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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SOTEU 2022: live streaming
The European Parliament in Strasbourg is hosting the State of the Union Debate today from 9 a.m. onwards. This event marks the start of the European political year. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will outline the priorities for the new political year and discuss them with the Members of the […]
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Commission joins forces with local and regional government associations to boost sustainable development
The European Commission has signed framework partnership agreements with five global associations of local authorities: the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (AIMF), the Commonwealth Local Governments Forum (CLGF), Platforma/Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA). Supported by €50 million from the NDICI-Global Europe instrument, the agreements support […]
Read MoreState of the EU debate 2022: here’s how to follow it
What is the State of the European Union debate? Every September, the President of the European Commission comes to the European Parliament to discuss with MEPs what the Commission has done over the past year, what it intends to do in the coming year and its vision for the future. This is known as the […]
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Council adopts full suspension of visa facilitation with Russia
The Council adopted a decision that fully suspends the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia. Consequently, the general rules of the visa code will apply to Russian citizens. This will result in an increase in the visa application fee from €35 to €80, the need to present additional documentary evidence, increased visa processing […]
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Eurobarometer: Citizens’ confidence in the EU is on the rise
The summer 2022 Standard Eurobarometer survey shows increased trust of citizens in the EU, and continued strong support for the EU’s response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of EU citizens support investments in renewable energy and action to reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian energy sources. The approval rate of the […]
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Commission proposes full suspension of Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia
The Commission is proposing to fully suspend the EU’s Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia. A country like Russia, waging a war of aggression, should not qualify for visa facilitations as long as it continues conducting its destructive foreign policy and military aggression towards Ukraine, demonstrating a complete disregard to the international rules-based order. The suspension […]
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European Union supports families affected by floods in La Mojana
The European Union has just allocated more than 300 million pesos to provide emergency humanitarian aid to people affected by the floods in the La Mojana region of the Colombian Caribbean. The funds have been mobilized by the Directorate General for Civil Protection and European Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and will support the Colombian Red […]
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The European Union supports investments in Tanzania Blue economy companies
Three Tanzanian companies will be presented to international investors in an event organised by the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles, for the first edition of BlueInvest Africa on 7 and 8 September 2022 in Seychelles. This event, held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, will bring […]
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