Photo by Jannik on Unsplash The EU and NATO share a common interest in preventing disruptions to critical infrastructure that provides essential services to citizens and supports their economies. Russia’s war against Ukraine has, says the EU and NATO, brought “new risks, physical and cyber-attacks, often combined as a hybrid threat.” The EU and NATO have now announced…
Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash The EU has spelled out how it aims to address the growing impact of climate change and environmental degradation in the fields of peace, security and defence. The commission says that ecurrent climate extremes, rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification, water scarcity, threats to biodiversity, environmental pollution and contamination are threatening the health and…
Photo by Kadri Karmo on Unsplash The EU Commission has announced it will provide additional EU funding for EU farmers. It will go to those who are “impacted by adverse climatic events, high input costs, and diverse market and trade related issues.” The new support package, unveiled on Monday, will consist of €330 million for 22 Member States. In addition, Member States…
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has presented the details of the Commission’s proposal for a new Ukraine Facility that, if adopted by the European Parliament and Council of the EU, will mobilise up to €50 billion over four years in the form of both grants and loans. The details were outlined…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash On 22 June the Commission paid €1.5 billion under the “Macro financial Assistance” package for Ukraine, worth up to €18 billion in total. With this instrument, the EU says it seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023. This support will help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential…
Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash The European Commission has authorised three genetically modified maize and renewed the authorisation for four genetically modified crops, three soybeans and one cotton for food and animal feed. The Commission’s authorisation decision does not allow for their cultivation in the EU, only for their use as food and animal feed. These genetically modified crops have gone through…
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash The European Commission has proposed new rules which, it says, will make withholding tax procedures in the EU “more efficient and secure” for investors, banks and EU Member State tax administrations. The initiative and the Commission’s 2020 Action Plan on the Capital Markets Union will, says the EC, “promote fairer taxation,…
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash The European Union has faced a series of unprecedented and unexpected challenges since the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2020. The European Commission says that “barely out of one of the deepest global economic crises in more than a century, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine had huge humanitarian, economic and budgetary consequences.” Within…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash MEPs have call on NATO allies to “honour their commitment” to Ukraine and pave the way for Kyiv to be invited to join the defence alliance. In the resolution, adopted with 425 votes in favour, 38 against with 42 abstentions, MEPs stress that they expect that the “accession process will start after…
Photo by Malu Laker on Unsplash Young people should receive the same pay and social security benefits as other workers, including the same minimum wages, which is still not the case in all Member States The EU and Member States need to put an end to discriminatory practices against young people, such as low youth minimum wages and…
