Commission Approves €500m MFA Loan to Ukraine

The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has approved the disbursement of a €500 million loan to Ukraine as part of its fourth macro-financial assistance (MFA) programme.  With this disbursement, the EU has now provided Ukraine with €3.8 billion in MFA loans since 2014. This is the largest amount of MFA the EU has…

New Labelling Scheme for Car and Truck Tyres

Under new rules adopted by the European Parliament, as already agreed with the Council of Ministers, tyre labelling will have to inform consumers about the tyre’s fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise. The aim is to increase consumer awareness, improve safety and decrease noise pollution. In the future, information on mileage, abrasion, retreaded…

COVID-19 Diagnostics and Treatments

The Innovative Medicines Initiative has provisionally selected 8 projects for funding from its fast-track Call for proposals on coronavirus diagnostics and treatments. In addition, it has boosted the IMI funding pot from EUR 45 million to EUR 72 million. On top of this, EFPIA companies, IMI Associated Partners and other organisations will contribute over EUR…

EU Mexico Seal Trade Deal

The European Union and Mexico have concluded the last outstanding element of the negotiation of their new trade agreement.  Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and Mexican Minister of Economy Graciela Márquez Colín agreed by telephone on the exact scope of the reciprocal opening of public procurement markets and a high level of predictability and transparency in public procurement…

Ukraine Land Reform

The President of Ukraine has signed the law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Conditions of Circulation of Agricultural Land” Law № 552-IX was originally approved by the Verkhovna Rada on 31 March. The document provides for the formation of a legislative framework for the introduction of market circulation of agricultural…

EU Belarus Co-operation

Civil Liberties MEPs have backed two agreements with Belarus to facilitate the return of persons without the right to stay and the issue of visas for short trips. These texts have been under negotiation for 5 years. In a remote voting session, the Civil Liberties Committee endorsed the readmission agreement with 54 votes to 13….

Aid for Media and Culture Sectors Needed

Europe's Cultural Sector Needs Support

Additional EU action is needed to make sure EU help reaches the ravaged media and culture sectors, say EP Culture committee members. The culture and creative sector in the EU – especially individual creators and SMEs – and the media sector are being decimated by the crisis. The European Union must therefore do more to…

Data Protection To Help In War Against Coronavirus

The European Commission has published guidance on the development of new apps that support the fight against coronavirus in relation to data protection. The development of such apps and their take up by citizens can have a significant impact on the treatment of the virus and can play an important role in the strategy to…

The EU Needs Solidarity to Tackle a Virus That Knows No Borders

European Parliament Leaders issued the following statement this morning. “The pandemic knows no borders. Our defences against the virus are only as strong as those of the weakest countries.” “We, in our capacity as the Chairs of Parliament’s bodies responsible for EU foreign policy and action, fully support all the efforts of the EU institutions…