High-Level Group on Wine outlines policy recommendations for the EU wine sector
The High-Level Group on Wine Policy has issued a set of recommendations aimed at securing the fitness of the EU’s…
IMF Europe Director Alfred Kammer: “Europe’s Choice: Policies for Growth and Resilience”
Alfred Kammer, Director of the European Department at the IMF, spoke at the Annual Economics Conference: Pillars of Resilience Amid…
Main results of the EU General Affairs Council, 17 December 2024
EU Ministers focused on preparations for the upcoming European Council, EU relations with the UK and Switzerland, legislative planning and…
Croatia: EU Cohesion Policy supports the expansion of the wastewater infrastructure
The European Commission has greenlit a Cohesion Policy-funded project to upgrade sewerage infrastructure in Zadar and Petrčane aiming at protecting the…
Rule of law breaches in Hungary: EU Commission maintains EU budget protection
The EU Commission has adopted a decision regarding Hungary under the EU budget general regime of conditionality. This decision finds…
Main results of the EU Environment Council and EU Commission statements
EU environment ministers met in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They…
Italy: EU Commission approves state support to renewable electricity production
The EU Commission has approved an estimated €9.7 billion Italian scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources to…
Denmark: EU Commission approves €1.7bn state support for renewable gas production
The EU Commission has approved an estimated €1.7 billion Danish scheme to support the production of renewable gas to be…
Syria: Speech by EU HR Kaja Kallas at the plenary of the EU Parliament
"We know that Syria is very diverse. I agree with those that we do not talk about protection of minorities,…
Moldova: IMF Executive Board concludes reviews of two financing facilities
The IMF Executive Board completed on December 17, 2024, the sixth review under the Extended Credit Facility/Extended Fund Facility (ECF/EFF),…
Financial sector: EU legislators reach deal on better data sharing and less red tape
Growing demand for data makes it necessary to gather them in a consistent and standardised way across the financial sector.…
Main results of the 3rd meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania
The meeting served to open negotiations between the EU and Albania on Cluster 6, including the negotiating chapters on "External…
Lithuania: EU Commission disburses 3rd RRF payment of €463m
Today, the EU Commission disbursed the third payment for €463 million, net of prefinancing, to Lithuania under the Recovery and Resilience Facility…
Slovakia: EU Commission receives 5th RRF payment request for €516.8m
Yesterday, the Commission has received the fifth payment request from Slovakia for €516.8 million in grants (net of pre-financing), under the Recovery…
Poland: EU Commission disburses €9.4bn under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
The EU Commission has disbursed €9.4 billion to Poland as the payment for its second and third instalments under the…
Syria mission: EU Commission President von der Leyen visited Türkiye and Jordan
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen carefully proceeds to build a pro-European alliance in support of democratisation and reform…
TikTok’s election performance: EU Commission investigates suspected DSA breaches
The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against TikTok for a suspected breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The…
EU Council conclusions on European investment protection policy
The Council approved conclusions calling for cooperation of the EU Council, the EU Commission and member states in shaping EU’s…
Reducing plastic pellets losses: EU Council agrees its position and includes maritime transport
Building on the EU Commission's original proposal, the Council's general approach strikes a balance between introducing ambitious and effective measures…
Moldova: EU Council agrees its negotiating position on Reform and Growth Facility
The EU Council today agreed its negotiating position on the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova. The…
EU General Council approves enlargement conclusions
The EU Council today approved conclusions on enlargement covering the six Western Balkans partners, Türkiye, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova,…
The EU Council’s Think Tank Review – December 2024
Reports analyse Europe’s 35-year journey since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which triggered huge political and economic change. Papers examine the potential…
UNECE: Espoo Convention Parties discuss lifetime extension of nuclear power plants
After a year-long deferral, the Parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (the Espoo Convention) and its Protocol on…
EIB provides €243m to ERG for renewable energy projects in Italy, France, and Germany
The EIB's green loan will go towards greenfield onshore wind farms in France, the repowering of existing wind farms in…
Polish EU Presidency: Priorities and activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
During the Polish EU Presidency from January until the end of June 2025, Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will focus…
Towards a circular single market: Keynote address by EU Commissioner Roswall
"As citizens we can all relate to circularity. Recycling paper, glass and plastic has become a daily habit for many…
Sudan: EU Council adds four individuals to sanctions for threatening peace and security
The EU Council today approved additional restrictive measures against four individuals, in view of the gravity of the situation in Sudan, where continuous…
Main results of the EU Energy Council, 16 December 2024
EU energy ministers approved conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of an International Energy Agency report…
Outcome of the 17th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro
Currently, 33 chapters in Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations have been opened. With the provisional closure of three chapters today, a…
EU lawmakers reach provisional agreement on tool to empower EU border regions
EU Parliament and Council teams have reached an agreement on an instrument for overcoming administrative cross-border obstacles that hold back…
Main results of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, 16 December 2024
The EU Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and Georgia. Ministers then discussed the situation…
Guatemala: EU Council renews restrictive measures for another year
The EU Council today renewed for one year, until 13 January 2026, the targeted restrictive measures imposed by the EU against…
Haiti: EU sanctions three individuals involved in escalating gang violence
Today the EU Council adopted restrictive measures against three Haitian individuals in view of the escalating gang violence, unremitting serious human rights abuses committed by…
Archaeological treasures: Four suspects arrested for illegal exports
Italian authorities have disrupted a sophisticated operation that was illegally exporting precious archaeological artefacts belonging to the Italian state. The…
Fighting terrorism and extremism: EU Council reinforces external-internal links
Today, the EU Council approved conclusions aimed at enhancing efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism. Together with the Council…
EU Commission clears acquisition of I.D.C. by Valeo Foods
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of sole control of I.D.C. Holding, a.s. (‘I.D.C.') of Slovakia by Valeo F4…
Italy: EU Commission approves €167m state aid to support the agricultural sector
The EU Commission has approved a €167 million Italian scheme to support the primary agricultural production sector in the context of Russia's war against…
Spain: EU Commission approves €81m state support to Diamond Foundry Europe
The EU Commission has approved a €81 million Spanish measure to support Diamond Foundry Europe in setting-up a new factory for…
ACER publishes monitoring reports on power infrastructure and security of supply
The stakes are high for the clean energy transition. Failing to address power grid capacity needs and the persistent support of…
Netherlands: EU Commission receives 2nd RRF payment request for €1.18bn
The 2nd payment request concerns 15 milestones and six targets. It covers reforms such as the stimulation of the use of renewable energy…
UK: EU Commission takes implementation of law on free movement to the EU Court
Today, the European Commission decided to refer the United Kingdom to the EU Court of Justice for failure to comply with EU…
IRIS² secure satellite system: EU Commission takes next step
The EU Commission has signed the concession contract for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²), a…
UK: EU Commission refers Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to the EU Court
Today, the EU Commission decided to refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to…
Insight EU Finance Monitoring Weekly 9 – 14 December 2024
Here are the headlines from last week’s Insight EU Finance Monitoring, published on Friday night. We provide the headlines with…
Hazardous chemicals: Substances containing benzene dominate import and export
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has evaluated data from Member States and found that imports of hazardous chemicals decreased by…
EDA, NSPA, and OCCAR strengthen collaborative ties
The European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO's Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) discussed…
Road safety traffic offences: EU Council improves cross-border cooperation
To ensure safer road traffic across Europe, the EU Council today adopted a new law amending the 2015 directive on…
EU Council expands use of digital tools and processes in company law
The new EU Directive will make company data more easily available, enhance trust and transparency in companies across member states,…
Non-road machinery regulation: EU Council gives its final approval
The EU Council has today adopted the regulation on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), which…
Sustainable packaging: EU Council adopts new rules for less waste and more re-use in the EU
Today, the EU Council formally adopted a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The new rules will significantly reduce the generation…