One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit was an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles. The main topics […]
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The European Parliament proposes to regulate the list-head system ahead of the 2024 elections
On Tuesday, Parliament adopted its proposals to strengthen the democratic dimension of the 2024 elections, and for the lead candidate system. The report, which received 365 votes for, 178 against, and 71 abstentions, calls for measures to boost voter turnout during the 6-9 June 2024 elections beyond the increased figures recorded in 2019. Parliament’s focus […]
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Enlargement: how do countries join the EU?
EU enlargement is a way to foster peace and stability in Europe, increase prosperity for Europeans and create opportunities for companies. Countries preparing to join benefit from closer ties with the EU, stronger support for fundamental rights as well as from funding and expertise from the EU to make the process easier. In November 2023, […]
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EU impose new restrictive measures to Iran due to supply unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia
Yesterday, the European Council imposed restrictive measures against 6 persons and 5 entities involved in Iran’s development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. These are the first listings under the newly established framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. They complement […]
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EU-China summit, 7 December 2023 – Main results
The 24th EU-China summit took place in Beijing, China. This was the first in-person EU-China summit since 2019. President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, represented the EU. They met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang at […]
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EU announces €125 million in initial humanitarian aid for Palestinians for 2024
As the humanitarian situation continues to worsen in the Middle East, the Commission will provide €125 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in 2024. This new funding will support humanitarian organisations working in both Gaza and the West Bank. In Gaza, where the humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, the focus will […]
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Council adopts a new Regulation and Directive to help digitize judicial systems
The Council paved the way for advancing the digitalisation of EU member states’ justice systems and for making them more accessible and effective. The adoption of a Regulation on the digitalisation of cross-border judicial cooperation and access to justice and of an accompanying Directive will facilitate electronic communication in the context of cross-border judicial cooperation […]
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United Kingdom joins Horizon Europe programme
As of 1 January 2024, the United Kingdom becomes an associated country to Horizon Europe. Its researchers will be able to participate in this research and innovation programme of the EU on the same terms as researchers from other associated countries and will have access to Horizon Europe funding. The final step towards this […]
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EU and Chile strengthen cooperation and trade
The Council has adopted two decisions to sign the Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA) with Chile, which together constitute an updated version of the EU-Chile Association Agreement currently in place. The new agreement will strengthen EU-Chile political and economic relations and deepen cooperation and trade. It will help to jointly address new global challenges such as the repercussions of the Russian […]
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