SAMUEL PETREQUIN

Gagged activists hold a placard as persons wearing a mask of French President Emmanuel Macron stand behind putting his hand on their mouth during a protest Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 in Paris. Activists say that France is vetoing a European decision on rape definition based on lack of consent. The large majority of EU member countries already treat violence against women and girls as a crime but the Commission said last year there are gaps in national legislation. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Activists call on France to endorse a consent-based rape definition across the entire European Union

Activists wearing masks depicting President Emmanuel Macron have urged France to change its position and endorse a law proposed by the European Union that would define rape as sex without consent in the bloc’s 27 countries.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his speech after he was re-elected as party president at the election of officials congress of the ruling Hungarian Fidesz party in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)

Hungary set to receive millions in EU money despite Orban’s threats to veto Ukraine aid

Hungary is set to receive 900 million euros ($981 million) in European Union money despite the Hungarian prime minister’s attempts to scupper the bloc’s support for Ukraine.

FILE - European Union flags wave in the wind as pedestrians walk by EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. EU lawmakers have rejected a proposal from the bloc’s executive arm to set legally binding targets to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 and a ban on all pesticide use in areas such public parks, playgrounds and schools. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

A ‘black day’ for the EU Green Deal: lawmakers reject proposal to cut use of chemical pesticides

BRUSSELS (AP) — In a blow to the European Green Deal, EU lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a plan to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 and to ban all pesticide use in areas such as public parks, playgrounds and schools.

Leader of the Polish Civic Coalition Donald Tusk, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen walk off the podium after addressing a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Poland set to get more than 5 billion euros in EU money after commission approves recovery plan

Poland is expected to receive more than 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in EU funds after the European Commission gave a positive assessment of the country’s revised plan for green reforms and investments.

FILE - Plastic waste runs on conveyor belts at a new plastic waste sorting facility in Motala, central Sweden, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. European Union countries and lawmakers sealed a deal Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 to stop sending their plastic rubbish to poor countries. Under the agreement, the 27 EU countries will no longer be able to export their plastic waste to non-OECD countries within two and a half years after the regulation becomes a law. (AP Photo/David Keyton, File)

EU nations reach major breakthrough to stop shipping plastic waste to poor countries

European Union countries and lawmakers have reached a breakthrough to stop sending their plastic trash to poor countries.

FILE - Containers of Roundup sit on a store shelf on Feb. 24, 2019, in San Francisco. A decision on whether to authorize the use of the controversial chemical herbicide glyphosate in the European Union for at least 10 more years has been delayed after member countries failed to agree. The chemical, which is widely used in the 27-nation bloc, is approved on the EU market until mid-December. (AP Photo/Haven Daley, File)

EU Commission to extend use of glyphosate for 10 more years after member countries fail to agree

The European Commission will continue the use of the controversial chemical herbicide glyphosate in the European Union for 10 more years after the 27 member countries again failed to find a common position.

FILE - A view of a methane digester at the New Hope Dairy in Galt, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. European Union negotiators reached a deal on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector across the 27-nation bloc.One of the biggest causes of climate change is methane gas emissions, second only to carbon dioxide, and the gas also causes serious health problems. Most emissions come from the energy, agriculture and waste sectors. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

EU reaches deal to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector

European Union negotiators have reached a deal to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector across the 27-nation bloc.

FILE - FBI Supervisory Special Agent Stacey Bradley and Special Agent "Jackie" of the Innocent Images Unit monitors possible child pornography offenders on May 4, 2006 in Calverton, Md. in an online chat room. European Union lawmakers adopted Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, a series of proposals to amend a bill from the EU’s executive arm to fight online child pornography as they tried to find the right balance between protecting children and protecting privacy. (AP Photo/Matt Houston)

European lawmakers try to balance protection and privacy with law on explicit images of children

European Union lawmakers have adopted a series of amendments to a draft law that is intended to keep sexually explicit photos and videos of minors from circulating online.

Manchester City's Jeremy Doku controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Belgium coach Tedesco appreciative of Man City’s use of winger Doku ahead of internationals

Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco likes the way Manchester City is taking care of Jeremy Doku by not making him play every minute of a demanding season.

Marseille's Amine Harit, left, and Nice's Dante vie for the ball during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Marseille in Nice, France, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

At 40, rock-solid Dante is crucial in making Nice the best defense in Europe’s top leagues

Enjoying its longest unbeaten run in more than 50 years, French league leader Nice looks like an invulnerable fortress fiercely defended by veteran Dante, who at 40 is as rock-solid as ever.

Porto's Pepe celebrates scoring his side's second goal during a Champions League group H soccer match between Porto and Antwerp at Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Miguel Pereira)

Manchester City and Leipzig advance in Champions League. Veterans Pepe and Giroud shine

Manchester City and Leipzig have reached the knockout stage of the Champions League with two matches to spare.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit, left, tackles New Zealand's Will Jordan during the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

No fireworks: superb defending, grit and resilience lead Springboks to record 4th World Cup win

South Africa has claimed a record fourth Rugby World Cup after a phenomenal defensive effort against the All Blacks.

Supporters of Argentina react after Argentina's Tomas Cubelli scored a try during the Rugby World Cup third place match between England and Argentina at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Stade de France crowd treats England players to hostile chorus of jeers and whistles

Fans at Stade de France have treated England’s players to hostility at the Rugby World Cup by jeering and whistling during the third-place match against Argentina.

South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe races to score his side's third try during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Springboks wing speedster Cheslin Kolbe ready to deliver at scrumhalf if needed against All Blacks

In his bid to help South Africa retain its Rugby World Cup title, Cheslin Kolbe is ready to leave his favorite position on the wing to play at scrumhalf against New Zealand.

FILE - Montpellier supporters react during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes in Paris, on Aug. 13, 2022. A brawl between the coach and a player. Unruly fans throwing an easy match into turmoil. And now a point docked in the standings: Everything seems to be falling apart at French league club Montpellier. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

French club Montpellier in turmoil after point deduction and training-ground brawl

Everything seems to be falling apart at French club Montpellier. The team was docked a point in the standing after fans interrupted a game when Montpellier was heading toward a certain win.

Supporters lit their mobile phones lights after suspension of the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Two Swedes were killed in a shooting late Monday in central Brussels, police said, prompting Belgium's prime minister and senior Cabinet minister to hunker down at their crisis center for an emergency meeting. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

UEFA says result of Belgium-Sweden soccer qualifier will stand after Brussels shooting

UEFA says the result of the European Championship qualifier between Belgium and Sweden will stand after the match was stopped this week when two Swedish fans were killed before kickoff.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, left, and Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, right, lay a floral tribute and a Swedish soccer jersey on the pavement during a commemoration for the victims of a shooting in the center of Brussels, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Police in Belgium on Tuesday shot dead a suspected Tunisian extremist accused of killing two Swedish soccer fans in a brazen attack on a Brussels street. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Deadly attack in Belgium ignites fierce debate on failures of deportation policy

The suspected attacker who killed two Swedish soccer fans in Brussels this week before he was shot dead by police resided in Belgium illegally and had been ordered to leave Belgium years ago.

Sweden supporters wait on the stands after suspension of the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The match was abandoned at halftime after two Swedes were killed in a shooting in central Brussels before kickoff. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Sweden’s soccer fans to be advised against wearing national team clothing on trips abroad

Fans of Sweden’s soccer teams will be advised against wearing clothing in national colors when they travel abroad in the wake of the killing of two Swedish supporters before a European Championship qualifying match in Belgium.

A view of the empty field before the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium was suspended, in Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Two Swedes were killed in a shooting late Monday in central Brussels, police said, prompting Belgium's prime minister and senior Cabinet minister to hunker down at their crisis center for an emergency meeting. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Soccer match between Belgium and Sweden suspended after a gunman kills 2 Swedes in Brussels

Thousands of soccer fans were kept inside Belgium’s national stadium for about 2 1/2 hours after a game between Belgium and Sweden was suspended at halftime following the fatal shooting of two Swedes in Brussels before kickoff.

Supporters wait to leave after suspension of the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The match was abandoned at halftime after two Swedes were killed in a shooting in central Brussels before kickoff. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Sabitzer’s penalty sends Austria to European Championship in day overshadowed by Brussels shooting

Substitute Marcel Sabitzer scored from the penalty spot shortly after entering the game to secure a 1-0 win for Austria at Azerbaijan and send his country to next year’s European Championship in a day overshadowed by a deadly shooting in Brussels which saw Belgium’s game against Sweden halted at hal

FILE - Containers of Roundup sit on a store shelf on Feb. 24, 2019, in San Francisco. A European Union decision on whether to authorize the use of the controversial chemical herbicide glyphosate in the 27-nation bloc for at least 10 more years was delayed for a month after member countries failed to agree on Friday Oct. 13, 2023. Over the past decade, glyphosate, used in products like the weedkiller Roundup, has been at the heart of heated scientific debate about whether it causes cancer and its possible disruptive effect on the environment. (AP Photo/Haven Daley, File)

EU can’t reach decision on prolonging the use of chemical herbicide glyphosate

A decision on whether to authorize the use of the controversial chemical herbicide glyphosate in the European Union for at least 10 more years has been delayed after member countries failed to agree.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, is welcomed by Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo prior to a meeting at the prime ministers office in Brussels, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)

Belgium’s prime minister says his country supports a ban on Russian diamonds as part of sanctions

Belgium’s prime minister says his country, which has the biggest interest in the global diamond trade in the European Union, is supporting a ban on Russian diamonds as part of sanctions targeting President Vladimir Putin’s government for its war against Ukraine.

FILE - Belgium forward Eden Hazard kisses the ball during his official presentation after signing for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, June 13, 2019. Eden Hazard announced his retirement from all soccer on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The 32-year-old Hazard is putting an end to a 16-year-old injury-hit career marked by success at club level and unfulfilled promise with the Belgium national team's “Golden Generation.” (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Eden Hazard retires from soccer

Eden Hazard is putting an end to a 16-year injury-hit career marked by great success at club level and unfulfilled promise with the Belgium national team’s “Golden Generation.”

United States' Simone Biles shows her gold medal on the beam during the apparatus finals at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Geert vanden Wijngaert)

Unstoppable Simone Biles wraps up world championships comeback with 2 more gold medals

Simone Biles has won two more gold medals at the 2023 gymnastics world championships. She first claimed the women’s beam with a superb routine on the final day of the competition, and returned later in the afternoon to take the gold medal in the floor exercise final.

Brazil's Rebeca Andrade celebrates with the national flag after winning the gold medal on the vault during the apparatus finals at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Geert vanden Wijngaert)

Rebeca Andrade wins vault’s world title, denies Biles another gold medal at world championships

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil has denied Simone Biles a 22nd world title by winning the women’s vault competition ahead of the American superstar.

United States' Simone Biles competes on the beam during the women's all-round final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Geert vanden Wijngaert)

Simone Biles wins 6th all-around title at worlds to become most decorated gymnast in history

Simone Biles has won the individual all-around title at the world championships for the sixth time to become the most decorated gymnast in history.

United States' Simone Biles competes on the beam during the women's team final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Simone Biles leads U.S. women to record 7th straight team title at gymnastics world championships

Biles now has 26 world championship medals, 20 of them gold, to go with her seven Olympic medals, including the 2016 Olympic title.

FILE - Stage winner Britain's Mark Cavendish celebrates on the podium after the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France, in Villars-les-Dombes, France, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Mark Cavendish wants another go at the record for most career stage wins at the Tour de France he shares with Eddy Merckx. After announcing his retirement earlier this year, the ace sprinter has backpedaled and will compete with the Astana Qazaqstan team for one more season. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Ace sprinter Mark Cavendish delays retirement to chase outright record for Tour de France stage wins

Veteran sprinter Mark Cavendish wants another go at becoming the outright record-holder for most career stage wins at the Tour de France.

Mariana, center right, Claudia Agostinho, right , Martim Agostinho, second right, Sofia Oliveira, second left, her brother Andre, left, with Catarine Mota, pose with a banner outside the European Court of Human Rights Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Six young adults and children argued that governments across Europe aren't doing enough to protect people from climate change at the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday in the latest and largest instance of activists taking governments to court to force climate action. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

6 young climate activists take European governments to court over climate change

Six Portuguese young adults and children between 11 and 24 years of age were at the European Court of Human Rights Wednesday, accusing 32 European governments of violating their human rights for what they say is a failure to adequately address climate change.

FILE - Cars release exhaust fumes as children head to school in Frankfurt, Germany, Feb. 27, 2023. European Union member countries have watered down a proposal by the bloc's executive arm aimed at lowering vehicle emissions. The European Commission had proposed last year updated pollution standards for new combustion engine vehicles that are expected to remain on European roads well after the 27-nation bloc bans their sale in 2035, with the aim of lowering emissions from tailpipes, brakes and tires. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

EU member states weaken proposal setting new emission standards for cars and vans

European Union member countries have watered down a proposal by the bloc’s executive arm aimed at lowering vehicle emissions.