On 18 April, the European Commission adopted a proposal to adapt and further strengthen the existing EU system of bank crisis management and deposit insurance, with a special focus on small and medium-sized banks. The EU banking sector, which has a strong crisis management system, has become more resilient in recent years. EU financial institutions […]
303 workers made redundant from Alu Ibérica in Galicia receive 1.2 million euros in aid
303 former employees of aluminium producer Alu Ibérica in the Galicia region in Spain should receive €1.2 million in EU aid after the company declared bankruptcy. On Monday, the Committee on Budgets approved Spain’s request for support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). MEPs acknowledged that “the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war […]
The European Commission prolongs the block exemption regulation in the motor vehicle sector
The European Commission has prolonged the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (‘MVBER’) for five years, meaning that it will now be applicable until 31 May 2028. It has also updated the Supplementary Guidelines for the sector. The revised Guidelines will help companies in the automotive sector assess the compatibility of their vertical agreements with EU competition rules, while ensuring that aftermarket operators, including […]
EU wins WTO case on India’s tariffs on ICT-related products
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled in favour of the EU in a landmark case challenging India’s tariffs on key information and communications technology (ICT) products. In a panel decision, the WTO upheld all of the EU’s claims against India and found that India’s tariffs of up to 20 percent on certain ICT products, such […]
EU-funded project develops robots capable of detecting damage and repairing themselves
When humans and animals are injured such as from a cut, they are able to heal over time. However, for broken robots, this often means replacement parts are needed. This not only impacts on the environment, but these parts can be costly. The EU-funded SHERO project had a radical vision of developing fully autonomous self […]
“SocioDigithon”, the competition to promote Human Rights and digital innovation launched by the European Union.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia has launched the third edition of the ‘’, an annual competition which aims to address human rights challenges in Indonesia through digital innovation. Held this year in partnership with Binar Academy, this competition is part of the EU’s broader effort to support Indonesia in promoting human […]
Council approves €1 billion in ammunition aid for Ukraine
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 […]