have "unintended consequences". "This may be an issue of systemic concern and it may affect all internationally active companies, not only European companies but also Chinese companies," he said. SOUNDBITE