The European Union and Norway have established the Green Alliance to strengthen joint efforts on climate action, environmental protection and cooperation in the transition to clean energy and industry. The agreement was signed in Brussels by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. President von der Leyen said: “Norway is […]
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EU-US consultations underline shared commitment to Human Rights
In Brussels, EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, and US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the US Department of State, Erin Barclay, co-chaired the 2023 EU-US Human Rights Consultations. The EU and United States reaffirmed their strong mutual commitment to the transatlantic partnership and underscored its […]
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Do you know how the European Union promotes reading?
International Book Day is celebrated every 23 April. The date coincides with the deaths of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The initiative was launched by UNESCO in 1995 and aims to promote reading and protect copyright. This date is celebrated all over the world by book lovers. A cultural […]
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Main results of the informal meeting of environment ministers
Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari hosted an informal meeting of EU environment ministers in Stockholm on 18–19 April, which was also attended by business leaders from across the EU. The focal points of the meeting included the green transition and the role of business in promoting biodiversity, circularity and competitiveness. The meeting […]
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European Parliament agrees to start negotiating with Member States on reform of asylum and migration policy
Plenary agreed to open talks with EU member states on several migration and asylum policy files. MEPs approved entering into interinstitutional negotiations on all the files on which they voted. Screening of third-country nationals The decision to start negotiations on this new regulation was confirmed with 419 votes in favour, 126 against and 30 abstentions. For the centralised […]
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The European Commission proposes the revision of the current marketing standards applicable to several agri-food products
The Commission proposed to revise the existing marketing standards applicable to a number of agri-food products, such as fruit and vegetables, fruit juices and jams, honey, poultry or eggs. The proposed revisions should help consumers make more informed choices for a healthier diet and contribute to prevent food waste. The Commission put forward the following […]
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Electronic and electrical waste in the European Union
WEEE represents one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, and less than 40% of it is recycled. Electronic and electrical devices define modern life: from washing machines and hoovers to smartphones and computers, it is hard to imagine life without them. Yet the waste they generate has become an obstacle to the […]
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European Commission takes steps to cut red tape in merger cases
The European Commission has adopted a number of measures to further simplify its merger review procedures under the EU Merger Regulation. The package of measures includes: (i) a revised version of the Merger Implementing Regulation (“Implementing Regulation”), (ii) a Notice on simplified procedure (“Procedural Notice”), and (iii) a Notice on the transmission of documents (“Notice […]
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A new method to help policymakers defend democracy against hybrid threats
Hybrid threats pose a specific danger to the EU and other democracies, because they target core democratic processes and weaken citizens’ trust in their institutions and governments. In recent years, authoritarian regimes and non-state actors use hybrid threats to achieve their hostile, strategic objectives. By combining different types of tools and organised actions, such as […]
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