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.
As environmental, technological and societal change join forces to disrupt human and planetary health, the world must get better at tracking and responding to a host of emerging challenges, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC).
The Eurogroup agreed on a statement on the economic and budgetary situation in the euro area as well as the fiscal policy stance for 2025. President Donohoe presented the Eurogroup work programme until March 2025. The Eurogroup heard Enrico Letta’s perspective, followed by an exchange of views about the funding gap for investments to enhance competitiveness.
The European Union and Jordan held the fifteenth meeting of their Association Council on 15 July 2024 in Brussels, in which they reviewed their increasingly dynamic and multifaceted partnership.
At the EU Justice Council meeting in Luxembourg, justice ministers addressed the fight against impunity in the context of Russia’s war of aggression and the implementation of the EU anti-racism action plan.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is inviting comments on draft technical standards related to Consolidated Tape Providers (CTPs), other data reporting service providers (DRSPs) and the assessment criteria for the CTP selection procedure under the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR).
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, is launching today a public consultation on proposed changes to the rules for position management controls and position reporting.
EU Ministers held a debate on the EU space law, which the Commission is expected to propose. Ministers also prepared the joint EU-ESA Space Council meeting, which was held after the space part of the Competitiveness Council meeting. The Council adopted conclusions on ‘strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through space’, on EuroHPC for AI, and on research and security.
The far-right parliamentary group Identity and Democracy (ID Group) has expelled their German partner Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), after numerous scandals around the AfD lead-candidate at the upcoming EU elections, Maximilian Krah.
Critical raw materials are resources that are considered important for the whole European economy and face a high risk of supply disruption. The European Critical Raw Materials Act contains a list of critical raw materials and codifies the methodology used for the assessment in law, which will be used to update the critical raw materials list periodically.
The key decisions taken by the EU Commission are presented in this report. The Commission is also closing 74 cases in which the issues with the Member States concerned have been solved without the Commission needing to pursue the procedure further.
The European Commission has fined Mondelēz International, Inc. (Mondelēz) €337.5 million for hindering the cross-border trade of chocolate, biscuits and coffee products between Member States, in breach of EU competition rules. Europe’s wholesale and retail association EuroCommerce sees the fine as “a step forward for the Single Market”.
“The space sector will play an increasingly important role in the strategic autonomy of Europe. An ambitious space policy will create business opportunities and quality jobs in this fast-growing sector, and will also help our economy, both industry and services, to accelerate the green and digital transitions and be better prepared to compete at global level” – Belgian EU Presidency.
Global Gateway is a rare opportunity for the European Union to improve its “value proposition” to the rest of the world. Combined with an incoherent EU foreign policy, many of the EU’s unilateral trade measures have made doing business with the EU less attractive.
“The Competitiveness Check did not really introduce new elements, as our Better Regulation Toolbox is already very comprehensive, but it has ensured a political focus and thus a consistent application” – EU EVP Šefčovič.
“We want to assess macroprudential policies and supervision beyond banks in a cross-cutting way. And I think we need to better understand the risks and vulnerabilities from the different sectors and their impact on the resilience of the financial system.” – EU Commissioner McGuinness.
Working conditions of domestic and home care workers across Europe are not sustainable, according to a new Europe-wide survey released today.
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.
URBACT Online info session: Exchange and learning during the network journey Is the compact city
Brussels, 24 January 2023 On Tuesday, MEPs backed plans to secure the EU supply of
Brussels, 23 January 2023 Today, at an event in Brussels, the Commission is launching the European Cancer Imaging
International Symposium on Central Bank Independence, Stockholm Tobias Adrian, IMF Financial Counsellor and Director of
Brussels, 23 January 2023 On Tuesday from 9.00 CET, MEPs will debate a draft version
Brussels, 23 January 2023 The rapporteur will hold a press conference just after Tuesday’s vote
Brussels, 18 January 2023 The European single market remains one of the EU’s greatest achievements
Strasbourg, 17 January 2023 The European Parliament wants better consumer protection for online video games
Tobias Adrian, IMF Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at
Bern, 16 January 2023 In future, politicians, business and civil society will be working together
At the EU Justice Council meeting in Luxembourg, justice ministers addressed the fight against impunity in the context of Russia’s war of aggression and the implementation of the EU anti-racism action plan.
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.
Ukrainian grain, which is currently being blocked at the border by Polish protesters, does not go to the Polish market, and our country will work to resolve the issue of its transit. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives following talks with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen in Lviv. The Head of State said that a group headed by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal is to arrive at the Ukrainian-Polish border today. The group will include ministers responsible for export and import, logistics, infrastructure, agriculture, as well as heads of the Border Guard Service.
Addressing Security Council members, with several Ministers and ambassadors in attendance, the Secretary-General reminded them of the United Nations principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members. He stated that as per the UN Charter, international disputes shall be settled by peaceful means, and that all States shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other State.
The truth is we – myself included – spent years trying to build a new relationship with Moscow after the end of the Cold War. We did that because we profoundly believe that a secure, stable Russia, at peace with its neighbours, is in our interests and the world’s. It is a tragedy that Putin prefers to hark back to the ninth century to justify aggression, rather than taking up this offer of a different path. And turning to the consequences of all this. The scenes in territories liberated from Russia defy belief.
When Putin launched his illegal invasion two years ago, the free world was united in its response. We stood together behind Ukraine. And on this grim anniversary, we must renew our determination. I was in Kyiv just a few weeks ago and I met wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Each harrowing story was a reminder of Ukraine’s courage in the face of terrible suffering.
The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the provision of material emergency assistance to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The range of assistance provided is broad and covers practically everything other than military equipment. Finland has already sent nearly 300 truckloads of material assistance to Ukraine, including large amounts of assistance for the energy sector, healthcare and rescue services.
On 12 July 2023, during the NATO summit in Vilnius, the Netherlands announced that it would seek to make bilateral security arrangements with Ukraine, following the example of the G7 countries. The Netherlands and Ukraine subsequently entered into talks to work out the details of these arrangements. The security agreement includes arrangements on military support in the medium and longer term, cooperation involving the defence industry, improving Ukraine’s resilience – including its response to cyber threats – and improving interoperability between Ukraine’s army and NATO troops.
We will continue to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs, including deliveries of urgently needed ammunition and missiles. We have taken unprecedented actions at the EU level to ramp up European defence industry production, and we will continue to increase the capacity, which will allow us to step up our military support and cooperation with Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening our defence readiness and European sovereignty. We are also working on future security commitments which will help Ukraine defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future.i
Thank you very much, dear Donald, for hosting us here in Warsaw. It is a pleasure for me to be here with Prime Minister De Croo, Alexander, as Belgian Presidency. It is wonderful to be here because yes, these are momentous times in Poland for the promotion of democratic values. We are impressed by your efforts, and those of the Polish people to restore the rule of law as the backbone of your society. A society where everyone plays by the rules. A society where people and businesses can trust the institutions and can hold authorities to account. Together we will protect the rule of law all over Europe.
The Commission welcomes the signature of the working arrangement between Frontex and the United Kingdom, that takes place today in London. The working arrangement will be signed by the Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens and his counterpart, the Director General of the Border Force, Phil Douglas, and witnessed by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Home Secretary James Cleverly. The conclusion of this working arrangement follows the announcement by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Sunak on 16 May 2023 in Reykjavik, in the margins of the Council of Europe Summit.
We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the suffering of the hostages as well as the Israeli government’s plans for a possible ground operation in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are currently sheltering from the fighting. We recognise the right of Israel to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. We ask the Israeli Government not to take military action in Rafah that would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance.
Frankfurt/Main has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
The EU Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control of NTS Middle East of the United Arab Emirates by ADNOC Drilling Company, Alpha Dhabi Holding, both of the United Arab Emirates, and Tubacex of Spain. The transaction relates primarily to the provision of specialised machining services to the oil and gas sector.
The EU and its Member States welcome today’s Global Stocktaking on the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy. We actively participated in the preparatory process.
World leaders and negotiators meet in Ottawa from 21-29 April for the fourth round of negotiations to prepare a new UN Treaty on global plastic pollution.
EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski will visit China from 21-27 April 2024, leading a senior EU agri-food business delegation aiming to grow European food and beverage exports in this key market.
The European Commission invites comments on commitments offered by Vifor to address competition concerns over the alleged disparagement of its closest – and potentially only – competing treatment in Europe for intravenous iron treatment, Pharmacosmos’ Monofer.
Many of the most commonly farmed and consumed fish in the EU/EFTA show no evidence of parasites that can infect humans. However, parasites were found in some farmed species and more data is needed to determine how prevalent certain parasites are in farmed fish.
During the meeting, Minister Koca and EU Commissioner Kyriakides discussed collaboration on cross-border health threats, the fight against cancer, the impact of climate change on public health and mental health. Both the EU and Türkiye noted the importance of these shared priorities for citizens.
On 17 and 18 April, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, Türkiye and a new European competitiveness dea. The European Council also underlined the Union’s and its Member States’ determination to closely monitor and contain any risks stemming from disinformation compaigns during the upcoming European elections.
“Delivering the clean energy transition on the ground demands huge investments and reform – both of which the EU is delivering on. Under the REPower EU Plan to strengthen energy sovereignty and fast forward the energy transition, we are mobilising close to 300 billion euros” – EU Energy Commissioner Simson.
The evolving concept of energy security must address energy demand, system flexibility, technology access and infrastructure development, says IRENA.
Insight EU is collecting further reactions on the Letta Report update and reforms of the European Single Market.
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