The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the revised EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Directive [Directive (EU) 2023/959] into national law. The Commission has also decided to refer Spain and Poland to the Court for failing to transpose the revised […]
The Commission is launching the OceanEye initiative to put the EU at the forefront of ocean observation.
The European Commission has adopted OceanEye to expand the EU’s role in ocean observation. This initiative aims to position the EU as the world’s leading provider of ocean information, contributing 35% of the global ocean observation system by 2035 and securing 35% of the ocean observation technology market. The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s […]
The Spring 2026 European Semester package sets out a roadmap for promoting economic resilience and social cohesion across the EU
The Commission has adopted the 2026 Spring Package of the European Semester. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, the package sets out policy guidelines for Member States, with a particular focus on strengthening competitiveness, strategic autonomy, economic and social resilience and EU cohesion, whilst maintaining fiscal sustainability. The 2026 cycle of the European Semester provides […]
EU Green Week 2026: Investing in nature to strengthen Europe’s economy and resilience
How can Europe remain competitive, resilient and secure in an increasingly unstable world? According to the central messageoftheEU Green Week 2026,the answer starts with nature. The EU’s most important annual conference on the environment begins today (3 June) in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, environmentalists, investors, scientists, farmers, innovators and civil society to explore […]
Stricter anti-corruption rules come into force
On 31 May, more harmonised anti-corruption rules came into force across the EU under the new Anti-Corruption Directive. The Directive introduces modern rules to better prevent, detect and punish corruption throughout the EU, thereby helping to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and public trust, whilst promoting competitiveness across the European Union. The new […]
The Commission is accelerating the transition away from the use of animals in chemical safety assessments
The European Commission has presented a roadmap for the phasing out of animal testing in chemical safety assessments, setting out clear and concrete steps to ensure the transition to innovative, non-animal approaches. This roadmap will also safeguard the integrity of safety assessments, which ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health, as […]
The Council sets out a new framework for science diplomacy
On 29 May, the Council adopted a Recommendation on the development of a new European Union framework for science diplomacy. The framework aims to strengthen the Union’s position as a global leader in science and technology and to use scientific cooperation to advance its foreign policy objectives. Science as a diplomatic tool The Recommendation emphasises […]
The Commission approves €500 million in Spanish state aid for agricultural businesses affected by higher fertiliser prices
The European Commission has approved a Spanish state aid scheme worth €500 million to help agricultural businesses facing higher fertiliser prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Framework for Aid in Response to the Crisis in the Middle East (METSAF), which the Commission adopted on […]
The EU is making good progress towards its 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction target
In 2024, the EU set a target of achieving an annual injection capacity of 50 million tonnes in the EU’s geological CO₂ storage sites by 2030, with the aim of supporting carbon capture and storage projects, reducing industrial emissions and increasing the availability of such storage sites in Europe. The published report shows that significant […]