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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EU and Chile sign modern and ambitious trade and political agreements
The EU and Chile have signed an Advanced Framework Agreement and an Interim Trade Agreement to strengthen political cooperation and foster trade and investment. The signature took place at a meeting between Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto van Klaveren Stork, the Spanish Minister for […]
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EU companies doubled R&D investment growth in 2022
Europe’s industry significantly increased its investment in research and development in 2022, according to the 2023 edition of the EU Industrial Research & Development (R&D) Investment Scoreboard. EU private R&D investment growth has reached the highest rate since 2015 and more than doubled compared to 2021, with 13.6% increase in 2022. In comparison, China has decreased […]
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CORDIS: Decorating before Christmas makes us happier, say experts
Year after year, it feels as if Christmas comes earlier and earlier. Commercialisation is one answer. There’s another reason why people decorate earlier and tap into the excitement of the holidays before the rest of us. It has to do with a chemical reaction in our brains. Putting up the Christmas tree, and breaking out […]
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Council and Parliament reach deal to Reform of electricity market design
The reform of the electricity market is the EU’s long-term response to the energy crisis experienced in 2022. Despite a high share of renewables in energy generation, high spikes in fossil fuel prices (especially gas) have caused a steep increase in electricity prices. This is due to the functioning of the EU electricity market, where the price of […]
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Commission proposal to strengthen the Single Market by tackling legal and administrative obstacles in Europe’s cross-border regions
On last 12rh December, the Commission adopted an amended proposal for a ‘Regulation on Facilitating Cross-Border Solutions’ in order to help Member States resolve obstacles that are impacting the daily lives of the 150 million European citizens living in Europe’s cross-border regions. The obstacles that citizens, businesses, and public administrations face in these regions include different technical standards or […]
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Council and Parliament reach agreement that will improve working conditions for platform workers
The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a proposed directive to improve working conditions for platform workers. In the event that the deal struck is confirmed by both institutions before going through the formal adoption procedure, it will help millions of them gain access to employment rights. The directive introduces two key […]
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Defence of Democracy – Commission proposes to shed light on covert foreign influence
On last 12 December, the European Commission adopted a Defence of Democracy package, ahead of the 2024 European elections. The central piece of this package is a legislative proposal that will enhance transparency and democratic accountability of interest representation activities on behalf of third countries which are aimed at influencing policies, decision making and the democratic […]
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EU and Western Balkans leaders meet in Brussels
One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit was an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles. The main topics […]
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