While Europe’s environment ministers are set to discuss for the first time the deregulation of a new generation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Friends of the Earth Europe presents a new investigation on what it says truly lies beneath big agribusiness corporations’ push for EU deregulation of new GMOs The briefing debunks the notion that…
The Commission has published the single market scorecard, which shows that, despite improvements in certain areas, better implementation of Single Market rules is needed on the ground. Such improvements would help EU businesses and citizens fully benefit from their freedoms and rights, to facilitate green and digital transitions. Thanks to the Single Market, the EU…
The In Vitro diagnostic medical devices regulation that will apply as from 26 May 2022, can now be progressively rolled out, thanks to its adoption by the European Parliament and the Council. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic Member States, health institutions and economic operators redeployed financial and other resources to address the unprecedented…
The Commission has today agreed with BioNtech-Pfizer to accelerate the delivery of its mRNA vaccine to Member States, starting in a few weeks. In Q1 of 2022, BioNtech-Pfizer will deliver an additional 20 million vaccine doses (5 million in January, 5 million in February and 10 million in March). These doses come on top of…
More coordinated rules for digital platforms are called for in an opinion adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) at its December plenary session. In the global process of transforming industry, digitisation has taken on a fundamental strategic role. The phenomenon is rapidly expanding beyond the borders of the European Union itself. Given the scale…
MEPs want to strengthen current rules and market surveillance to ensure that all toys sold on the EU market, including from non-EU countries and online, are safe. In a report unanimously approved last week with 44 votes in favour, Parliament’s internal market committee stresses that, while the Toy Safety Directive (TSD) provides children with a…
The European Economic and Social Committee launched its vaccination campaign at the December plenary session. Vaccination against COVID-19, along with all the other safety measures, is the best option we have for ending the ongoing health crisis. Currently, the rate of fully vaccinated people varies considerably between countries, ranging from 26% to 82% of the…
The European Court of Auditors has an obligation to report each year on any financial risk arising from legal proceedings relating to the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), the EU system managing the orderly winding-up of failing banks within the Banking Union. For the 2020 financial year, the Single Resolution Board (SRB) has not reported any…
The Commission says it welcomes the agreement reached by EU finance ministers on Tuesday to update the current rules governing value-added tax (VAT) rates for goods and services. These new rules will provide governments with more flexibility in the rates they can apply and ensure equal treatment between EU Member States. At the same time,…
The Commission has approved €654 million to Spain and Hungary under REACT EU following the modification of two Operational Programmes (OP). In Spain, the OP in Valencia will receive an additional €404 million to provide financial incentives to employers for job creation and maintaining employment, as well as for financial support for the self-employed, and funds to…
