Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang meets with European Council President Michel
China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang met with European Council President Michel during the East Asia Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.
11/10/2024
ON THE TOP
IPCC meets in Bulgaria to consider detailed report timeline
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will meet for its 61st Plenary Session in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, from 27 July to 2 August. During a week-long meeting the delegates of 195 member governments will discuss important matters related to production of IPCC reports during the 17th assessment cycle.
31/07/2024
Code of Practice for general-purpose Artificial Intelligence: EU launches consultation
The European AI Office has opened a call for expression of interest to participate in the drawing-up of the first general-purpose AI Code of Practice. Read here how to take part in the consultation.
30/07/2024
Euro Area: IMF Executive Board concludes 2024 consultation
The euro area economy has been resilient in the face of multiple, large shocks, including the pandemic, Russia’s gas shut-off, and fallout from the war in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the adverse shocks have had persistent effects which shape economic prospects. Energy-intensive industries, in particular, have struggled to adjust to higher input costs and continue to underperform. Despite subdued overall activity, employment growth remains robust. Inflation has declined significantly from its late-2022 peak in response to the ECB’s policy tightening and the decline in commodity prices.
30/07/2024
LATEST NEWS TICKER
BUSINESS
Illegal products: EU Commission requests clarification from Temu
Today, the EU Commission has sent a request for information (RFI) to Temu requesting the platform to provide detailed information and internal documents on the mitigation measures taken against the presence and reappearance of traders selling illegal products on its online marketplace.
11/10/2024
Spain: EU Commission preliminarily agrees on 4th RRF payment request
The payment request covers 34 reforms and 26 investments driving positive change for citizens and businesses in Spain in the areas of the green and digital transitions, the pension system, research, development and innovation, education and vocational training, employment, digitalisation of public services, forestry and water management, and inter-territorial cooperation.
12/06/2024
Croatia: EU Commission endorses assessment of Croatia’s 5th RRF payment request
15 reforms and 16 investments will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Croatia in the areas of digitalisation, public administration, clean mobility, water and wastewater management, tourism, the judiciary, education and health.
12/06/2024
EU Commission clears acquisition of Alpha Bank Romania by UniCredit
The transaction relates primarily to various banking and financial services in Romania, such as retail and corporate banking, financial market services and other financial services.
12/06/2024
ECR grows to 77 seats after first parliamentary group meeting
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament has welcomed new MEPs in the Group’s first meeting after the European elections.
12/06/2024
EU Commission clears acquisition of Fortenova Group by Pavao Vujnovac
The transaction relates primarily to the agricultural sector, as well as to the food production and supply of daily consumer goods in Croatia, Slovenia and various non-EU countries in the Balkans.
12/06/2024
2024 EU Prize for Citizens Science: marine pollution, agricultural biodiversity, mental health
Citizen science – the general public engagement in scientific research activities – contributes to a vibrant civil society and is getting increasingly popular with Europeans.
12/06/2024
Fisheries and maritime funding: EU Commission launches consultations
The European Commission has launched two consultations to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of past and current funding programmes for fisheries and maritime activities.
12/06/2024
Ukraine Recovery Conference: Rede von Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier
“Wir bleiben an der Seite der Ukraine im Kampf gegen den russischen Angriff! Wir unterstützen Sie und Ihr Land, und zwar so lange es notwendig ist! Und wir unterstützen Sie in den kommenden Jahren, wann und wo immer der Kampf durch Wiederaufbau ersetzt werden kann!” – Bundespräsident Steinmeier.
12/06/2024
U.S. Federal Reserve maintains target range for federal funds rate at 5.25 to 5.5 percent
In support of its goals, the Federal Reservce Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate. In considering any adjustments to the target range, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.
12/06/2024
EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: EU Commission presents Common Implementation Plan
The Common Implementation Plan provides a template for National Implementation Plans to be adopted by Member States by the end of this year. It groups legal, technical and operational work into 10 building blocks. What will they cover?
12/06/2024
Chinese e-vehicles: EU Commission investigation pre-discloses unfair subsidies
An EU Commission investigation provisionally concludes that electric vehicle value chains in China benefit from unfair subsidies. The Commission has reached out to Chinese authorities to discuss these findings and explore possible ways to resolve the issues identified in a WTO-compatible manner. How politicians and stakeholders react.
12/06/2024
Retail investment package: EU Council agrees on its position
The package introduces a new concept of ‘Value for Money’ to ensure that investment products are offered to retail clients only if they offer good value for money. Furthermore, the Council wants remove the proposed ban on ’inducements’ (often called “commissions” or “retrocession fees”) received for execution-only sales wihout advice is provided to the investor.
12/06/2024
DIGITIZATION
Illegal products: EU Commission requests clarification from Temu
Today, the EU Commission has sent a request for information (RFI) to Temu requesting the platform to provide detailed information and internal documents on the mitigation measures taken against the presence and reappearance of traders selling illegal products on its online marketplace.
11/10/2024
Single Currency Package: New EU Commission proposals on cash and digital euro
The EU Commission has today put forward two proposals to ensure that citizens and businesses can continue to access and pay with euro banknotes and coins across the euro area, and to set out a framework for a possible new digital form of the euro that the European Central Bank may issue in the future, as a complement to cash. What would that mean for our daily lives?
28/06/2023
Our stakes in digital diplomacy – Blog post by EU HR Borrell
“The idea that the Internet should be the tool of states leads to the Internet as a tool for control of populations, rather than a source of innovation and free speech.”
28/06/2023
Data Act: EU Council and Parliament strike deal on fair data access and use
The regulation proposes new rules on who can access and use data generated in the EU across all economic sectors. It aims to ensure fairness in the allocation of value from data among actors in the digital environment, stimulate a competitive data market, open opportunities for data-driven innovation, and make data more accessible to all.
28/06/2023
HLED: EU and Japan strengthen cooperation on digital trade and economic security
The Executive Vice-President and the Ministers concluded the EU-Japan Digital Trade Principles. This instrument will be key for bilateral trade and investment, as it will establish a common understanding on key issues relevant to digital trade and a joint commitment to an open digital economy, free of unjustified barriers to international trade.
27/06/2023
Transport: MEPs back deal on intelligent transport systems rules
The provisional agreement reached earlier this month between Council and Parliament negotiators, led by EP rapporteur Rovana Plumb (S&D, RO), seeks to digitalise the transport sector and ensure that data between mobility apps will be shared more widely in order to make mobility safer, more efficient and sustainable.
27/06/2023
Towards a global digital health certificate: EU Council adopts recommendations
The recommendation encourages member states to join, follow and participate in the further development of the WHO global digital health certification network. Until member states are connected to it, and during the period until the end of the year, they are encouraged to remain connected to the EU Gateway (the EU’s existing digital infrastructure for the verification of certificates).
27/06/2023
Main results of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, 26 June 2023
EU ministers reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine during the counteroffensive as far as both equipment and training are concerned. Regarding the latter, the High Representative informed the Council that the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) had already trained 24 000 Ukrainian soldiers, allowing the EU to reach the 30 000 target well before the end of 2023.
26/06/2023
EU cybersecurity: EU Commission welcomes deal between MEPs and EU Council
The EU’s existing Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-EU) will be developed into a Cybersecurity Service for the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. It will provide guidance, recommendations, and information about cyber vulnerabilities, incidents and attacks.
26/06/2023
State aid: EU Commission formally adopts GBER to facilitate green and digital transition
The GBER declares specific categories of State aid compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, provided that they fulfil certain conditions. It therefore exempts these categories from the requirement of prior notification to and approval by the Commission, enabling Member States to grant the aid directly and informing the Commission only ex-post.
23/06/2023
U.S. National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee releases first report
The U.S. NAIAC has delivered its first report to the president, established a Law Enforcement Subcommittee to address the use of AI technologies in the criminal justice system, and completed plans to realign its working groups to allow it to explore the impacts of AI on workforce, equity, society and more.
22/06/2023
SECURITY
EEAS Statement on the death of a Ukrainian journalist in Russian captivity
The European Union is appalled by the reports about the death of Ukrainian freelance journalist Victoria Roshchyna while in illegal arbitrary Russian detention.
11/10/2024
Switzerland stands firm on nuclear weapons treaty direction
On the basis of a new comprehensive reassessment, the Federal Council decided at its meeting on 27 March 2024, that there is currently no reason to change its position on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which entered into force in 2021. It has therefore reaffirmed the conclusion it reached in 2018 and 2019 and has decided that Switzerland will not join the TPNW for the time being.
28/03/2024
Summit for Democracy 2024: Speech by Swedish PM Kristersson
Democracies deliver more peace and stronger economies than autocratic countries. As elected governments, we must respond to our citizens’ needs, or be voted out. Accountability is the simple secret to the power of democracy.
The past decades have brought large changes: globalisation, digitalisation, the climate crisis. Our citizens are right to demand better responses to these changes. Democracies need to continue to deliver for our citizens.
28/03/2024
Gaza Reconstruction: EU Commission appoints Henrike Trautmann as Principal Adviser
The European Commission has appointed Henrike Trautmann as Principal Adviser ‘for Reconstruction in Gaza’ at the Directorate-General for the European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the Commission.
27/03/2024
EU Commissioner Ivanova visits China and Japan to strengthen cooperation
EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova will commence a 3-day visit to Beijing for the next edition of the EU-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue. After her visit to China, the Commissioner will visit Tokyo from 1 to 4 of April. She will attend this year’s edition of the EU-Japan Policy Dialogue in the field of education, culture, and sport.
27/03/2024
MEPs in Kyiv call for more support for Ukraine to drive back Russia
A delegation of prominent MEPs from a number of committees visited Kyiv for talks with high-level representatives of the Ukrainian government, the Chairman and leadership of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and civil society groups. MEPs were warmly received and heard strong messages of gratitude for all the support already provided to Ukraine by the EU.
26/03/2024
Vice-President Jourová discusses disinformation and information integrity in the USA
Vice-President Věra Jourová is on a visit to Washington DC and New York City. She will discuss common efforts in combating disinformation and foreign interference and ensuring transparency and trust in election processes.
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
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
eID: EU Council adopts legal framework on a secure digital wallet
The adoption of the European digital identity regulation (eID) is a milestone in our society’s digital transformation. Enabling citizens to have a unique and secure European digital wallet while remaining in full control of their personal data is a key step forward for the EU.
26/03/2024
Eurojust coordinates arrests in Swedish cannabis trafficking case
Eurojust has supported the Swedish and Spanish authorities in the coordinated arrest of four suspects involved in the wholesale and transport of cannabis and other illicit drugs.
26/03/2024
U.S. Treasury designates Russian companies supporting sanctions evasion
The Department of the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned thirteen entities and two individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy.
26/03/2024
UK holds China state-affiliated attackers responsible for malicious cyber-activity
UK calls out pattern of malicious cyber activity by Chinese state-affiliated organisations and individuals targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians.
25/03/2024
SUSTAINABILITY
Eurostat reports increase in EU exports of recyclables in 2023
In 2023, the EU exported 8.5 million tonnes of recyclable products (paper, plastic and glass) to extra-EU countries, a 34% increase from 2022 (6.4 million tonnes), while imports dropped by 19% to 3.2 million tonnes, down from 4.0 million tonnes in 2022.
11/10/2024
Eurelectric: Double investments in power distribution or lose the race to net-zero!
Europe’s distribution grids need to be urgently modernised to enable massive electrification of transport, heating and industry, integrate renewables and withstand more frequent extreme weather and cyber threats.
23/05/2024
Wind Europe: France commits to big offshore wind volumes
Last year, France raised its offshore wind target for 2050 to 45 GW, with an intermediate target of 18 GW by 2035. On 2 May the Government published a new offshore auction schedule. It clarifies auction timelines, identifies new sites and extends existing ones.
23/05/2024
Eurostat: Exports of recyclable raw materials increased in 2023
In 2023, exports of recyclable raw materials – which include recyclable waste and scrap as well as other secondary raw materials (by-products) – from the EU to non-EU countries amounted to 39.3 million tonnes.
23/05/2024
Hungarian government rejects political pressure on where it buys its energy
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the Hungarian government rejects all attempts at political pressure on where it buys its energy.
22/05/2024
EU survey finds low pay makes Europe’s domestic and home care sector unsustainable
Working conditions of domestic and home care workers across Europe are not sustainable, according to a new Europe-wide survey released today.
22/05/2024
Ten-Year Network Development Plans: ENTSOs release their joint Draft Scenarios
ENTSO-E and ENTSOG have released today their draft joint Scenarios, which will be the basis for the electricity and gas Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDPs) 2024.
22/05/2024
EU Commission reports about the state of the European Health Union
Today, the Commission adopted a Communication on the European Health Union, which highlights the strides made in EU health policy over the last four years, for the benefit of citizens in the EU and worldwide.
22/05/2024
EEA: Most textile waste goes unsorted in Europe
From 2025 on, EU Member States must put separate collection systems in place for textiles. A briefing by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that most textile waste in Europe currently ends up in mixed waste and that sorting and recycling capacity need to be urgently scaled up.
22/05/2024
9th IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
The IEA’s 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency will bring together global leaders in government, business and civil society – from across every continent – to accelerate policy action on energy efficiency.
22/05/2024
Results of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, 21 May 2024
Brussels, 21 May 2024 Ministers held a policy debate on a collaborative approach to coherent implementation of
22/05/2024