The number of detections of illegal border crossings along the EU’s external borders fell 13% last year to around 124 000, in large part due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions put in place by various countries, according to preliminary figures collected by Frontex. This was the lowest number of illegal border crossings since 2013. […]
Seaweed and solar energy join hands at sea
Two EU-backed Dutch companies have created the first offshore solar and seaweed farm in the North Sea, making solar energy production and seaweed cultivation possible in the same space. An offshore solar energy system developer and a seaweed company have created the world’s first combined solar and seaweed farm in the North Sea. The two […]
Multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 adopted
Following the European Parliament’s consent, the Council has adopted the regulation laying down the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. The regulation provides for a long-term budget of €1 074.3 billion for the EU27 in 2018 prices, including the integration of the European Development Fund. Together with the Next Generation EU recovery instrument of €750 […]
International prize in teaching innovation for the Group ‘Automatics, Robotics and Mechatronics’ of the University of Almeria
IFAC, the association that joins and coordinates worldwide all the tasks of teaching and research in control engineering, awards its proposal to create an online platform to support education in this area. The Research Group ‘Automatics, Robotics and Mechatronics’ TEP197 of the University of Almeria, with two decades of experience and directed by Manuel Berenguel, […]
European Commission authorises first safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19
The European Commission has granted a conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) for the COVID‑19 vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the EU. This authorisation follows a positive scientific recommendation based on a thorough assessment of the safety, effectiveness and quality of the vaccine by the European Medicines Agency […]
Local traffic data and how it gives more power to citizens
An EU-funded project team is helping citizen scientists collect neighbourhood traffic data. Their hope is that it will assist local communities to campaign for local policy changes resulting in effective traffic solutions. Today’s cities face a wide variety of transport challenges that can’t be solved with a one-size-fits-all approach. Addressing urban mobility challenges requires not […]
Joint statement by the co-chairs of the EU-UK Joint Committee
The co-chairs of the EU-UK Joint Committee – European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and the UK Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Rt Hon Michael Gove – held a political meeting to address the outstanding issues related to the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. Ensuring that the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular the Protocol on […]
EU-US: A new transatlantic agenda for global change
The European Commission and the High Representative are today putting forward a proposal for a new, forward-looking transatlantic agenda. While the past years have been tested by geopolitical power shifts, bilateral tensions and unilateral tendencies, the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, combined with a more assertive and capable European Union and a […]
EU-Australia leaders’ meeting via video conference, 26 November 2020
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a leaders’ meeting by video conference with Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a leaders’ meeting by video conference […]