Last September 19 marks a historic milestone for ocean conservation as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement reached 60 ratifications, triggering its entry into force in early 2026. This landmark agreement, the result of over a decade of international collaboration, represents a transformative step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems and addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity […]
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Council signs off regulation to reduce pollution from microplastics
Today, the Council adopted the regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment, following a provisional agreement with the European Parliament. The new regulation aims to reduce microplastic pollution by strengthening controls and management of plastic pellets, a key industrial raw material, throughout the supply chain. Main elements of the regulation The new rules focus on […]
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Commission clears acquisition of Itínere by Swiss Life and APG
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Itínere Infraestructuras, S.A. (“Itínere”) of Spain by Swiss Life Holding AG (“Swiss Life”) of Switzerland and APG Asset Management N.V. (“APG”) of the Netherlands. The operation mainly concerns the management and operation of toll concessions. The Commission has concluded […]
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The Commission is gathering opinions on electrification, heating and cooling
The Commission has launched a series of calls for public consultation on two initiatives that will be key to fully implementing the Clean Industry Pact and the Affordable Energy Action Plan: the Action Plan for Electrification and the Heating and Cooling Strategy. The Action Plan for Electrification will set out how to accelerate the cost-effective […]
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EU donates financial and in-kind assistance due to the earthquake in Afghanistan
Following the strong earthquake that hit north-eastern Afghanistan, the EU has approved €1 million in humanitarian emergency funding to address the most urgent needs of the affected population. This money will go to humanitarian partners that are already carrying out relief operations on the ground. In addition, the EU will donate around 130 tonnes of […]
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The LOCAL-HEAT project promotes solar technology
The EU-funded LOCAL-HEAT project is developing next-generation perovskite materials to make clean energy more accessible and affordable worldwide. One of the main challenges facing photovoltaic energy is how to build high-performance photovoltaic cells that are cost-effective, reliable and sustainable. Perovskites, a unique class of semiconductor materials, offer great potential for addressing this challenge and could […]
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Commission launches consultation on simplification of environmental legislation
On 22 July the Commission launched a call for evidence to gather views on how to simplify environmental legislation, to reduce bureaucracy while maintaining and better achieving the EU’s environmental objectives of this legislation. The forthcoming omnibus environmental proposal will present measures to simplify legislation in areas such as the circular economy, industrial emissions and […]
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Seven European cities reach the final stage for the 2027 Green Capital & Green Leaf Awards
Seven cities have been shortlisted by the European Commission to enter the final stage of the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards, following an assessment by a panel of independent experts. The cities have been selected based on their accomplishments and ambitions in addressing urban environmental challenges related to the triple planetary crisis […]
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Commission issues guidance on sustainability deal to cut CO₂ emissions in EU ports
The European Commission has issued informal guidance on the compatibility with EU competition rules of a sustainability agreement for the joint purchasing and the setting of technical specifications for electric container-handling equipment used in ports. This would accelerate the shift from diesel to electric equipment in EU ports, contributing to reducing CO2 emissions. This informal guidance […]
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