The European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have joined forces to step up their support to EU’s defence and security through the launch of the Defence Equity Facility. The initiative, consisting of €100 million from the European Defence Fund and an additional €75 million from the European Investment Fund, will significantly expand EIF’s investment capacity to support, […]
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25 years of the euro: the value of unity in a changing world
25 years ago, on 1 January 1999, the euro came into force as the single currency for 11 EU Member States. It now serves the economy and eases life for 350 million people in 20 countries. The case for Europe has always rested on solving problems that countries could not address alone. After the Second […]
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EU to invest over EUR 65 million in clean technology projects
The Commission has today selected 17 small-scale innovative clean tech projects to receive over €65 million in project support under the EU Innovation Fund. These funds will help companies in Europe, including small businesses, to bring breakthrough technologies to the market in energy-intensive industries, renewable energy, and energy storage. The selected projects cover a wide range […]
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European Innovation Council: EUR 1.2 billion for strategic technologies and business expansion
The Commission adopted the work programme of the European Innovation Council (“the ERC”) for 2024, which will offer funding opportunities worth more than €1.2 billion by 2024. The bulk of this funding goes to SMEs and start-ups to develop and scale up their ‘deep tech’ innovations in critical areas such as generative artificial intelligence, space, […]
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Commission approves modification of the regional aid map 2022-2027 for Spain
The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a modification of Spain’s regional aid map until 31 December 2027, under the Regional Aid Guidelines. On 17 March 2022, the Commission approved the regional aid map 2022-2027 for Spain, as well as its amendment of 9 March 2023 to increase the aid intensity in […]
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Autumn 2023 Economic Forecast for Spain
Following strong real GDP growth this year of 2.4%, economic activity is expected to slow down in 2024 to 1.7%. Headline inflation is projected to keep moderating over the forecast horizon, although upside risks persist. Based on unchanged policies, the general government deficit is set to remain slightly above 3% of GDP in 2024 despite […]
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According to the latest Eurobarometer, skills shortages are a serious problem for most EU SMEs
A new Eurobarometer survey released today finds that skills shortages are one of the most serious problems for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the EU. The challenge of skills shortages has grown over the years and now encompasses all EU Member States and all sectors of the economy. The survey is a useful tool in understanding […]
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InvestEU: EIF and Laboral Kutxa sign €145 million guarantee to support micro and social entrepreneurship in Spain
EIF grants Laboral Kutxa a guarantee for €145 million in micro and social loans. This is the seventh agreement between the EIF and Laboral Kutxa, who have been working together for 10 years to support the social economy and microenterprise in Spain. The guarantee agreement is backed by the InvestEU programme which aims to mobilise […]
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Council and Parliament reach agreement on 2024 annual budget
The Council and the European Parliament reached agreement on the EU’s annual budget for 2024. Next year’s budget strongly focuses on the EU’s main policy priorities and reacts to the currently difficult geopolitical context. Total commitments are set at €189 385,4 million. €360 million have been kept available under the expenditure ceilings of the current multiannual financial framework for […]
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