The EU-Central America Association Agreement has entered into force. This agreement paves the way for the EU and the six countries of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) to take their economic and political relationship to the next level. Under the trade agreement (provisionally applied since 2012), total trade between […]
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Exports and imports of agri-food products increased in January 2024
In January 2024, exports reached €18.4 billion that month, partly due to increased prices of olives, olive oil, and cereal preparations. Imports were worth €13.4 billion. As a result, the EU agri-food trade surplus reached €5 billion, a 27% increase from January 2023. These are the main findings of the latest monthly agri-food trade report […]
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Action against 20 airlines for misleading greenwashing practices
Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation – CPC – Authorities) sent letters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law within 30 days. The CPC […]
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Commission launches first-stage consultation of social partners on fair telework and the right to disconnect
The Commission launched the first-stage consultation of European social partners to gather their views on the possible direction of EU action on ensuring fair telework and the right to disconnect. Telework has become widespread, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Labor Force Survey shows that the overall proportion of people working from home in the EU has almost doubled […]
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EU and Japan advance joint work on digital identity, semiconductors, artificial intelligence
The EU and Japan held their second Digital Partnership Council in Brussels. The Council was co-chaired by Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and by Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation, Taro Kono, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Takeaki Matsumoto, and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Taku Ishii. The EU and […]
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European Commission initiates formal proceedings against Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to assess whether Meta, the provider of Facebook and Instagram, may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA). Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on 30 April: “This Commission has created means to protect European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation by third countries. If we suspect […]
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2024 European elections: Media arrangements for Eurovision Debate and Election Night
Media can find here information on how to follow the Eurovision Debate and the results of European Elections. Both events will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels. A. Eurovision Debate (23 May) The Eurovision Debate with the lead candidates to the presidency of the Commission will take place on May 23 from 15.00 […]
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Commission designates Apple’s iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act
The European Commission has designated Apple with respect to iPadOS, its operating system for tablets, as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of iPadOS with the DMA obligations. The investigation On 5 September 2023, the Commission designated Apple as a gatekeeper for its operating system iOS, its […]
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Discover the winners of the EU Contemporary Architecture Awards 2024
The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe have announced the Winners of the 2024 edition after the jury visited the 7 finalist works. The award ceremony will be held on 14 May in Barcelona. After visiting the finalist works, the 7 members of the international jury picked the Study Pavilion on the […]
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