On 13th April, The Council adopted an assistance measure worth €1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This measure will allow the EU to reimburse member states for ammunition donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from the reprioritisation of existing orders during the period 9 February to 31 May 2023. […]
The LIFE PortSounds project aims to reduce the impact of underwater noise in the port of Cartagena
In the last decades, the expansion of human activities into the marine environment has caused the introduction of artificial sounds which interfere with the acoustic conditions of the environment. The maritime traffic of the Cartagena Port (Murcia, Spain) has exponentially increased in recent years, and it has become the main source of continuous noise in […]
Agroecology: 14 EU-funded projects that are helping to shape the future of agriculture
The EU has set ambitious targets for the agricultural sector. Not only do Europe’s farmers need to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality food – fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals and animal products – and non-food products at competitive prices, they must also deliver on the environmental commitments of the EU Green Deal and farm to […]
Statement by Josep Borrell, on behalf of the EU, on Taliban ban on Afghan women working for the UN
On 4 April, the EU learned with great dismay of the Taliban’s decision to ban Afghan women from working for the UN and its agencies, funds and programmes. The decision follows a series of previous bans and decrees targeting Afghan women and girls that reinforced and exacerbated the Taliban leadership’s continued denial of women’s […]
Autumn vaccination campaigns targeting the elderly and other high-risk groups will be key to reducing the impact of COVID-19
According to ECDC surveillance data, with every new wave of COVID-19 infection, individuals in older age groups are more likely to be hospitalised. Data suggest persisting SARS-CoV-2 transmission in EU/EEA countries and therefore, a continuous risk of severe disease for vulnerable groups. Although no clear seasonal pattern of virus circulation has emerged so far, data […]
The General Court of the European Union introduces important changes to its rules of procedure
The General Court has amended its Rules of Procedure to make the best use of the Court’s time, in particular by clarifying or simplifying certain provisions. Those amendments also respond to certain needs, such as the possibility of using videoconferencing for hearings. They also foster proactive case management and take account of developments in the […]
10th EU-US Energy Council
The 10th EU-US Energy Council met on 4th April in Brussels, chaired by EU High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk. Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, represented the Presidency of the Council of the […]
The European Commission proposes rules on the transfer of criminal proceedings between Member States in the face of increasing cross-border crime
Increasing cross-border crime has led to more and more cases where several Member States have jurisdiction to prosecute the same case. Parallel or multiple prosecutions can be inefficient and ineffective, but also possibly detrimental to the rights of the individuals concerned as a person may not be prosecuted or punished for the same offence twice. […]
The EU supports development of new emergency shelter stocks with 116 million euros
To strengthen emergency response even further, the EU is establishing its own shelter reserves, which can be used in the event of a crisis or catastrophe that overwhelms national response capacities. The EU is allocating €116.6 million to Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey on 4th March to acquire and host new rescEU shelter […]