The Digital Decade policy programme 2030, a monitoring and cooperation mechanism to achieve common targets for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030, has entered into force. For the first time, the European Parliament, Member States and the Commission have jointly set concrete objectives and targets in the four key areas of digital skills, infrastructure including connectivity, […]
Meet the 2022 Nobel Prize Laureates
Each year, the Nobel Prizes are presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Academy, the Nobel Assembly and the Nobel Committee. These renowned awards recognize and reward excellence in disciplines as varied and important as physics, literature, economics, chemistry, psychology, medicine and the well-known Nobel Peace Prize. In the history of the […]
Europol 2022: Another year Making Europe Safer
2022 was a year marked by sudden, unexpected events, from continuing to deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical and economic turmoil. As the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, Europol supports EU Member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious international and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism. Of the […]
Autumn 2022 Economic Forecast: The EU economy at a turning point
After a strong first half of the year, the EU economy has now entered a much more challenging phase. The shocks unleashed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine are denting global demand and reinforcing global inflationary pressures. The EU is among the most exposed advanced economies, due to its geographical proximity to the war […]
European Day of Languages 2022
Today, 26 September, we would like to celebrate the European Day of Languages with all of you. The European Day of Languages (EDL) is an annual initiative held every 26 September involving numerous language institutions, associations, universities and, in particular, schools. This day, which has been celebrated since 2001, is a unique opportunity to raise […]
SOTEU 2022: New EU cybersecurity rules ensure more secure hardware and software products
The Commission has presented a proposal for a new Cyber Resilience Act to protect consumers and businesses from products with inadequate security features. A first ever EU-wide legislation of its kind, it introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements, throughout their whole lifecycle. The Act, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in September 2021 […]
SOTEU 2022: Commission moves to ban products made with forced labour on the EU market
The Commission has proposed to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market. The proposal covers all products, namely those made in the EU for domestic consumption and exports, and imported goods, without targeting specific companies or industries. This comprehensive approach is important because an estimated 27.6 million people are in forced labour, […]
State of the EU: Ukraine, energy, climate change, economy
In the annual State of the European Union debate, MEPs quizzed President von der Leyen on the Commission’s work in the past year and its upcoming plans. Opening the debate, EP President Roberta Metsola said: “It is a special honour to have Olena Zelenska with us on this important day. We are here against an alarming […]
2022 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen
A UNION THAT STANDS STRONG TOGETHER INTRODUCTION Madam President, Honourable Members, My fellow Europeans, Never before has this Parliament debated the State of our Union with war raging on European soil. We all remember that fateful morning in late February. Europeans from across our Union woke up dismayed by what they saw. Shaken by the resurgent […]