The arc of military tensions generated by the Kremlin in Eastern Europe is growing by the day, affecting more and more countries. The vortex of geopolitical fears is engulfing more states and increasing the risks to their economies. Despite constant talks and ongoing consultations, the level of confrontation on the Russia-West axis has not abated….
The European Commission has presented its standardisation strategy. It stresses the importance of standardisation for global competitiveness and supports policies aimed at better anticipating and defining the European standardisation priorities. Reaction came from BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer. Beyrer said, “We must consolidate a strong European Standardisation System and improve and speed up standardisation processes which…
Citizens’ support for democracy in the EU has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, says a new Eurobarometer survey published on Tuesday. A near third of respondents (32%) chose democracy as top European value to defend, followed by freedom of speech and thought (27%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (25%),…
The EU Parliament’s LIBE Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has presented for the first time its comprehensive assessment of the EU Commission’s Rule of Law Report 2021. In the report, released in July, the authority had examined the respect for and adherence to rule of law principles in all member states. It…
As from the end of this month, trade in shellfish – such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops – will resume between the EU and the US. Two EU Member States (Spain and the Netherlands) will be allowed to export shellfish to the US, whilst two American states (Massachusetts and Washington) can do the same…
The call comes after one of that country’s most prestigious and expensive private schools, the Pechersk International School, was accused of being involved in “tax optimization.” It is claimed that the school requires children’s parents to pay for education in the form of “charitable contributions” which are then transferred to a specially created public organization,…
The EU says another step has been made to increase access to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care. Ahead of World Cancer Day and a year after the publication of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission is launching a series of new initiatives, announced at the event “Ensuring Equal Access for All: Cancer in…
Campaigners have stepped up their efforts to allow Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, to go abroad for urgent treatment. Zia, the 76-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the main rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been serving a 10-year jail term for corruption. Zia is currently under house…
The Commission said it welcomes a political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on a stronger mandate for Europol, the EU agency for law enforcement cooperation. Under this reinforced mandate, Europol will be able to step up its support to Member States in fighting serious crime and terrorism and tackling emerging security threats….
This week, the LIBE Committee on Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament held a first hearing and exchange of views on the spy scandal in Poland. Shortly before Christmas it became known that mobile phones of prominent Polish figures had been hacked by the internationally known spyware Pegasus. Polish…
