The Commission adopted the Seventh Progress Report on the implementation of the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020-2025. The report provides an overview of the implementation of the Security Union Strategy since its adoption in 2020. It takes stock of progress and achievements in 5 key areas: protecting the EU’s physical and digital infrastructure; fighting terrorism […]
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Commission invests over €1 billion in 54 ambitious defence industrial projects through the European Defence Fund
the Commission announced the results of the 2023 calls for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) amounting to €1,031 million of EU funding to support 54 outstanding joint European defence research and development projects. The selected projects will support technological excellence across a wide range of defence capabilities in critical areas, including cyber defence, ground, air […]
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EU expands scope of sanctions against Iran
The Council has decided to broaden the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This framework, adopted in July 2023, currently prohibits the export of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the EU to Iran, and […]
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Council calls for more support to promote the positive impact of influencers in the EU
The Council has approved conclusions on ways to support influencers as online content creators in the EU. ‘Influencers’ – online creators who post content on social media and video-sharing platforms – are having an increasing impact on the online content and information that people consume on a daily basis in the EU. While this impact is […]
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Eurojust: Criminal network that stole 170 historical books worth 2.5 million euros across Europe dismantled
Eurojust and Europol have supported the competent authorities in Lithuania, France, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland and Georgia in an international operation against an organised crime group (OCG) that allegedly stole 170 books of high historical and cultural value across several European countries. The stolen books have an estimated value of EUR 2.5 million and were written […]
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Europol: Law enforcement dismantle cocaine lab in Spain with 100 kg monthly capacity
On 30 April, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) arrested 20 suspects after dismantling a cocaine laboratory capable of producing 100 kilograms of the drug each month. A number of those arrested were considered by law enforcement as High Value Targets for their involvement in multiple drug trafficking cases. Officers from the Guardia Civil, working […]
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Cyber: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on continued malicious behaviour in cyberspace by the Russian Federation
The European Union and its Member States, together with international partners, strongly condemn the malicious cyber campaign conducted by the Russia-controlled Advanced Persistent Threat Actor 28 (APT28) against Germany and Czechia. Last week, Germany shared publicly its assessment on APT28 compromise of various e-mail accounts of the German Social Democratic Party executive. At the same […]
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European Commission initiates formal proceedings against Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to assess whether Meta, the provider of Facebook and Instagram, may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA). Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on 30 April: “This Commission has created means to protect European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation by third countries. If we suspect […]
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Commission designates Shein as Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act
The Commission has formally designated Shein as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Shein is a fashion online retailer with an average of more than 45 million monthly users in the European Union. This user number, which Shein has communicated to the Commission, is above the DSA threshold for designation as […]
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