First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council: Remarks by EU leaders
The first EU-GCC Summit will take place in Brussels on 16 October 2024 under the theme: “Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity”.
16/10/2024
ON THE TOP
Eurelectric issues guide to protect biodiversity in renewable and grid projects
The guide elaborates 12 key principles for biodiversity and environmental protection and contains real-life case studies as well as concrete steps for developers to follow when siting, planning, building, operating and decommissioning renewables or grid projects.
14/06/2024
Background briefing on the EU Environment Council
EU environment ministers will be invited to reach a general approach on three proposed directives: the targeted revision of the waste framework directive, the green claims directive and the soil monitoring directive.
13/06/2024
Pornhub, XVideos, Stripchat: EU Commission requests information on illegal content and protection of minors
The EU Commission requests more detailed information on measures taken to diligently assess and mitigate risks related to the protection of minors online, as well as the to prevent the amplification of illegal content and gender-based violence. Among others the Commission is requiring details on age assurance mechanisms adopted by these pornographic platforms.
13/06/2024
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BUSINESS
First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit: Joint Statement
The summit presented an opportunity for the EU to develop a closer partnership with the GCC and its member states: the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait, who are geostrategic partners at a time of challenging geopolitical circumstances.
16/10/2024
Luxembourg: IMF concluding statement of the 2024 Article IV Mission
Despite robust consumption growth, the Luxembourgish economy contracted in 2023 due to weak external demand and residential investment. Growth is expected to rebound in 2024, while headline inflation will continue subsiding, albeit remain somewhat above the ECB’s target.
26/03/2024
Poland: EU Commission approves €180m RRF state aid to support development of intermodal transport
The purpose of the scheme is to develop intermodal transport as an alternative to road transport and improve the competitiveness of intermodal transport services in Poland.
26/03/2024
Malta: EU Commission preliminarily endorses 2nd RRF payment request
The payment request covers important steps in the delivery of 24 reforms and ten investments that will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Malta in the areas of construction, waste management, energy efficiency, transport, digitalisation, healthcare, education and training, justice, anti-corruption and taxation.
26/03/2024
Daisy Chains: EU Council adopts directive on indirect subscription chains
The Council today adopted a directive that amends the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive or (BRRD) and the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation or (SRMR) to include targeted proportionality requirements to the treatment of ‘internal MREL’ in bank resolution groups. The Daisy Chains directive sets out the concept and scope of liquidation entities and provides the conditions for the application of the consolidated treatment of ‘internal MREL’.
26/03/2024
EU Commission approves €600m Italian State aid for operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
The aim of the scheme is to promote cooperation and integration between operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and to stimulate better market relations. In particular, the scheme will support the development of sectoral contracts, through investment aid which will be distributed among a variety of beneficiaries operating in the different segments of the sector, from production to the processing and the marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.
26/03/2024
EU Commission approves amendment of Germany’s commitments in recapitalisation of energy company SEFE
Germany has notified to the Commission a change to the acquisition ban, which will allow SEFE to take over the remaining shares in gas network operator WIGA GmbH & Co KG (which is already owned to almost 50% by SEFE). This amendment is counterbalanced by other additional commitments submitted by Germany, such as additional divestments and wind-downs, a decreased volume commitment and a third claw-back mechanism, which will allow to remedy the distortions of competition.
26/03/2024
Online platforms focus on elections in 3rd batch of disinformation reports
Today, the signatories of the Code of Practice on Disinformation, including major online platforms such as Google, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok, have published the third set of reports detailing the actions they are taking to combat the spread of disinformation online, with a particular focus on the upcoming European elections in June. Available on the Transparency Centre, the reports feature the measures that signatories have already implemented or are planning to take ahead and during the European elections, as well as safeguards related to the risks of generative AI.
26/03/2024
EU Commissioner Breton reacts to CRRC Qingdao Sifang’s withdrawal from procurement amid investigation
The Commission takes note of the withdrawal by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Locomotive Co., Ltd. from a public procurement tender organised by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications. The withdrawal follows the Commission’s announcement of an in-depth investigation under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation. As a result of the withdrawal, the Commission will close its in-depth investigation. The public procurement tender concerns the purchase of 20 electric “push-pull” trains, as well as their maintenance over 15 years. The estimated value of the contract is around BGN 1.2 billion (€610 million).
26/03/2024
Digital transformation: EU and South Korea reaffirm their partnership
During the ministerial meeting, the EU and Korea reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate in key digital technologies for the benefit of citizens and economies. They took stock of the progress achieved since the first digital partnership council and agreed on a list of key areas to further cooperate. The EU and Korea agreed to continue the cooperation on semiconductors, 5G and beyond, quantum technology, platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as cybersecurity, and defined other areas of cooperation such as network connectivity.
26/03/2024
EU Commission probes Zoetis for anticompetitive behavior
The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation to assess whether animal health company Zoetis may have breached EU competition rules by preventing the market launch of a competing novel biologic medicine used to treat chronic pain in dogs. Zoetis is a global animal health company headquartered in the US. Zoetis’ Librela is the first and only monoclonal antibody medicine approved in Europe to treat pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. The medicine is administered monthly and offers a novel pain relief option, particularly relevant for older dogs.
26/03/2024
DSA: EU Commission issues guidelines for election security
Today, the Commission has published guidelines on recommended measures to Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to mitigate systemic risks online that may impact the integrity of elections, with specific guidance for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), designated services with more than 45 million active users in the EU have the obligation to mitigate the risks related to electoral processes, while safeguarding fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression.
26/03/2024
Serbia: IMF staff agreement on 3rd review under the Stand-By Arrangement
The Serbian economy has been preforming well under the IMF-supported program, despite the challenging global and regional environment. Macroeconomic outcomes in 2023 exceeded expectations and are expected to remain strong in 2024. Growth is projected to increase to 3.5 percent in 2024, and to 4.5 percent in 2025, as domestic demand picks up.
26/03/2024
DIGITIZATION
EU Commission clears acquisition of France Billet by Fnac Darty and CTS Eventim
The EU Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control of France Billet SAS by Fnac Darty Participations et Services SA, both based in France, and CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA, based in Germany. The transaction mainly concerns the entertainment and ticketing sectors.
16/10/2024
EU Commission opens in-depth investigation of Czech support to DTT operators
Brussels, 3 June 2022 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether
04/06/2022
Eurocommerce: Simplification measures for a single VAT ID Registration
Brussels, 2 June 2022 Ecommerce Europe and EuroCommerce jointly held a hybrid roundtable in Brussels
02/06/2022
Disinformation: Signatories report on actions to fight COVID-19 disinformation
Brussels, 1 June 2022 The Commission publishes today the last set of reports of the COVID-19 monitoring
01/06/2022
Internal Market Committee MEPs conclude visit to U.S. Silicon Valley
Brussels, 30 May 2022 Last week a delegation from the Internal Market Committee visited leading
31/05/2022
EU ban on Chinese state-owned media outlets – EU Commission answer
May 24, 2022 EN E-000997/2022 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf
27/05/2022
Security Union: 4th report on EU preparedness and resilience
Brussels, 25 May 2022 The Commission is adopting today the fourth progress report on the progress made
26/05/2022
Consumer protection: Stronger digital consumer rules enter info force
Brussels, 25 May 2022 Saturday 28 May marks the date of entry into application of
26/05/2022
Insight EU Smart Cities Monitoring 24 May 2022
RURAL PACT Digitalisation as a chance for rural areas: Rural Pact Conference EU COHESION FUNDING
26/05/2022
High Value Datasets: EU Commission seeks views on Implementing Act
Publication 24 May 2022 The European Commission has launched an open public consultation on the Implementing
25/05/2022
President von der Leyen: Special address at the World Economic Forum
Davos, 24 May 2022 “Check against delivery” Thank you Klaus, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is
24/05/2022
SECURITY
First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit: Joint Statement
The summit presented an opportunity for the EU to develop a closer partnership with the GCC and its member states: the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait, who are geostrategic partners at a time of challenging geopolitical circumstances.
16/10/2024
Niger: Embassy closure (2 January 2024)
The Embassy of France in Niger is now closed until further notice. For the past five months, our Embassy has been subjected to major obstacles that have made it impossible to do its job: a blockade around the Embassy, restrictions on employee movements, and the turning away of all diplomatic personnel who were supposed to arrive in Niger, in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Embassy will continue operating from Paris.
02/01/2024
Schengen: EU Council lifts air and maritime border controls with Bulgaria and Romania
EU member states have reached an agreement on removing air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania. The decision has been taken by unanimity, following a written procedure. The EU Commission welcomes this “landmark Council decision”.
31/12/2023
EU Council prolongs energy emergency regulations until 31 December 2024
The emergency measures were adopted i 2022 following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in order to enhance solidarity between member states, accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and protect EU citizens from excessively high energy prices.
30/12/2023
U.S. Treasury: Countering Houthi maritime attacks on international shipping
The United States is designating one individual and three entities for facilitating Iranian financial assistance to the Houthis that enables attacks on international shipping and other destabilizing activities. Those designated today have facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of U.S.-designated Sa’id al-Jamal, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed Houthi financial facilitator based in Iran.
30/12/2023
UN rights chief warns of ‘dehumanization’ of Palestinians amid West Bank violence
Bulldozers in refugee camps, detainees stripped naked and spat at, farmers robbed of their harvest: against the backdrop of the war in Gaza the situation in the occupied West Bank is “rapidly deteriorating” amid levels of violence not seen in years, UN rights chief Volker Türk warned on Thursday. Commenting on a new report on the West Bank released by his office, OHCHR, Mr. Türk expressed concern at the use of military means and weapons by law enforcement, movement restrictions affecting Palestinians and a sharp rise in settler violence resulting in the displacement of herding communities.
29/12/2023
Lebanon: UN Force condemns attack on peacekeepers
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday condemned an attack on one of its patrols, in which one peacekeeper was injured. The windows of a patrol vehicle were also smashed. The patrol was attacked on Wednesday night (local time) by a group of young men in Taybeh in Marjayoun district, south Lebanon, the Force said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
29/12/2023
Rebuild trust and restore hope in 2024: UN chief’s call
In his message, the UN chief reflected on the pain and suffering afflicting humanity. Conflicts persist, claiming tens of thousands of civilian lives, many of them women and children. Millions have been driven from their homes, facing hunger and disease. At the same time, “the planet is peril”, Mr. Guterres said, marked by record-breaking temperatures and worsening impacts of climate change.
29/12/2023
NATO intercepted Russian military aircraft over 300 times in 2023
In 2023, NATO air forces across Europe scrambled well over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching Alliance airspace, with most intercepts occurring over the Baltic Sea. NATO has standing air-policing missions that calls for Allied jets to scramble when there are signs of Russian military planes approaching Allied airspace in unpredictable ways. Along NATO’s eastern flank, Russian military aircraft have a history of not transmitting a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, not filing a flight plan, or did communicating with air traffic controllers. The vast majority of aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets were safe and professional. Breaches of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft remained rare and generally of short duration.
29/12/2023
UN Security Council: Middle East
The continued daily fire across the Blue Line poses great risk to regional stability. There have been several instances of strikes deeper into the territories of Lebanon and Israel, raising the risk of conflict with potentially devastating consequences for the people of both countries. With the risk of miscalculation increasing, it is crucial that all actors immediately de-escalate and return to the cessation of hostilities.
29/12/2023
UK: Government exceeds target as over 2,100 more county lines closed
More than 2,000 county lines have been dismantled in the last 18 months, as the government hits its target of closing thousands of these criminal networks early. Data published this month shows the ambitious three-year target, made in the government’s 10-year drug strategy, has been achieved in just a year and a half, with dedicated police taskforces from the County Lines Programme arresting senior line holders and breaking the gangs that terrorise communities.
29/12/2023
UN Security Council: UK on the Taliban responsibility to meet international commitments
As we’ve said multiple times in this chamber, we should seize the momentum of the independent assessment with the hope of changing Afghanistan’s current negative trajectory. At the same time, the Taliban has a responsibility to meet its international commitments, including via the immediate reversal of policies restricting women’s rights and fundamental freedoms.
29/12/2023
Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping (Accra, 6 December 2023)
I mention these numbers because we cannot remain indifferent when these soldiers who wear this very iconic blue helmet and who defend this very iconic blue flag of the United Nations are being physically attacked on the ground but are also the targets of hate speech, and I can only agree with the panellists and speakers who think that we need to take action collectively to stop these attacks on the safety and reputation of our Blue Helmets.
29/12/2023
SUSTAINABILITY
First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit: Joint Statement
The summit presented an opportunity for the EU to develop a closer partnership with the GCC and its member states: the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait, who are geostrategic partners at a time of challenging geopolitical circumstances.
16/10/2024
Insight EU Energy Monitoring 26 February 2024
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: EU Commission VP Suica delivers a keynote speech via video message for the opening of the European Citizens Panel (ECP) on Energy Efficiency +++ OPEC and Africa exchange views on array of key energy issues +++ 52nd OPEC Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee +++ NUCLEAR ENERGY: Upcoming IAEA Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels
27/02/2024
EU Commission recommends that Member States continue saving gas to secure supplies and stabilize markets
Gas savings by businesses and citizens across the EU have made an important contribution to tackling the energy crisis, spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Collectively, the EU reduced gas demand by 18% between August 2022 and December 2023, saving around 101 billion cubic metres of gas. These efforts go above and beyond the 15% savings target which was agreed under emergency legislation adopted in Summer 2022, and were essential to preserve stable supplies, stabilise energy markets in the EU, and show solidarity with Ukraine.
27/02/2024
Main results of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 February 2024
Against the backdrop of ongoing farmers’ protests and based on information from the Belgian presidency and a non-paper on simplification prepared by the European Commission, agriculture ministers discussed the current crisis and challenges in the sector.
26/02/2024
Insight EU Environment Monitoring 23 February 2024
UNECE: Executive Secretary to highlight global relevance of UNECE Multilateral Environmental Agreements at UN Environment Assembly +++ UN Environment Assembly: EU calls for cooperation on circular economy, water resilience and ocean protection to address planetary crisis +++ CONSUMER REDRESS: MEPs adopt new rules on out-of-court consumer redress
26/02/2024
Insight EU Climate Monitoring 23 February 2024
NECPS: EU Commission publishes new Recommendations on draft NECPs from Belgium, Ireland and Latvia +++ CLIMATE STATE AID: EU Commission approves €1.3bn German State aid measure funded under Recovery and Resilience Facility to support ArcelorMittal decarbonize its steel production +++ BMWK: Grünes Licht für Grünen Stahl +++ TRADE & CLIMATE: Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis leads EU delegation at 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi
26/02/2024
Insight EU Energy Monitoring 23 February 2024
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: European Citizens’ Panel to discuss Energy Efficiency +++ CLEAN ENERGY: Le cinquième dialogue sur la transition propre mettra l’accent sur le rôle clé de l’infrastructure énergétique dans la transition verte +++ ENERGY REGULATIONS: REMIT breach: Italian energy regulator (ARERA) fines ENET Energy S.A. €940,000 for gas market manipulation +++
Eurogas: National neutrality charges will fragment the EU market and are against the Union’s spirit of solidarity +++ ENERGY MERGERS: EU Commission clears acquisition of Progas by DCC
26/02/2024
More than €425m in Cohesion Funds will ensure commuters in Warsaw a more efficient and frequent rail service
The project, funded under the 2014-2020 cohesion policy programming period, will involve the modernisation of railway tracks, overhead lines, telecommunications equipment, and water and sewage management. Stations will be upgraded, while flyovers, pedestrian bridges, and a pedestrian subway will be built. These features will allow passenger trains to travel at speeds up to 160 km/h at certain sections. The new rail infrastructure will ensure lower maintenance costs accompanied by a greener environmental footprint – it will reduce air and noise pollution and limit accidents.
26/02/2024
Protecting workers against lead and diisocyanates: EU Council signs off on new limit values
Workers are now better protected. For the first time in 40 years, the EU has revisited the limit values for occupational exposure to lead and its inorganic compounds, by reducing them fivefold. These reprotoxic substances can affect sexual function and fertility, and they may also damage the nervous system, among other things. In addition, the directive is the first-ever EU legislation to set limit values for diiosocyanates, a group of harmful substances to which 4.2 million workers are currently exposed and which can cause asthma and dermal diseases.
26/02/2024
Updated fisheries measures in the ICCAT area: EU Council gives final green light
Today the Council has formally adopted a regulation that transposes into EU law certain fisheries management, conservation and control measures in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) convention area. The newly-adopted regulation also updates the multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
26/02/2024
Minutes of the meeting of EEAS SecGen Sannino and U.S. Under Secretary Nuland
Secretary General Sannino and Under Secretary Nuland discussed EU and US diplomacy with China and the trajectory of their respective bilateral relationships. They stressed the importance of recent high-level exchanges and keeping open channels of communication with China to manage competition responsibly.
24/02/2024