The EU and the Philippines have reached a substantial agreement in their negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is intended to strengthen economic ties between the EU and another fast-growing strategic partner in South-East Asia. Maros Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, the Philippines’ Secretary of Trade and […]
The Commission is proposing a new European Innovation Act to promote innovative European ideas and make them globally competitive
The Commission has proposed a new European Innovation Act to help ensure that Europe’s most innovative ideas are developed, funded and scaled up in Europe. A key initiative under the EU Strategy for Start-ups and Scale-ups and the EU Competitiveness Compass, the proposal will strengthen the EU’s long-term competitiveness, prosperity and technological sovereignty. Europe boasts […]
The Commission is launching a new strategic approach to boost the agri-food sector
The European Commission has adopted a Communication on a new strategic approach to research and innovation aimed at achieving competitive and resilient agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems. The document brings together two closely interlinked frameworks, AgRI 2040and Food 2040, with the aim of guiding future research, innovation, dissemination and the uptake of solutions […]
State of the Union 2026
What is SOTEU? The State of the Union Address (SOTEU) is an annual address delivered by the President of the European Commission to the European Parliament, in which the Union’s priorities for the coming year are set out. It is a key moment in EU democracy: an opportunity to reflect on the past year outline […]
MEPs want a new law to protect workers’ mental and physical health
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs urges the Commission to draw up legislation to protect workers from work-related psychosocial risks and work-related stress. Last Wednesday, MEPs agreed on a series of recommendations for a new EU draft law to ensure minimum requirements for preventing, eliminating or reducing work-related psychosocial risks that could lead to […]
The Commission proposes extending the fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins until winter 2027
On 4 September, the Commission proposed extending the annual winter closure in the Bay of Biscay for fishing vessels over eight metres in length until the winter of 2027, in order to prevent the by-catch of common dolphins and other small cetaceans, species strictly protected under the EU Habitats Directive. For the fourth consecutive year, […]
Investment in education is stabilising as Europe seeks to make the teaching profession more attractive
Now that pupils and teachers across Europe are returning to the classroom, the Commission is publishing its report ‘Investing in Education 2026’. The 2026 edition provides an overview of recent trends in investment in education across the EU and examines the factors associated with the attractiveness of the teaching profession. This issue is particularly relevant, […]
The EU’s agri-food trade surplus rises in the first five months of 2026
The latest report on EU agri-food trade published by the European Commission shows that, in the first five months of 2026, the EU’s agri-food trade surplus stood at €19.4 billion, €1 billion more than in the same period of 2025. The value of the EU’s agri-food exports totalled €96,900 million between January and May 2026, […]
EU state aid rules facilitate investment and social support
New guidelines from the European Commission set out how state aid rules allow EU Member States to facilitate investment and provide social assistance. These guidelines help Member States to plan state aid for investment and social support, as set out in the Clean Industry Pact. A tool for managing state aid in the social sector […]