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.
These are the headlines of our weekly Insight EU Finance Monitoring, published Friday.
The green transition will significantly increase demand for key minerals over the coming decades. The impact on energy prices will ultimately depend on how supply adjusts. The European Central Banks’s Blog looks at the geopolitical risks involved.
As included in the sixth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-E.U. Trade and Technology Council (TTC6), the technical dialogue aims at deepening bilateral collaboration on AI and foster scientific information exchange between the EU and the USA.
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.
22 May 2024 Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport Two years ago today, the European Commission,
Germany’s right-wing party Allianz für Deutschland runs into a deep election dilemma: Their lead candidate in the upcoming EU elections, Maximilian Krah, was urged to resign from the party’s board after defending the Nazi SS in an interview. His party obliged him stand still during the EU election campaign, but did not remove him as EU lead candidate.
Paris, 22 May 2024 The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator
The searches took place this week at the request of the judicial authorities in Besançon in France, in the context of investigations into involuntary manslaughter linked to technical failures that led to tyre explosions.
As part of the Article 7(1) procedure, the EU Council discussed the rule of law situation in Poland. Ministers started preparations for the European Council meeting on 27 and 28 June 2024 by discussing an annotated draft agenda.
According to a report by French daily Liberation, the “Rassemblement National” (National Rally, RN) considers to break up with Germany far-right and partly neo-nazist “Allianz für Deutschland” (Alliance for Germany, AfD).
150 European citizens addressed 21 recommendations to the European Commission and national authorities aimed at combatting hatred in all its forms and fostering mutual respect during the final session of the European Citizens’ Panel on Tackling Hatred in Society.
The rules on establishing a European Digital Identity entered into force on Monday. They will pave the way for all EU citizens and residents to benefit from a personal European Digital Identity Wallet in 2026.
UK Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, published updated guidance on the use of powers under the National Security and Investment Act (2021) today. How the National Security and Investment Act could affect people or acquisitions outside the UK.
The EU Commission has given a positive assessment of Ireland’s modified recovery and resilience plan (RRP), which includes a REPowerEU chapter. The plan is now worth €1.15 billion (in grants) and covers 11 reforms and 19 investments.
In the light of Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council today adopted a set of legal acts ensuring that the net profits stemming from unexpected and extraordinary revenues accruing to central securities depositories (CSDs) in the EU, as a result of the implementation of the EU restrictive measures, will be used for further military support to Ukraine, as well as its defence industry capacities and reconstruction.
The EU Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1.7 billion German scheme to support rail freight operators in single and group wagon transport. The measure will contribute to ensuring that the rail freight sector remains competitive while preserving the environmental performance of rail.
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.
16 January 2023 18:00 On Monday 16 January, The Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Jessika
Brussels, 16 January 2023 Euro area enlargement: update on euro cash changeover in Croatia The
Brussels, 16 January 2023 Recent threats to the EU’s critical infrastructure have attempted to undermine
Brüssel, 10. Januar 2022 Anlässlich des Besuches des CEO’s von TikTok, Shou Zi Chew in
Brussels, 10 January 2023 Today, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) launches ‘EIT Campus’, a
Helsinki, 9 January 2023 The European Commission has selected projects to receive grants from the
Brussels, 9 January 2023 The Digital Decade policy programme 2030, a monitoring and cooperation mechanism to
Geneva, 4 January 2022 The media, in all of its forms, is undergoing fundamental changes
Villigen, 30 December 2022 Researchers at PSI have joined forces with employees of the technology
Brussels, 27 December 2022 Renewable energy, the circular economy, migration and online security are all
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 first topic we will discuss is, of course, the unwavering support for Ukraine. And here, I must commend you for the fact that last week you announced a package of military support for Ukraine from Sweden worth EUR 710 million. From the very beginning on, you have been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, and thank you for that. We will also discuss the topic of defence. European citizens want more Europe in defence. For us, it is very clear that it is important to have your opinion in the run-up of the European defence industrial strategy that the Commission will put forward in a couple of weeks.
The smugglers used low quality boats, mainly originating from China, transported via Turkey to Germany. The legal purpose of these boats may include fishing or sailing on rivers and city canals. When used legally, such boats would not be suitable nor safe for the transportation of more than 10 individuals. However, on average, smugglers put around 50 migrants in one of these boats. In total, the investigators have gathered evidence linking at least 55 departures that were facilitated solely by this smuggling network. The suspects collected between EUR 1 000 and EUR 3 000 per migrant for a place on the dangerous vessel. Further investigative activities are ongoing into the individuals managing the financial and money laundering activities for the criminal network.
The other sanctioned individuals include the Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Security Service Department of Operational Intelligence responsible for Russia’s covert operations in the Republic of Moldova notably in the Transnistrian region since 2016. Furthermore, the Council is sanctioning executives of media trusts owning several media channels in the country, that frequently promote messages aimed at obstructing and undermining the democratic political process. The list also includes other individuals engaged in the dissemination of disinformation and inciting violence and fear, or linked to the “Bank Fraud” case.
EU Member States, with the support of the Commission and ENISA, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, presented a report on the cybersecurity and resilience of the EU communications infrastructures and networks.
On 1 February 2024, European leaders agreed to commit up to $54 billion for a new Ukraine facility to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and modernization, as well as its efforts to carry out reforms as part of its accession path to the EU, until 2027. This will bring the EU’s commitments to date to over $150 billion. Discussions are also underway about continued EU military support for Ukraine and bilateral security commitments. Get the updated details.
The Federal Council decided on 10 March 2023 to include the EU’s temporary humanitarian exemption in the ordinance on measures against Syria. The exemption means that targeted financial sanctions do not apply to activities that are necessary for the humanitarian work of international organisations and some categories of humanitarian actors. The Federal Council’s decision extends this exemption for a further six months, until 12 September 2024.
The UN estimates that nearly 300 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance in 2024. Humanitarian distress is caused especially by disastrous conflicts: every fifth child in the world lives in a conflict zone or has fled home because of a conflict. Severe drought, hurricanes and other extreme weather phenomena caused by climate change also lead to humanitarian crises around the world. Finland contributes towards relieving distress by providing humanitarian assistance through UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement and Finnish civil society organisations.
Today, EU Member States, with the support of the Commission and ENISA, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, presented a report on the cybersecurity and resilience of the EU communications infrastructures and networks. The report identifies threats to communication networks and infrastructure, which exploit vulnerabilities and can pose significant risks to the security and resilience of connectivity infrastructure. The findings on identified threats include, among others, wipers, which can delete or corrupt data on targeted systems, ransomware attacks, supply chain attack and physical attacks.
A large-scale operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities from Belgium, France and Germany and coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, has led to the dismantling of one of the most active networks involved in the smuggling of migrants across the English Channel in small boats. The investigation focused on an Iraqi-Kurdish network suspected of smuggling middle-Eastern and East African irregular migrants from France to the UK with the use of low quality inflatable boats. German authorities raided houses and storage spaces.
The Association Council welcomed the historic decision of the European Council to grant Georgia the status of candidate country on the understanding that the nine steps set out in the European Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 are taken. This took the EU-Georgia relations to a new strategic level. The EU took note of the adoption of the action plan to address the nine steps by the Government of Georgia in advance of the European Council decision and encouraged Georgia to further progress on reforms. It emphasized the importance of fulfilling the conditions specified by the European Commission through meaningful and irreversible reforms, prepared and implemented in consultation with the opposition and civil society. The EU stressed that Georgia’s progress towards the European Union will depend on its own merit in meeting the accession criteria.
Three individuals, suspected of being the ringleaders of the fraud scheme, were arrested in Germany. During the searches, carried out in several locations across Germany (including Munich, Cologne and Rostock) and Italy, over 40 expensive vehicles and a luxury apartment in Munich were seized. In addition, several bank accounts, valuing over EUR 1.2 million were frozen. Law enforcement seized cash in several currencies, as well as luxury watches, jewellery and several luxury bags found in the suspects’ residences. Officers on the scene found a robot used to print signatures in invoices and discovered a weapon.
National authorities in Latvia, Germany, France, Italy and Malta have carried out over 100 searches in a large-scale operation against a Russian-Eurasian criminal network and a Maltese-based financial institution allegedly involved in money-laundering services. Four suspects were detained during an action day supported by Eurojust and Europol. Potential suspects and witnesses were also interviewed in Latvia, Germany, Estonia and Malta.
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 Artemis Accords are a set of non-legally binding principles that describe a vision to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities in space, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
Europe has an EU-wide legal framework (generally called ‘REMIT’) designed to prevent and protect consumers and business against market abuse in the European electricity and gas markets.
As transport has accounted for the majority of fossil fuel use for decades, the G7 transport ministers affirmed their intent to continue and strengthen cooperation with relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, including UNECE, to develop internationally harmonized safety and emissions regulations, and guidelines for vehicles to transition away from fossil fuels.
This initiative is part of the EU’s zero-tolerance vision on drugs and follows the call for evidence on the diversion of trade in drug precursors published in May 2023.
Post-vaccination surveillance is crucial for promptly detecting outbreaks of avian influenza and proving disease freedom, enabling the safe movement of birds. This is the key outcome of EFSA’s new scientific opinion, which also assesses risk mitigation options following emergency and preventive vaccination.
“The single market is a fundamental asset, a fundamental tool. Thanks to the single market, we have made a lot of progress over the last decade in building a more prosperous European Union with positive consequences for our citizens across the EU” – Council President Charles Michel.
European Energy Ministers met in Brussels for an informal ministerial meeting under the Belgian presidency to identify barriers- and find solutions to ensure a massive roll-out of grid infrastructure across Europe, required to accelerate the energy transition and increase European energy.sovereignty.
Auf der Grundlage von empirischen Daten aus mehr als 1.600 Regionen der letzten 40 Jahre haben Forschende des Potsdam-Instituts für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK) die zukünftigen Auswirkungen veränderter klimatischer Bedingungen auf das Wirtschaftswachstum berechnet.
The European Commission has adopted an amendment to its current Work Programme of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. The amendment mobilises previously unallocated Horizon Europe funding to increase the 2024 budget by nearly €1.4bn to a total of €7.3bn.
The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning. This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published today.
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