Parliament and Council reached a deal on cleaner maritime fuels, asking to cut ship emissions by 2% as of 2025 and by 80% as of 2050, to help the EU become climate neutral. A provisional agreement reached on early Thursday morning between the European Parliament and Council negotiators sets up a fuel standard for ships […]
Agreement on naval cooperation reached between European Union and Japan
In a move aimed at further facilitating joint naval activities, on 15 March the European Union’s Naval Force Atalanta (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) and Japan’s Deployment Surface Force for Counter-Piracy Enforcement off the Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden (DPSA) signed a new Administrative Arrangement for communication and coordination on joint anti-piracy exercises. The document […]
Political agreement on the European Year of Capabilities
The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached on 7th March by the European Parliament and Member States on the European Year of Skills. Following the announcement by President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2022 State of the Union address, the Commission submitted its proposal on the European Year of Skills to the co-legislators last October. During the European Year […]
An agreement signed by the EIB and the European Commission to boost private sector investment in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission signed agreements totaling EUR 4 billion on February 28, including a guarantee agreement that will mobilize up to EUR 3.5 billion in loans and EUR 500 million in Trust Fund contributions to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries by 2027. The agreement marks an important step […]
EU-US cooperation: Council approves administrative arrangement between European Defense Agency and Department of Defense
The Council approved the draft administrative arrangement between the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the United States Department of Defence (US DoD) with a view to its signature. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a framework to exchange information and explore opportunities for cooperation between EDA and the US DoD. An initial scope […]
Commission welcomes the political agreement on new EU rules for pay transparency
The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on the Directive on pay transparency measures. The initiative was an important element of the political guidelines of President von der Leyen and the Commission tabled its proposal on 4 March 2021. The new rules will provide for more transparency […]
EU and Chile strengthen a comprehensive political and trade partnership
The European Union and Chile have concluded negotiations on the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement at a meeting between the Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis and the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, with the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonia Urrejola. This landmark agreement is of key geopolitical importance: with the new Advanced Framework Agreement, the […]
EU budget for 2023: Council and Parliament reach agreement
The Council and the European Parliament have this week reached an agreement on the EU budget for 2023 that places particular emphasis on the EU’s main strategic priorities. Total commitments are set at €186.6 billion. This is an increase of 1.1% compared to the 2022 budget as amended. €0.4 billion have been kept available under […]
Council and Parliament reach provisional political agreement on access to Union waters, extending the current rules for fishermen for another ten years
The Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement as regards the regime for access of fishing vessels to member states’ territorial waters. The provisional agreement extends the rules of the access to Union waters – which were about to expire at the end of […]