Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February 2024, the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President reaffirm the EU’s strong commitment to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation worldwide: “Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of human rights and a form of violence against girls and women. Let us be […]
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Commission decides to register two new European Citizens’ Initiatives
The European Commission decided to register two European Citizens’ Initiatives, entitled ‘Ban on conversion practices in the European Union’ and ‘European Citizens’ Initiative in Defence of Agriculture and Rural Economy in Europe’. The organisers of the ‘Ban on conversion practices in the European Union’ initiative call for a ban on interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing […]
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Commission proposes to improve European Works Councils to strengthen transnational social dialogue
The Commission proposes to revise the European Works Councils (EWCs) Directive to further improve social dialogue in the EU. EWCs are information and consultation bodies that ensure that employees are involved in decisions related to transnational issues. They concern companies with more than 1,000 employees operating in at least two EU or European Economic Area […]
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The European Commission has published its 2023 Summary Report on the Implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds
The European Commission published its 2023 Summary Report on the Implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds), showcasing some of the overarching achievements of the ESI funds as things stood at the end of 2022. These funds are the main financial instruments of Cohesion Policy, supporting regional development investments from the 2014 – 2020 […]
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An EU Disability Card to support persons with disabilities’ right to free movement
The new rules would make it easier for persons with disabilities to travel in the EU by ensuring access to special conditions, including parking, in all member states. The proposed directive introduces an EU-wide Disability Card and revamps the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities to make sure that, when travelling for a short […]
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Commission gives young people a stronger voice in EU policymaking as a legacy of the European Year of Youth
Young Europeans will have greater influence on EU policies. Building on the achievements of the 2022 European Year of Youth, today the Commission announced several actions that give young people a greater say in the decisions that affect them and deepen the youth dimension in a range of EU policies. Putting the needs of young […]
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EU agrees to simplify work and residence permits for non-EU nationals
Yesterday, member states’ representatives to the Council (Coreper) confirmed the provisional agreement between the Spanish presidency of the Council and the European Parliament on an update of an EU law that deals with legal migration to the EU labour market. The updated rules streamline the procedure to apply for a permit to reside for the […]
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The Council and the European Parliament reach breakthrough in reform of EU asylum and migration system
The Spanish presidency of the Council and the European Parliament have reached a deal on the core political elements of five key regulations that will thoroughly overhaul the EU’s legal framework on asylum and migration. The five EU laws that the Spanish presidency and Parliament have agreed on touch upon all stages of asylum and […]
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Recognition of parenthood: MEPs want children to have equal rights
Parliament supported on last Thursday the recognition of parenthood across the EU, irrespective of how a child was conceived, born or the type of family they have. With 366 votes against 145 and 23 abstentions, MEPs backed draft legislation to ensure that, when parenthood is established by an EU country, the rest of the member […]
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