The EU has completed political procedures ratifying the ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. The decision by the Council of the European Union comes less than a week after the European Parliament gave its consent. The deal is expected to cut some €140 million a year in duties for EU companies. As a […]
Council and Parliament reach agreement on updating Waste Shipment Regulation
The revision of the regulation aims to reduce shipments of problematic waste to outside the EU, update shipment procedures to reflect the objectives of the circular economy and improve enforcement. It sets procedures and control regimes to ensure that international shipments of waste do not pose a threat to human health and the environment, and […]
Council will sign agreement with Albania on Frontex cooperation
The Council adopted a decision to sign an agreement with Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement will allow the organisation of joint operations and the deployment of Frontex border management teams in Albania. The deployment of Frontex teams will be subject to the country’s […]
EU-US Critical Minerals Agreement
The European Commission has adopted its negotiating directives for a Critical Minerals Agreement (CMA) with the United States. The objective is to foster EU-US supply chains in critical raw materials needed in the production of electric vehicle batteries. In 2022 alone, the EU exported €8.3 billion worth of critical raw materials relevant to this industry. […]
Agreement between the Council and the European Parliament on the instrument against coercion
The European Council and the European Parliament reached a preliminary political agreement on the anti-coercion instrument today. The Swedish Presidency agreed on this legislation on the protection of the Union and its member states from economic pressure by third nations on behalf of the European Union Council. (Anti-Coercion Instrument – ACI). This mechanism intends to […]
Fit for 55: deal on new EU rules for cleaner maritime fuels
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 […]