The Council has settled on its negotiating position (general approach) for an EU law which introduces criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU sanctions. This directive, when adopted, will be an important tool to ensure that violating sanctions does not pay off. The draft law defines the conduct member states will need to […]
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Council agrees stronger press freedom and free speech protection
EU member states have reached a common position (general approach) on a draft law which will protect journalists and human rights defenders against manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings. Such so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are an increasing phenomenon to silence people who speak out on issues of public interest. The draft […]
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President von der Leyen travels to Latin America to strengthen ties with key partners
Following last week’s presentation of the New Agenda for EU-Latin America and Caribbean relations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Latin America this week to strengthen relations with key partners in the region. Today, Monday, June 12, President von der Leyen will be in Brasilia, where she will be received by […]
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The European Union and Tunisia agreed to work together on a comprehensive partnership package
Building on our shared history, geographic proximity, and strong relationship, we have agreed to work together on a comprehensive partnership package, strengthening the ties that bind us in a mutually beneficial manner. We believe there is enormous potential to generate tangible benefits for the EU and Tunisia. The comprehensive partnership would cover the following areas: […]
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How the European Union contributes to the protection of the oceans
Oceans are indispensable for achieving the European Union’s climate and environmental objectives. The seas and oceans are a source of natural and economic wealth for Europe. They provide us with a wealth of natural resources, keep our climate stable and, in addition, contribute to boosting our economy through activities such as fishing and tourism. However, […]
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EU responses to climate change
Fighting climate change is a priority for the European Parliament. Below you will find details of the solutions the EU and the Parliament are working on: Mitigating global warming: a matter of 2°C increase Average global temperatures have risen significantly since the industrial revolution and the last decade (2011–2020) was the warmest decade on record. Of […]
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Council agrees on new migration and asylum rules
The Council took a decisive step towards a modernisation of the EU’s rulebook for asylum and migration. It agreed on a negotiating position on the asylum procedure regulation and on the asylum and migration management regulation. This position will form the basis of negotiations by the Council presidency with the European Parliament. Streamlining of asylum […]
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How lonely are Europeans? Monitoring and tackling loneliness in Europe
Loneliness, the feeling of lacking meaningful social interactions, has been identified as a serious public health concern and linked to a number of factors, including poor health and low social connectedness. The increased risk of loneliness associated with prolonged lockdowns and self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn even more attention to the issue, with […]
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EU Justice Scoreboard 2023
The European Commission has published the eleventh edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual overview providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of justice systems among the EU Member States. This year’s Scoreboard includes figures on 16 new areas, for example, on how national authorities are dealing with corruption, on the length of proceedings related to bribery […]
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