212 Defenders of Nature Murdered in 2019

Global Witness has revealed the highest number of land and environmental defenders murdered on record in a single year, with 212 people killed in 2019 for peacefully defending their homes and standing up to the destruction of nature. Its annual report also sheds a light on the urgent role land and environmental defenders play in fighting climate breakdown,…

Embracing Digital Transformation

Europe is not fully benefitting from advanced technologies to innovate and remain competitive. In 2016, the European Commission launched the Digitising European Industry (DEI) initiative to boost the digitalisation of EU businesses. Despite the Commission’s efforts to support national authorities, progress of the initiative has been uneven among the Member States, according to a new…

eHealth Security

The EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and The Danish Health Data Authority will this week launch the 6th annual eHealth Security Conference: “Working together towards secure eHeath”.  This year’s programme consists of a series of panel discussions about the major cyber challenges facing Europe’s healthcare sector.  The series will span three months, with each month exploring…

EESC Civil Solidarity Prize

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) invites civil society organisations, private companies and individuals from the European Union and the United Kingdom to submit their projects for its unique Civil Solidarity Prize, launched in July as a special, one-off replacement for its flagship annual Civil Society Prize. The EESC aims to reward as many as 29…

Brussels Airport Health Accreditation

Brussels Airport complies with the recommendations by ICAO and the protocol issued by EASA/ECDC to ensure that it has Airport Health Accreditation. The Airport makes every effort to ensure that their facilities are hygienic and safe to welcome passengers. The combination of the various health safety measures allows them to meet the highest standards, and to satisfy…

Ideas for a New World

On 23 September at 16.00, the second virtual meeting in a series of public dialogues – ideas for a new world – will take place. The initiative, promoted by the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, brings together philosophers, writers, economists, representatives from European civil society and the world of work.  The aim of the dialogues…

Commission Signs Vaccine Contract with Sanofi-GSK

On Friday, a second contract with a pharmaceutical company entered into force following the contact’s formal signature between Sanofi-GSK and the Commission.  The contract will allow all EU Member States to purchase up to 300 million doses of the Sanofi-GSK vaccine. Moreover, Member States may donate reserved doses to lower- and middle-income countries. Sanofi and GSK…

EP Demands EU Medicine Security

The European Parliament has called for the EU to be more self-sufficient when it comes to medicines and medical equipment so that affordable treatments are available at any time. Parliament addresses the root causes of recent medicine shortages in a resolution, adopted by 663 votes to 23 and 10 abstentions. MEPs call for an increased…