Quality traineeships can help young people gain practical work experience, learn new skills and eventually find a good quality job. For employers, they are an opportunity to attract, train and retain talent. A quality traineeship requires fair and transparent working conditions and an adequate learning content. The EU’s 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships set out […]
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The Commission has adopted the second strategic plan for Horizon Europe
The Commission has adopted the second strategic plan for Horizon Europe. The plan, announced at the flagship Research and Innovation Days, sets out three key strategic orientations for EU’s research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027): Green transition; Digital transition; A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe. These orientations […]
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European Commission takes steps to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU
The Communication on Building the future with nature identifies the challenges and barriers and proposes to tackle them, in line with the Communication on the long-term competitiveness of the EU. The advances in life sciences, supported by digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential of solutions based on biology to solve societal issues, make biotechnology and biomanufacturing one […]
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European Commission recommends measures to fight counterfeiting and better protect intellectual property rights
The Commission has adopted a Recommendation to combat counterfeiting, both offline and online, and enhance the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). The Recommendation, also known as the EU toolbox against counterfeiting, aims to foster collaboration between rights holders, service providers, and law enforcement, while encouraging best practices and the use of modern tools and […]
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Spain: EIB and Iberdrola agree a €700 million green loan for power grid expansion
The European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a €700 million green loan to expand Iberdrola’s electricity-distribution grid in Spain. An initial, €500 million tranche was signed in Madrid by EIB Director General for European Union Operations, Jean-Christophe Laloux, and Iberdrola Finance, Control and Corporate Development Director José Sainz Armada. The total investment under the project amounts […]
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International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960, in which peaceful demonstrators against apartheid were senselessly killed. While this tragic event marked a turning point and ultimately ushered in the transition to democracy and equality in South Africa, the fight against racism continues […]
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Anti-SLAPP: Final green light for EU law protecting journalists and human rights defenders
The Council adopted a law to protect persons who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits meant to silence them. Persons targeted by so called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), typically journalists and human rights defenders, will benefit from a number of procedural safeguards and measures. These safeguards and measures will […]
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59% of EU citizens used social networks in 2023
Social networks have had a growing influence on our daily lives in the past years. People participating in social networks (creating a user profile, posting messages or other contributions to Facebook, X, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.) stood at an average of 59% among the EU individuals. When it comes to the percentage of EU individuals who participated in […]
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EU and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relations
President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd launched the negotiations on a broad package of measures to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship. This follows the adoption of the Swiss and EU negotiating mandates on 8 and 12 March 2024, respectively. The two mandates authorise the Commission and Switzerland to […]
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