The last Monday, the Council approved Lconclusions on developing the Union’s cyber posture. The posture aims to demonstrate the EU’s determination to provide immediate and long-term responses to threat actors seeking to deny the EU a secure and open access to cyberspace and affect its strategic interests, including the security of its partners. Cybersecurity initiatives […]
EU guidelines on tax policy
In its 2022 European Semester spring package, the European Commission has provided Member States with support and guidance on tax policy. Fiscal policy guidance The activation of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact in March 2020 allowed Member States to react swiftly and adopt emergency measures to mitigate the economic and […]
Indonesia is connected to the EU Digital COVID Certificate system
Good news for Indonesian and European travellers: EU and Indonesia have agreed the mutual recognition of their COVID vaccine certificates. This means that, when entering the EU or travelling between EU Member States, holders of the Indonesian vaccine certificate can use it under the same conditions as people holding the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC). […]
5th UfM Ministerial on Employment and Labour
Union for Mediterranean Ministers in charge of employment and labour have agreed joint actions for a better integration of social and labour markets in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Governments will focus on a stronger participation of young people and women in their societies and economies. They also stressed the need to continue measuring the impact of […]
Ukraine’s financing gap and longer-term reconstruction
The Commission has set out plans in a Communication for the EU’s immediate response to address Ukraine’s financing gap, as well as the longer-term reconstruction framework. This Communication follows from the European Council call to address the consequences of the war in Ukraine via a dedicated Europe-led effort. Immediate response and short terms needs Since […]
Climate change: MEPs push for accelerated EU action and energy independence
Emissions Trading System reform: free allowances for industries phased out more quickly and citizens included later in ETS II Broader scope and faster implementation in new carbon leakage instrument Stricter trajectory, more transparency and less flexibility for member states’ greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors New EU carbon sinks goal will increase EU 2030 reduction […]
Press freedom 2022: how are EU countries rated?
Journalism is coming under intense pressure as press freedom confronts an increasingly divided world, fuelled by disinformation. While Europe remains the most secure continent for journalists and media freedom, oppressive policies in certain countries and Russia’s war against Ukraine paint a worrying picture of the situation across the continent. Freedom of expression, media freedom and […]
Spring economic forecasts: Spain is expected to be the fourth fastest-growing economy in the EU
The outlook for the EU economy before the outbreak of the war was for a prolonged and robust expansion. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has posed new challenges, just as the Union had recovered from the economic impacts of the pandemic. By exerting further upward pressures on commodity prices, causing renewed supply disruptions and increasing […]
Main results of the Foreign Affairs Council – 16 May 2022
Western Balkans During a working lunch EU Foreign Affairs Ministers were joined by their counterparts from the six Western Balkans partners, and discussed the future of the region on its path to the European Union. The Council welcomed the choice of those partners who aligned fully with the EU’s foreign policy and sanctions, and expressed its […]