Following the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 January 2022, the European ministers set several objectives and priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries. Agriculture – Priorities of the French presidency These priorities include, on the one hand, the reciprocity of trading standards – in other words, ensuring (chiefly by means of ‘mirror […]
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Meeting of Secretary of State Blinken with Spanish Foreign Minister Albares
During his first official trip to Washington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation held meetings with top officials of the U.S. Administration and representatives of international institutions. The Minister was accompanied by Secretaries of State Ángeles Moreno Bau and Juan Fernández Trigo, who held meetings with their respective U.S. counterparts. The visit […]
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COVID-19 evolution in Europe
This news item shows updated data, obtained from various official sources (Johns Hopkins University, Reuters, WHO…), on the incidence of diagnosed cases and deaths due to the COVID-19 virus in Europe. As can be seen, it is safe to say that we have entered the sixth wave of this disease. Countries with the highest incidence […]
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COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals and Vaccination and in Europe
EMA: Reassurance about use of mRNA vaccines during pregnancy Vaccination remains a major pillar of the response to COVID-19, particularly as variants of the virus continue to spread in EU/EEA countries. EMA’s COVID-19 task force (ETF) highlights the growing evidence indicating that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines do not cause pregnancy complications for expectant mothers and their babies. […]
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The EU aims for a secure digital marketplace for citizens and businesses
On 25 November 2021, the Council agreed on a general approach for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), two key legislative files to help create a safe and open digital space for EU citizens and businesses. Over the last two decades, digital platforms have become an integral part of our lives – it’s hard […]
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REACT-EU: Spain receives 382.7 million to fight COVID-19 and facilitate the green and digital transition
2022 has started with a new investment in Spain as the European Commission has granted 382.7 million euros to Spain within the framework of Next Generation EU, through the REACT-EU funds. This additional funding under the European Regional Development Fund is added to twelve 2014-2020 operational programmes to help the health system fighting the coronavirus pandemic and […]
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Economic sanctions on Russia renewed for another six months
The Council decided on 13 December to prolong the restrictive measures currently targeting specific economic sectors of the Russian Federation by six months, until 31 July 2022. The Council decision follows the latest assessment of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements – initially foreseen to happen by 31 December 2015 – at the European Council […]
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EU reaction to cyber-attacks on Ukraine
At the meeting held in Brest (France) on January 13-14 and chaired by the High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, the foreign ministers of the EU Member States discussed the foreign policy and strategic security of the European Union. The Strategic Compass, to be adopted in March 2022 and covering the […]
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What is the EU Strategic Compass?
What is the EU Strategic Compass? Over the past twenty years, the European Union has enhanced its role as a security and defence actor. However, in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, the Union faces new threats and security challenges, as hybrid threats, cyber-attacks and foreign manipulation of information. Climate change is a growing threat-multiplier leading […]
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