The EU has announced that it will provide an emergency macro-financial assistance operation of €1.2 billion in the form of loans to foster stability in Ukraine. It intends to provide swift support in a situation of acute crisis and to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. The Council finalised the adoption on Monday only 21 days after the Commission presented its proposal. The…
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a robust statement in response to latest developments in the Ukraine crisis. She said, “EU Member States have given their political agreement for a new package of sanctions against Russia. I welcome this. Russia’s decision to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk is illegal and…
Early this year, the Commission announced it will buy 1.8 billion additional Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses. This made Pfizer the EU’s most important vendor. The deal was clinched via calls and text messages between the company’s CEO and the president of the European Commission. Left group Co-President Manon Aubry is seeking to put on the agenda of…
The European Union-African Union Summit opens on Thursday 17th February, and a thorny question is whether or not an invitation will be extended to the Western Sahara to attend. After today’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the European Union stressed in the clearest way, that its position has not changed regarding the Western Sahara saying that none…
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 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…
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….
