On Wednesday, the European Parliament plenary gave its final green light to granting new powers to Europol. With 480 in favour, 143 against, and 20 abstaining, MEPs endorsed the deal reached in February by Parliament and Council negotiators on strengthening the mandate of Europol, the EU’s police agency, which supports police investigations carried out by the member […]
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Ministers welcome assessment of national plans for Bulgaria and Sweden
Main results ECOFIN – 3 May 2022 Ministers focused on the economic recovery in Europe. They exchanged views on the Council implementing decisions on the approval of national recovery and resilience plans for Bulgaria and Sweden. In order to formally adopt the decisions, the written procedure will be started shortly after the informal meeting held today. At the […]
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European Parliament proposes revision of the Treaties for the Conference on the Future of Europe
MEPs support the ambitious, citizen-driven proposals of the Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe to profoundly reform the EU. On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a resolution on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe, by a show of hands. Parliament acknowledges that the “ambitious and constructive proposals” […]
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European Health Union: A European Health Data Space for people and science
On 3 May, the European Commission launched the European Health Data Space (EHDS), one of the central building blocks of a strong European Health Union. The EHDS will help the EU to achieve a quantum leap forward in the way healthcare is provided to people across Europe. It will empower people to control and utilise […]
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Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP on the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine
Madam President, dear Roberta, Honourable Members, Next week, we will mark Europe Day. The 72nd birthday of our Union. This Europe Day will be all about the Union of the future – how we make it stronger, more resilient, closer to its people. But the answer to all of these questions, we cannot give alone. […]
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New increase in cases of childhood hepatitis in Europe
As of Wednesday, 27 April 2022, there are approximately 55 cases reported from across the EU/EEA countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain). Sporadic cases have been reported from other countries around the world (Canada, Israel, Japan, USA). Today ECDC has published its Rapid Risk Assessment – Increase in severe […]
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MEPs begin revising rules on EU elections, calling for pan-European constituency
Parliament has started the reform of the EU’s Electoral Act, seeking to turn the 27 separate elections and their diverging rules into a single European election. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted a legislative initiative report that seeks to overhaul the rules for European elections. The draft legislative act was approved by 323 votes for, 262 against, […]
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Commission receives Spain’s second payment request for €12 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
On 30 April 2022, the Commission received Spain’s second payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM), for an amount of EUR 12 billion of financial support (net of pre-financing). The overall recovery and resilience plan for Spain amounts to €69.5 billion in grants. The RRF payments are results-based and depend on Spain implementing […]
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EU Strengthens the Capacities of Regional Prosecution Offices and National Police of Ukraine
The European Union (EU) donated valuable IT and communication equipment to Regional Prosecution Offices and the National Police of Ukraine worth EUR 180,737 through the PRAVO Police programme, thus supporting these institutions to continue to increase their capacities, amidst Russia’s war against Ukraine. Regional Prosecution Offices received 60 computers with a total value of EUR […]
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