The Commission has adopted three new initiatives that are necessary for making the Green Deal a reality. The Commission is proposing new rules to curb EU-driven deforestation, as well as new rules to facilitate intra-EU waste shipments to promote circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste and waste challenges to third countries. The…
Economy
EESC Assesses What is Needed for EU Recovery
An event organised by the EESC has investigated what measures other than gross domestic product (GDP) could help the EU recover successfully and build a sustainable and resilient economy. The European Union needs indicators that can complement GDP to address and assess 21st century global challenges such as climate change, poverty and resource depletion, while at…
ECFR Report on Germany’s Impact on EU
A major pan-European polling round, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) asked citizens of the EU’s 12 most important member states for their thoughts on German leadership within the EU-27, both retrospectively, with regards the Merkel-era, and how they see Germany’s representation in Europe changing beyond this week’s elections. The findings include: There is enduring support in Europe for Angela Merkel…
EU Must Call Out Rights Abuses
Commission head Ursula von der Leyen says the EU must “call out ” rights abuses. In her state of the union address, she said, “We are firm believers in the strength and value of cooperating in international bodies” “It is with a strong United Nations that we can find long-term solutions for crises like Libya…
Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer?
Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer? Don’t bet on it, writes Zach Meyers, of the Centre for European Reform. British consumers have become accustomed to using their mobile phones without incurring any additional charges while visiting the EU. Prominent Brexiters, such as British justice secretary Dominic Raab, promised that…
Czech and Ireland’s Recovery and Resilience Plans
EU economy and finance ministers have welcomed the assessment of the Czech and Irish recovery and resilience plans. Council implementing decisions on the approval of the two plans will be adopted by written procedure shortly after today’s ministers’ video conference. The adoption of the decisions will allow these countries to start implementing reforms and investments outlined…
Impact of Open Source Software on EU Economy
The Commission has published the results of a study analysing the economic impact of Open Source Software and Hardware on the European economy. It is estimated that companies located in the EU invested around €1 billion in Open Source Software in 2018, which brought about a positive impact on the European economy of between €65…
Commission Grants €24.9 billion to Italy under NextGenerationEU
The European Commission has disbursed €24.9 billion to Italy in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country’s grant and loan allocation for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under NextGenerationEU. Italy is one of the first countries receiving a pre-financing payment under the RRF. The pre-financing will help to kick-start the implementation of the crucial…
EIB approves €10.2 billion to strengthen economic resilience
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved EUR 10.2 billion of new financing to support business investment and strengthen economic resilience to COVID-19, accelerate the green energy transition, expand sustainable transport and improve health, education, social housing and urban development. “The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, and economic consequences continue to be felt around…
30th Economic Forum – September 7-9 in Karpacz, Poland
The Economic Forum, which is the largest economic conference in Central and Eastern Europe, is changing its location. The jubilee 30th Economic Forum will be held in Karpacz on September 7-9, 2021. Located in the very centre of Europe, the hospitable land of Lower Silesia will open up to several thousand conference participants, offering a good…