The European Commission has decided to refer Belgium, Ireland and Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to notify national measures fully transposing EU rights on Work-Life Balance for parents and carers (Directive (EU) 2019/158). The Work-Life Balance Directive, adopted in 2019, is an important legislation which aims to enable working parents to better […]
Commission proposes to reinforce long-term EU budget
The European Union (EU) has faced a series of unprecedented and unexpected challenges since the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2020. Barely out of one of the deepest global economic crises in more than a century, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine had huge humanitarian, economic and budgetary consequences. Migration has picked up […]
Consumer protection: European Commission contacts Nintendo to fix defective Nintendo Switch controllers free of charge
Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Authorities) contacted Nintendo to address a recurring technical problem with irresponsive controllers. Following this action, Nintendo has agreed to offer all consumers the right to repair for affected controllers of the “Nintendo Switch” […]
Commission disburses over €150 billion to Member States under the Resilience and Recovery Fund
The Commission has disbursed more than €150 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to Member States, after €6 billion was paid to Spain on 31 May. This is an important milestone in the implementation of the RRF, the key instrument at the heart of the €800 billion NextGenerationEU recovery plan for Europe. In just […]
Commission aims to promote European authors among young people
On 27 March 2023, the Commission celebrates the first European Day of European Authors, a new initiative led by Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel. The day will be an opportunity for the younger generation to reconnect with reading and discover that literature can be a means to strengthen personalities. Reading […]
European Commission presents new strategic framework for integrated border management in Europe
On 14 March, the Commission adopted a communication outlining a five-year strategic framework for integrated border management in Europe and recommendations to Member States on mutual recognition of return decisions and accelerated returns. The European Council, at its extraordinary meeting on 9 February 2023, confirmed the importance of ensuring effective control of the EU’s external […]
The European Commission announces more than 116M € of investment in strategic projects under the new LIFE Program
The Commission announced an investment of over €116 million for the new LIFE Programme‘s Strategic Projects. The funding will help eight major projects in Belgium, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Finland reach their climate and environmental targets. The projects are expected to mobilise significant additional funds from other EU funding sources, including agricultural, structural, regional and research funds, in addition to national funds […]
The European Structural and Investment Funds supported more than 4 million SMEs between 2014 and 2020
In 2014-2020, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) unleashed a total investment of €731 billion, of which €535 billion was funded by the EU, fostering lasting socio–economic convergence, territorial cohesion, social Europe and a smooth green and digital transition. This is explained in the 2022 Summary Report on the Implementation of the ESI Funds adopted by the Commission. The […]
International Day of Holocaust Remembrance
27 January marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Ahead of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, President von der Leyen said: “We must never forget the six millions of Jewish women, men and children, and all other victims, among them hundreds of thousands of Roma, […]