The Council is calling for more robust efforts to help prevent cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in the European Union. In conclusions approved today, the Council puts forward a series of measures aimed at improving cardiovascular health in the EU, focusing specifically on prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. “Cardiovascular diseases […]
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Council recommends increased protection against second-hand smoke and aerosols
The Council has adopted a recommendation that will help reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols and achieve a tobacco-free generation in Europe by 2040 as set out in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The recommendation on smoke and aerosol-free environments adopted today encourages EU countries to broaden the scope of their existing protection against second-hand smoke exposure to include key outdoor […]
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New wolf protection statute proposal approved
The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention today voted in favour of the EU proposal to adapt the protection status of the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected”. The change will enter into force on 7 March 2025. After this date, the EU may adapt the relevant annexes of the Habitats Directive. The Commission will […]
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Spain among the largest recipients of grants to support research excellence
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded its Consolidation Grants to 328 researchers from across Europe. These grants, totalling €678 million, aim to support outstanding scientists and academics in setting up their independent research teams and developing their most promising scientific ideas. The funding is provided through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. Spain is the […]
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Underdiagnosis and late HIV diagnoses are holding back progress to end AIDS in the European Region
Ahead of World AIDS Day, the latest HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2024, released by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), shows that since the beginning of the epidemic in the early 1980s, over 2.6 million people have been diagnosed with HIV in the WHO European Region, […]
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Accidents at work claimed 3 286 lives in 2022 in the EU
There were nearly 2.97 million non-fatal accidents at work in the EU in 2022, a 3% increase from 2.88 million in 2021 (+ 87 139 more non-fatal accidents). This increase is probably due to the economic restart in 2022 that followed the general slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, 3 286 work-related accidents were fatal, accounting for 0.1% of all […]
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Commission launches 2025 Rule of Law consultation
The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation to seek public input on rule of law developments, both at national and EU level, as part of the preparation of the Rule of Law Report 2025. The consultation is open to judicial associations, civil society, NGOs, international organisations, EU agencies and other interested parties. The information […]
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EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: listings renewed for an additional year
The Council yesterday decided to prolong and update the list of individuals, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses, for a further year until 8 December 2025. With the latest updates, the restrictive measures currently apply to 116 persons and 33 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and […]
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Cybersecurity package: Council adopts new laws to strengthen cybersecurity capacities in the EU
To strengthen EU’s solidarity and capacities to detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents, yesterday the Council adopted two new laws part of the cyber security legislative ‘package’, namely the so-called ‘cyber solidarity act’, and a targeted amendment to the cybersecurity act (CSA). Main elements of the cyber solidarity act The new […]
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