Today, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visa when travelling to the EU. “Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not […]
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Commission approves International Paper’s acquisition of DS Smith subject to conditions*
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of DS Smith Plc (‘DS Smith’)by International Paper Company (‘InternationalPaper’). The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by the parties. The Commission’s investigation International Paper and DS Smith are two vertically integrated paper and packaging companies. The Commission’s […]
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Economic governance framework: Council sets fiscal expenditure paths for 21 member states
As the next step in the implementation of the EU’s new fiscal rules, the Council today adopted recommendations endorsing the first-ever medium-term fiscal-structural plans and setting the net expenditure paths for 21 member states. The medium-term fiscal-structural plans are a cornerstone of the new economic governance framework. The plans contain member states’ fiscal trajectory, together […]
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Council greenlights the amended plans of Greece, Cyprus and Spain
The Council today endorsed the Commission’s positive assessment of the amended recovery and resilience plans submitted by Greece, Cyprus and Spain. According to the Commission’s analysis, the specific amendments submitted by the Member States do not affect the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of their recovery and resilience plans. Greece On 21 October 2024, Greece […]
Read MoreCouncil sets budget expenditure paths for 21 Member States
The Council moved a step closer to implementing the EU’s new fiscal rules by adopting today recommendations approving the first national medium-term fiscal-structural plans and setting out net expenditure paths for 21 Member States. The national medium-term fiscal-structural plans are a cornerstone of the new economic governance framework. They set out Member States’ fiscal paths, […]
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Negotiators conclude on modernised Global Agreement with Mexico
Political negotiations have concluded to modernise the EU’s Global Agreement with Mexico, following political engagement between Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. The agreement puts in place an ambitious and modern framework to deepen and widen EU-Mexico political dialogue, cooperation and economic relations. It will create new economic opportunities for […]
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Assist Member States in their reform programs
On January 15, 2025, the closing event of the multinational project “Building Capacities for Effective Communication of the Benefits of Recovery and Resilience Plans” took place. The project was funded by the European Commission under the technical assistance instrument. During the project, eight member states — Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and […]
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Rutte to MEPs: “We are safe now, we might not be safe in five years”
On Monday afternoon, MEPs discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. In his first public discussion with MEPs from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Security and Defence and Parliament’s delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since taking office […]
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In 2024, 46% of the laws approved in Spain are based on European directives and decisions
Of the 24 laws passed in Spain in 2024, 5 implement European regulations or transpose European directives into Spanish law and another 6 contain references to EU recommendations, programmes or initiatives. Among the regulations approved to transpose European directives and implement European regulations are those related to equal representation in listed companies, the exchange of […]
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