In 2023, 867 000 tonnes of chocolate and chocolate bars were exported by EU members to countries outside the EU (extra-EU). This marks a 2% increase compared with 2022 (852 000 tonnes) and a 35% boost compared with 2013 (643 000 tonnes). The top chocolate and chocolate bar exporters to extra-EU countries were Germany, with 221 000 tonnes or 26% of the […]
European Commission publishes report highlighting progress on long-term vision for rural areas in the EU
The European Commission has published a report outlining the good progress made so far under the EU’s long-term rural vision, highlighting positive outcomes delivered since 2021 and presenting ideas for future work. The report outlines progress made under the “Long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas” to support stronger, more connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas and […]
The Forum for the Future of the EU, Spanish winner of the Charlemagne Youth Prize 2024
The project Forum on the Future of the EU, by “Equipo Europa”, has been the winner in Spain of the 2024 edition of the Charlemagne Youth Prize. The aim of this project, which was carried out in the context of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and the European election year, is to bring […]
European Commission takes action to improve the quality of traineeships in the EU
Quality traineeships can help young people gain practical work experience, learn new skills and eventually find a good quality job. For employers, they are an opportunity to attract, train and retain talent. A quality traineeship requires fair and transparent working conditions and an adequate learning content. The EU’s 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships set out […]
European Commission takes steps to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU
The Communication on Building the future with nature identifies the challenges and barriers and proposes to tackle them, in line with the Communication on the long-term competitiveness of the EU. The advances in life sciences, supported by digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential of solutions based on biology to solve societal issues, make biotechnology and biomanufacturing one […]
Taking stock of the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan
The European Commission Representation in Spain organised the second annual conference on the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The event took stock of the Plan, analysing the opportunities it offers to achieve a greener, more digital and resilient Spain, as well as the challenges for its implementation. The event was opened by the acting […]
The Community of Madrid is the EU region with the highest life expectancy at birth
In 2022, the life expectancy at birth in the EU was 80.6 years, up by 0.5 years from 2021. Over two decades, since 2002, the highest value was recorded in 2019 when life expectancy at birth reached 81.3 years (up 3.7 years compared with 2002). However, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this indicator declined to 80.4 in […]
2023 figures show stagnating progress in reducing road fatalities in too many countries
The Commission is publishing preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2023. Around 20,400 people were killed in road crashes in the EU last year, a small 1% decrease on 2022. Despite some progress since the baseline year of 2019[1], few Member States are on track to meet the EU and UN target of halving […]
Eurostat: Spain had the second lowest fertility rate in the European Union in 2022
In 2022, 3.88 million babies were born in the EU, a slight decrease from 4.09 million in 2021. The number of children born in the EU has been declining since 2008, when 4.68 million children were born. The total fertility rate in 2022 was 1.46 live births per woman in the EU, which is another decline, after the small increase […]