As the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan continues to be of serious concern, the EU has released €61 million in humanitarian aid to address the needs of vulnerable people in the country, as well as refugees in neighbouring Pakistan. A total of €60 million are allocated for humanitarian organisations working in Afghanistan and another €1 million, […]
Read More
Can ageing be slowed down? CORDIS answers
A novel approach to studying fibroblasts – cells that are important for the formation of connective tissues – could be a route to new therapies for atherosclerosis and other diseases of the vascular system. With age, arteries lose their elasticity. This increases the risk of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis which can lead to heart […]
Read More
Commission announced a substantial EU support package for Jordan
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed H.M. King Abdullah II from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Brussels today. Discussions focused on recent developments and the need to avoid a negative spill-over in the region, where Jordan plays a key stabilising role. During the visit, the Commission also announced a […]
Read More
Stepping up action to prevent shortages of medicines in Europe
Following recent shortages of critical medicine like certain antibiotics last winter, steps have been taken to prevent such shortages occurring in the EU this winter. The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority and the European Medicines Agency have prepared a list of key antibiotics that could face critical shortages during the winter. The Commission has also launched a European […]
Read More
EU Regions with the highest life expectancy
During the last decade, life expectancy in the EU rose at a relatively consistent pace until 2019, when life expectancy at birth was 81.3 years. Since then, 2020 and 2021 have recorded declines in life expectancy. In 2021, the overall life expectancy at birth in the EU was 80.1 years. The life expectancy for women […]
Read More
Political advertising: deal on new measures to crack down on abuse
On Monday evening, EU co-legislators reached a provisional deal on new rules to make election and referenda campaigns more transparent and resistant to interference. The new rules will regulate political advertisements, notably online ads, while also providing for a framework for political actors to advertise more easily across the EU. Commenting after the deal was […]
Read More
Commission sends request for information to AliExpress under the Digital Services Act
Yesterday, the European Commission formally sent AliExpress a request for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is requesting AliExpress to provide more information on the measures it has taken to comply with obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect consumers online, in particular with regard to the dissemination of […]
Read More
Better consumer protection: new EU rules for defective products
The EU wants to update the existing rules for defective products to better protect consumers and keep up with the development of new technologies. The existing Product Liability Directive was adopted almost 40 years ago. In September 2022, the European Commission published a proposal to adapt the guidelines to address the technological advantages newer products may […]
Read More
EU increases humanitarian aid to Gaza by €25 million
As part of the EU’s continued support to people in Gaza, the Commission will provide a further €25 million in humanitarian aid. This quadruples EU humanitarian assistance to over €100 million for Gaza this year. The new assistance will be provided to humanitarian organisations to deliver life-saving aid, in particular focusing on water and sanitation, […]
Read More