The EU is continuing to put in place the Windsor Framework, which was politically agreed between the Commission and the UK government on 27 February 2023 to address, in a definitive manner, the challenges concerning Northern Ireland following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Council adopted three regulations aimed at implementing the joint solutions […]
Read More
European Commission launches consultation process to improve EU visa suspension mechanism
The Commission adopted a Communication on the monitoring of the EU’s visa-free travel regimes setting out a consultation process. The Communication looks at the functioning of the EU’s visa-free regimes and identifies the main challenges in the areas of irregular migration and security. The Visa Suspension Mechanism is set out in Article 8 of the […]
Read More
Ceuta, Melilla and Andalusia the European regions with the highest unemployment rates in the EU
In 2022, the unemployment rate of people aged 15-74 in the EU was 6.2%. However, the rate varied across the EU regions. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Central Bohemia (1.2%), Prague (1.6%), South-East and South-West in Czechia as well as Central Transdanubia in Hungary (all 1.7%). At the opposite end of the scale, […]
Read More
Deal on new rules to combat overfishing
The Council has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on updated rules to help prevent overfishing. The revision of the fisheries control system modernises the way fishing activities are controlled to ensure that EU vessels and those fishing in EU waters follow the rules set out in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The agreement updates […]
Read More
EU agriculture ministers discuss food safety and waste aspects of packaging rules
Agriculture Food packaging Based on information from the presidency and the Commission, ministers exchanged views on the food safety and food waste aspects of the proposed regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which aims to reduce the amount of packaging waste generated in the EU while also maintaining a high level of food safety. With […]
Read More
EU doubles rescEU firefighting fleet for summer 2023
Following up on President von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech in September last year, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič announced today the doubling of the rescEU aerial firefighting fleet for this year’s wildfire season while speaking at the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. rescEU firefighting fleet for 2023 […]
Read More
EU-funded project harnesses potential of data to improve water management
An EU-funded project builds stronger links between the physical and digital worlds to improve water management. Europe’s waterways are under immense pressures, ranging from agricultural and industrial activities to the challenges of increased urbanisation. Digital technologies are acknowledged for their ability to help improve water management. However, a lack of business cases and tangible evidence […]
Read More
Energy: key to the EU’s climate ambitions
Europe is moving towards a low-carbon energy future. 2020 was an important milestone, with the EU reaching its first three climate and energy targets, namely reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to 1990 levels, increasing the share of renewable energy used to 20% and improving energy efficiency by 20%. With the exception of the […]
Read More
European Blue Economy report 2023: economic crisis takes a toll but doesn’t stop the growth
The European Blue Economy report is a compass to help decision-makers and stakeholders navigate the waters of the European blue economy. The 2023 edition of the report highlights the evolution of the blue economy sectors since 2010. It shows that despite the negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic and the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, most […]
Read More