EU carbon sinks will de facto raise 2030 emissions reduction target to 57%. Greenhouse gas budget must guide 2040-target. New independent EU scientific body to monitor progress. The new EU Climate Law increases the EU’s 2030 emissions reductions target from 40% to at least 55%. With the contribution from new carbon sinks it could raise […]
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What future for European robotics?
Europe is a world-class leader in the production of robots, for example, one fourth of industrial robots in the world are produced in Europe! This industry plays a key role in the digital transformation of our societies and economies that, combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI), will likely have a tremendously disruptive effect. Robots can be […]
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Vaccination in Europe – First semester 2021
Although the vaccination process is progressing steadily in all EU countries, the pace of vaccination is uneven in the different European territories, with some countries being more efficient in vaccinating their population. As of July 30, 39.21% of the EU/EEA population had received the full course of one of the EU-licensed vaccines and had therefore […]
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Is it time to shorten the 40-hour workweek?
Researchers are calling for a shorter working week to boost productivity and lower burnout. Do you feel a bit sluggish after weekends? Would taking Friday or Monday off do the trick? Researchers from UK think tank Autonomy and the non-profit Association for Sustainability and Democracy (Alda) tend to agree in their joint report. They claim […]
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CJEU: the sound produced when a beverage can is opened cannot be registered as a trademark since it has no distinctive character
The Court gives a ruling for the first time on the registration of a sound mark submitted in audio format An audio file containing the sound made by the opening of a drinks can, followed by silence and a fizzing sound, cannot be registered as a trade mark in respect of various drinks and for […]
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The European Committee of the Regions goes one step further in actively listening to the citizens.
On May 9, 2021, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and other key players gave regional and local leaders the opportunity to contribute to the “Conference on the Future of Europe” by joining the conference.This decision, in addition to involving local and regional correspondents not only in the Conference on the Future of Europe, […]
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Plastic waste and recycling in the EU: facts and figures
Nearly a third of plastic waste in Europe is recycled. Find out more facts and figures on plastic waste and its recycling in the EU with our infographic. The production of plastic has grown exponentially in just a few decades – from 1.5 million tonnes in 1950 to 359 million tonnes in 2018 worldwide – […]
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July infringements package: key decisions
Migration, Home Affairs and Security Union Letters of formal notice Fight against terrorism: Commission urges CYPRUS, CZECHIA, GREECE, SPAIN and LITHUANIA to ensure correct transposition of EU rules on combating terrorism The Commission decided today to open infringement procedures by sending letters of formal notice to Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Spain and Lithuania for failing to correctly transpose certain elements […]
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Immigration law enforcement in the EU – figures for 2020
In 2020, 137 800 non-EU citizens were refused entry into the EU territory while 557 500 were found to be illegally present in one of the EU Member States. The number of non-EU citizens issued with an order to leave an EU Member State was 396 400 people. Following an order to leave, 99 300 […]
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