If you are aged between 16 and 30 and want to shape the future of Europe, take part in the EYE2021 online and make your voice heard. During the first week of October, thousands of young people from the EU will take over the Parliament in Strasbourg for the European Youth Event (EYE), to discuss […]
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SDGs & me: Gender equality
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5) ‘Gender equality‘ aims to end all forms of discrimination, violence, and any harmful practices against women and girls. It also calls for the full participation of women at all levels of political and economic decision-making. In an EU context, SDG 5 focuses on progress made in abating gender-based violence and in […]
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New EU Blue Card rules for highly qualified immigrants wishing to work in Europe
MEPs are set to give their final approval to the reform of the EU’s Blue Card directive, to facilitate the employment of highly qualified third country nationals in Europe. In May 2021, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on a revision of the 2009 Blue Card directive to make it easier for employers in EU member states […]
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EU research shows COVID-19 poised to end progress on gender equality
The social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis threaten to roll back recent progress in gender equality, including an overall trend of upward convergence. Despite slow progress in some areas over the past decade, crucial improvements had been made in countries with lower levels of gender equality. The regressive consequences of COVID-19 on gender […]
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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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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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European Green Deal: transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions
The European Commission has adopted a package of proposals to make the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Achieving these emission reductions in the next decade is crucial to Europe becoming the world’s first climate-neutral […]
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European Parliament vehemently opposed to Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ law
New rules in Hungary in “clear breach of EU values, principles and law” Political censorship and gradual dismantling of fundamental rights in Hungary Commission and member states should take urgent legal action Cut funding where European budget is affected by national legislation that clashes with EU values Parliament “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the […]
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