The EU and Japan held their third High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). The meeting centred on economic security following agreement to expand the scope of the dialogue. The HLED was co-chaired by Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, with Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, […]
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Agreement on additional military support of €3.5 billion
Ministers adopted a decision increasing the overall financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility (EPF) by €3.5 billion which is a signal of the EU’s enduring commitment to military support for Ukraine and other partners alike. The EPF helps prevent conflict, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. With today’s top-up, the overall financial […]
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Council reaches agreement on new European Media Freedom Act
EU member state ambassadors have agreed the Council’s position on a new law to safeguard media freedom, pluralism and independence in the EU. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will establish a common framework for media services in the EU internal market and introduce measures aimed at protecting journalists and media providers from political interference while also making it easier for […]
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An EU approach to enhance economic security
The European Commission and the High Representative published a Joint Communication on a European Economic Security Strategy. This Joint Communication focuses on minimising risks arising from certain economic flows in the context of increased geopolitical tensions and accelerated technological shifts, while preserving maximum levels of economic openness and dynamism. The proposed strategy sets out a […]
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EU and Kenya: Economic Partnership Agreement
The EU and Kenya have announced today the political conclusion of the negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The Agreement will boost trade in goods and create new economic opportunities, with targeted cooperation to enhance Kenya’s economic development. It is the most ambitious EU trade deal with a developing country when it comes to […]
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European Commission approves €680M in aid for the deployment of 5G mobile networks in Spanish rural areas
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €680 million Spanish scheme made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF’) to roll out equipment and infrastructure for high-performing 5G standalone networks in underserved rural areas. The measure is part of Spain’s strategy to address the needs of citizens and businesses in […]
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Priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Spain assumes the Presidency in the second half of 2023, from July 1 to December 31, in a period of great challenges for the Member States and the European Union as a whole. The Spanish Presidency has established four priorities for its semester. Reindustrialise the EU and ensure its open strategic autonomy The international openness […]
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How many MEPs will each EU country get in 2024?
Parliament wants to increase the number of MEPs to reflect demographic changes since 2019. In June 2023, a year ahead of the European elections planned for 6-9 June 2024, MEPs proposed the allocation of seats for each country in the next Parliament. The proposal is to increase the number of MEPs, from the current 705 […]
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MEPs see “strong indications” that the governments of Morocco and Rwanda have spied on high-profile EU citizens
Based on a year-long investigation into the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, MEPs argue that the illicit use of spyware has put “democracy itself at stake” and call for credible investigations, legislative changes and better enforcement of existing rules to tackle abuse. The resolution was adopted with 411 votes in favour, 97 against, […]
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