MEPs on Thursday backed the decision to waive the immunities of Andrea Cozzolino and Marc Tarabella, following requests by the Belgian authorities for being involved in a bribery scheme in exchange for political influence in the European Parliament allegedly linked to Qatar and Morocco. Endorsing a proposal adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday, MEPs […]
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EU and Singapore step up cooperation as strategic partners and launch Digital Partnership
The EU and Singapore are strengthening their cooperation as strategic partners. Following the announcement of a new Digital Partnership between the EU and Singapore by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Lee at the EU-ASEAN summit in December 2022, Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton and Singapore Minister of Industry and Trade S Iswaran signed a Digital Partnership […]
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The European Structural and Investment Funds supported more than 4 million SMEs between 2014 and 2020
In 2014-2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) unleashed a total investment of €731 billion, of which €535 billion was funded by the EU, fostering lasting socio–economic convergence, territorial cohesion, social Europe and a smooth green and digital transition. This is explained in the 2022 Summary Report on the Implementation of the ESI Funds adopted by the Commission. The […]
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CJEU: Belgian courts cannot refuse to execute a European Arrest Warrant and upholds Llarena’s ruling
An executing judicial authority may not, in principle, refuse to execute a European arrest warrant on the basis that the court called upon to try the requested person in the issuing Member State does not have jurisdiction to do so. That authority must, however, refuse to execute that European arrest warrant if it finds that […]
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Council adopts a Recommendation on an adequate minimum income
The Council therefore recommends that member states provide and strengthen robust social safety nets by combining adequate income support through minimum income benefits and other accompanying monetary benefits, in-kind benefits, and by giving access to enabling and essential services. This Council recommendation aims to: Combating poverty and social exclusion, Pursueing high levels of employment by […]
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January infringement procedures for Spain
Brussels, 26 January 2023. The following are the main decisions taken by the Commission in its infringement package. The Commission will also close 221 cases that the Member States concerned have settled without the Commission having to pursue the procedure further. 1. Environment and fisheries (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel. +32 229 53156, […]
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The President of the European Parliament begins a two-day official visit to Spain today
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will travel to Madrid on January 26 and 27, on an official visit in which she will be received by HM King Felipe VI, and will meet with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, among other authorities. In 2022, Metsola also made two trips to Santander […]
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EU agrees 24 new guarantee programmes to boost investments in enlargement and neighbourhood regions
The Operational Board of the European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+) has endorsed a further package of 24 guarantee programmes to support investments in the EU’s neighbourhood and enlargement countries. Together with the three guarantees for the Western Balkans to support SMEs approved in December, the new guarantees, worth €2.4 billion, are expected to […]
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European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans arrives in Colombia to prepare for the upcoming climate negotiations
The European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for the Green Pact, Frans Timmermans, continues his Latin American climate diplomacy mission to Colombia from 25-27 January. He will meet with President Gustavo Petro, several ministers, government representatives and representatives of civil society, with whom he will discuss the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and the steps […]
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