The Council on 30 of july adopted a decision amending the Ukraine Support Mechanism and its associated Ukraine Plan. The Ukraine Plan sets out a roadmap of ambitious reforms that Ukraine must carry out before disbursements are made under the Mechanism. The amendments provide for additional funding of €8.3 billion for 2026, to be provided […]
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Japan officially joins Horizon Europe
As of today, 30 July, Japan is officially an associate partner of Horizon Europe. With a population of 123 million, Japan is the most populous country associated with the programme, bringing one of the world’s most advanced research and innovation ecosystems to the European network for scientific cooperation. The agreement allows Japanese researchers and organisations […]
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The Commission approves €74 million in Spanish state aid to support shipping companies affected by rising fuel prices
The European Commission has approved a Spanish state aid scheme worth €74 million to support shipping companies affected by rising fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Framework for State Aid in Response to the Middle East Crisis (METSAF), adopted by the Commission on […]
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European Union and Seychelles renew agreement granting EU fishing vessels access to Seychelles’ waters
Last July 27, the EU and Seychelles signed a new protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement granting EU vessels access to Seychelles’ waters for a period of four years to fish 55,000 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species per year. Tuna is the most consumed aquatic product in the European Union, at 2.68 […]
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21st round of sanctions: the EU deals a heavy blow to Russia’s energy, financial and cryptocurrency sectors
On 23 July, the Council approved the 21st package of restrictive measures against Russia in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine. This package includes tough economic sanctions targeting the sectors that have the greatest impact on the Russian economy and on its ability to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine, and the […]
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EU countries have approved the UK’s involvement to help meet Ukraine’s urgent defence needs
On 22 July, EU countries approved the UK’s participation in the loan to support Ukraine, a €90 billion package to help meet Ukraine’s most pressing needs in 2026 and 2027 as it continues to face Russia’s war of aggression. “The EU’s solidarity with Ukraine is a key priority of the Irish Presidency. Today’s approval reflects […]
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The Commission is launching the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance with the aim of promoting drone and anti-drone technology
The European Commission officially launched the EU-Ukraine Alliance for Drone Development during the third EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum, held in Kyiv. This Alliance will enable the EU and Ukraine to collaborate more closely on the development and use of drones and systems to intercept hostile drones. It forms part of the EU’s wider efforts to […]
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The EU’s trade relations with developing countries continue to drive sustainable economic growth
On 16 July, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published anew joint report on the implementation of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), the EU’s main trade policy instrument for supporting exports from developing countries to the bloc. The report confirms that the scheme continues to contribute to […]
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Blue Book traineeship opens to graduates from vocational education and training
Last July 16, the European Commission updated rules for its traineeship programme, establishing a single modernised framework that makes the scheme more inclusive and better aligned with Europe’s skills and employment objectives. For the first time, graduates from vocational education and training (VET) will be eligible to apply to the Commission’s traineeship programme – the ‘Blue […]
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