According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 36 species have become extinct in Europe since 2015. These figures are alarming, and prompt action is urgently needed to protect not only the animals but also their habitats. The European Union has developed numerous initiatives and programs to preserve nature and ecosystems, […]
EU announces €816.5 million worth of commitments to protect the ocean
At the Our Ocean Conference in Panama, the EU is confirming its strong engagement for international ocean governance by announcing 39 commitments for action for the year 2023. These actions will be funded by €816.5 million. This is one of the biggest amounts ever announced by the EU since the start of the Our Ocean […]
Road safety: Updated requirements for driving licences
The Commission has presented proposals to modernise driving licence rules, including the introduction of a digital driving licence valid throughout the EU, and new provisions to facilitate the enforcement of traffic rules across borders. More than 20,000 lives were lost on EU roads last year and the majority of victims were pedestrians, cyclists and users […]
Commission highlights a slow decline in road traffic fatalities since the pandemic
The Commission has published preliminary data on the number of road deaths in 2022. Some 20,600 people died in road accidents last year, increasing by 3% from 2021 due to the lowest traffic levels since the pandemic. However, this is 2 000 fewer fatalities (-10%) than in 2019, the year before the pandemic. The EU […]
European Commission approves €460M aid to ArcelorMittal Spain to support decarbonisation of its steel production
The European Commission has approved a €460 million Spanish measure under EU state aid rules to help ArcelorMittal España (“ArcelorMittal”) to partially decarbonise its steel production. The support will help achieve the objectives of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Pact and reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition […]
European Commission refers Spain to the CJEU on whistleblower protection
The European Commission has decided to refer the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, and Spain to the Court of Justice for failure to transpose and notify national measures transposing into national law the Directive on the protection of persons reporting breaches of Union law [Directive (EU) 2019/1937]. The directive requires Member States […]
European Commission proposes tougher CO2 emission standards for trucks and buses
The European Commission has presented ambitious new CO2 emission targets for new heavy duty vehicles from 2030. These targets will help reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector, as trucks, city buses and long-distance buses generate more than 6% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more than 25% of greenhouse gas emissions […]
The European Commission is committed to talent in rural areas
The European Commission is actively committed to preserving rural regions and combating depopulation. Initiatives such as the Rural Observatory, the Rural Pact, the EU Rural Action Plan or Regions of the EU aim to publicise the potential of rural environments to develop them and reactivate the economy and attract talent, something also favored by the […]
European Commission sets rules to define what constitutes renewable hydrogen in the EU
The Commission has proposed detailed rules to define what constitutes renewable hydrogen in the EU, with the adoption of two Delegated Acts required under the Renewable Energy Directive. These Acts are part of a broad EU regulatory framework for hydrogen which includes energy infrastructure investments and state aid rules, and legislative targets for renewable hydrogen […]