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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Guatemala: European Parliament condemns coup attempt and calls for Arévalo to be sworn in in January
The European Parliament on Thursday condemned moves by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to invalidate the result of the general and presidential elections in Guatemala. In a resolution adopted with 432 votes in favour, 9 against and 39 abstentions, MEPs denounce the attempted coup d’état on the basis of “unfounded accusations of fraud” and reject all […]
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Commissioner Johansson visits the Canary Islands together with Spanish and Belgian ministers to provide support in the field of migration management
Today, on 15 December, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will travel to the Canary Islands together with the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres; the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz; and Nicole de Moore, Belgian Secretary of State […]
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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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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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