On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria have adopted the euro as its currency, marking an important milestone for the country, for the history of the euro, and for the EU as a whole. This follows a period of intensive preparation and effort by Bulgaria to meet all the necessary requirements. The euro will deliver practical benefits […]
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Spain and Portugal celebrate 40 years in the European Union
1 January 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Union. Both countries have enriched the EU culturally, politically and economically. Their accession has offered European citizens more trade and travel opportunities, reinforced solidarity between peoples and strengthened our Union internationally, boosting our links with partner countries in […]
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Commission proposes EU Agenda for Cities to shape Europe’s urban future
On Wednesday 3rd, the European Commission unveiled the EU Agenda for Cities, reinforcing urban development policy and fortifying the role of cities in Europe’s future growth and development. The EU Agenda for Cities offers a strategic vision to empower cities in tackling local challenges contributing to meeting broader EU goals. It provides a unified framework […]
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23rd EU Week of Regions and Cities showcases cohesion policy’s impact
Last October 13, the Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, and the President of the Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő, launched the 23rd European Week of Regions and Cities. Under the motto ‘Shaping tomorrow, together,’ this three-day event brings together 6,500 participants from all over the EU, including policymakers, practitioners, project promoters, civil […]
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Spain receives €23.1 billion under NextGenerationEU
The European Commission has disbursed a total of €42.8 billion to five Member States (Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and Spain) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The disbursements are part of the Commission’s efforts to support economic growth and resilience in EU Member States, and are based on successful steps […]
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Commission proposes €23 billion payment to Spain under NextGenerationEU
Last July 7, the Commission positively assessed Spain’s fifth payment request for 23 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This assessment is a significant step towards the disbursement of EU funds to support Spain’s economic growth and resilience efforts. The Commission found that Spain delivered reforms and investments that will benefit citizens and businesses, focusing […]
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Focus on Green Transition and Local Leadership at EU Enlargement Day
Decentralisation and the transition towards a greener, more sustainable economy were centre-stage at the Enlargement Day conference held by the European Committee of the Regions on 27-28 May – the European Union’s largest event of the year dedicated to EU enlargement from a local and regional perspective. The two topics – sustainable development and decentralisation […]
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Turkey’s accession process to the EU must remain suspended
Turkey’s geopolitical and strategic importance does not justify its democratic drift, according to Parliament, which insists that the criteria for EU membership are non-negotiable. In the current context, and despite the democratic and pro-European aspirations of a significant part of Turkish society, the process of Turkey’s accession to the European Union cannot be resumed, MEPs […]
Read MoreEU approves €58M for Luxembourg under NextGenerationEU
The Commission issued a positive preliminary assessment of Luxembourg’s second payment request for €58 million under NextGenerationEU, the centrepiece of Europe’s recovery efforts to build a greener, more digital and competitive Union. The Commission preliminarily concluded that Luxembourg has fulfilled the milestones and targets required for this second instalment, financed under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument of […]
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