A high-level delegation of the European Union will attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, and Commissioners Janez Lenarčič and Jutta Urpilainen will host and participate in events and meetings with leaders from around the world, and have a number of […]
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SOTEU 2022: Single Market Emergency Instrument
Today, the Commission is presenting the new Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI). This crisis governance framework aims to preserve the free movement of goods, services and persons and the availability of essential goods and services in the event of future emergencies, to the benefit of citizens and businesses across the EU. While the Single Market […]
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Team Europe’s commitment to peacebuilding and the protection of the Amazon forest in Guaviare
Following the signing of the Peace Agreement, the European Union, together with 21 of its Member States, the United Kingdom and Chile, created the European Fund for Peace in response to the Colombian government’s requests to accompany the implementation of the Agreement in the areas most affected by the armed conflict. Thus, in 2018, the project […]
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Hungary can no longer be considered a full democracy by the European Parliament
Parliament condemns the “deliberate and systematic efforts of the Hungarian government” to undermine European values and demands results in the Article 7 process. The lack of decisive EU action has contributed to the emergence of a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy”, i.e. a constitutional system in which elections occur, but respect for democratic norms and […]
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SOTEU 2022: New EU cybersecurity rules ensure more secure hardware and software products
The Commission has presented a proposal for a new Cyber Resilience Act to protect consumers and businesses from products with inadequate security features. A first ever EU-wide legislation of its kind, it introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements, throughout their whole lifecycle. The Act, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in September 2021 […]
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International Democracy Day: Commission launches Youth Participation Cohort to promote democracy worldwide
Marking the International Day of Democracy and the European Year of Youth, the European Commission launched yesterday the Youth Political and Civic Engagement Cohort to support young people in promoting democracy locally and globally. The European Commission is one of the co-leaders of the Cohort along with the governments of Nepal and Ghana, the European […]
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SOTEU 2022: Commission moves to ban products made with forced labour on the EU market
The Commission has proposed to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market. The proposal covers all products, namely those made in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries. This comprehensive approach is important because an estimated 27.6 million people are in forced labour, […]
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State of the EU: Ukraine, energy, climate change, economy
In the annual State of the European Union debate, MEPs quizzed President von der Leyen on the Commission’s work in the past year and its upcoming plans. Opening the debate, EP President Roberta Metsola said: “It is a special honour to have Olena Zelenska with us on this important day. We are here against an alarming […]
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2022 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen
A UNION THAT STANDS STRONG TOGETHER INTRODUCTION Madam President, Honourable Members, My fellow Europeans, Never before has this Parliament debated the State of our Union with war raging on European soil. We all remember that fateful morning in late February. Europeans from across our Union woke up dismayed by what they saw. Shaken by the resurgent […]
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