The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called for the creation of an international alliance to strengthen and expand ocean monitoring and observation. This alliance will support OceanEye, the European ocean observation initiative, to consolidate efforts and collaboration in ocean observation on a global scale. President von der Leyen also announced an […]
Commission approves €1.1 billion French State aid scheme to support clean technology manufacturing capacity
The European Commission has approved a €1.1 billion French programme to support strategic investments that increase clean technology manufacturing capacity, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Pact. This measure will contribute to the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The programme was approvedunder the Clean Industrial Pact State Aid Framework (CISAF),adopted by […]
Commission response to the European citizens’ initiative on reducing unsafe abortion in the EU
The European Commission adopted a Communication in response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “My voice, my choice: for safe and accessible abortion”. This is the twelfth initiative to receive a formal response from the Commission since European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) were launched in 2012. According to the World Health Organisation, around 483,000 unsafe abortions […]
The Commission proposes to open negotiations to extend EU roaming to the Western Balkans
The European Commission has proposedopening negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to integrate them into the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” regime. Once agreements with each of the partners have been finalised and they are all fully aligned with EU roaming rules, people travelling between the EU and the […]
No longer invisible: EU launches campaign against human trafficking
The European Commission has launched an EU-wide awareness campaign to combat human trafficking. Every year, around 10,000 people are identified as victims of trafficking in the EU, and many more go unnoticed and unprotected. Victims include both EU and non-EU citizens who are forced into sexual or labour exploitation, forced crime or other forms of […]
The Commission awards the European Heritage Label to La Nau cultural centre
The European Commission has announced the thirteen new sites selected for the European Heritage Label 2026, including one new Spanish site. The European Heritage Label, a flagship initiative of the Creative Europe programme, recognises places that have profoundly marked the history, culture and development of the European Union. This year, the number of sites awarded […]
Council gives green light to signing of package of agreements with Switzerland
On 24 February, the Council gave the green light to the signing of a comprehensive package of agreements between the EU and Switzerland aimed at deepening and broadening their bilateral relationship. This comprehensive package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland includes a wide variety of elements: the updating of four agreements that already give Switzerland access […]
The new European Centre for Democratic Resilience begins its work
At the meeting of the General Affairs Council on February 24, the Commission and the Council Presidency invited EU ministers to celebrate the launch of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience. The aim of the Centre, a flagship initiative of the European Democracy Shield, is to facilitate a consolidated approach involving the whole of society […]
The European Commission seeks input to shape its strategy for coastal communities
The European Commission has launched a four-week public call for data to help shape the first EU Strategy for Coastal Communities, a key commitment under the European Ocean Pact. This Strategy aims to support and boost sustainable economic growth and address the challenges faced by the millions of people who live and work along Europe’s […]