Today, the Commission is proposing a targeted amendment of the annexes of the Habitats Directive. This will align the Habitats Directive to the changed protection status of the wolf from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ under the Bern Convention, which entered into force today. The Commission’s proposal will give additional flexibility to Member States in managing their local wolf […]
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Statements by President Von der Leyen on the new defence package
We are living in the most momentous and dangerous of times. I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face. Or the devastating consequences that we will have to endure if those threats would come to pass. Because the question is no longer whether Europe’s security is threatened in […]
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EU defence policy in figures
The EU and its Member States are determined to increase and enhance joint defence spending in response to the unprecedented security challenges and threats facing Europe today. How much do EU member states spend on defence? Between 2021 and 2024, total defence expenditure by EU Member States increased by more than 30%. In 2024, it […]
Read MoreCommission brings relief to European consumers and businesses with Action Plan to save €260 billion annually by 2040
The EU is at a crucial turning point for its competitiveness, decarbonisation and security, with a clear need to act. Structurally high energy costs are hurting our citizens and businesses. The challenges are clear, and so is the role of the European Union to address them. Today, the Commission is putting forward an Action Plan with short-term […]
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Today, the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, will visit Madrid.
Today, Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, will visit Madrid for the first time during this mandate to participate in a series of high-level meetings with Spanish national authorities to strengthen cooperation on key issues for the Mediterranean region. The Commissioner will be received in audience by His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain […]
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“We must be better, stronger and faster”: European leaders’ defence conclusions
On 3 February a meeting took place at the Egmont Palace (Brussels, Belgium) between António Costa (President of the European Council), Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), Mark Rutte (NATO Secretary General) and Keir Starmer (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom). At the event, several relevant aspects of current political affairs were […]
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Informal EU leaders’ retreat
An informal meeting of EU leaders will take place today (3 February) at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels, chaired by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and attended by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has been invited to a lunch, and UK Prime […]
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Advances in security and criminal investigation: get to know the SIRIUS project
Building on six years of successful support to national law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and judicial authorities (JAs) in the field of electronic evidence, Europol and Eurojust launched the third phase of the SIRIUS project in January 2025. 00 Phase 3 of the SIRIUS project will continue to assist LEAs, JAs, and service providers in navigating […]
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PESCO: Switzerland invited to join ‘Military Mobility’ project
The Council adopted today a decision confirming that the participation of Switzerland in the PESCO project ‘Military Mobility’ meets the general conditions set out in Decision (CFSP) 2020/1639 of November 2020, and will bring substantial added value to the project. Today’s decision authorises the Netherlands as project coordinator to formally invite Switzerland to join this […]
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