This afternoon I spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the dreadful murders that have been uncovered in Bucha and other areas from which Russian troops have recently left. I conveyed to him my condolences and assured him of the European Commission’s full support in these terrible times. The harrowing images cannot and will not […]
New standards to enhance cybersecurity and information security
Last 22nd March, the Commission proposed new rules to establish common cybersecurity and information security measures across the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The proposal aims to bolster their resilience and response capacities against cyber threats and incidents, as well as to ensure a resilient, secure EU public administration, amidst rising malicious cyber activities […]
Adaptation to Brexit: Commission approves EUR 2 billion in pre-financing for 12 Member States
The Commission has approved the disbursement of more than EUR 2 billion under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to a group of twelve Member States. Under this decision, €819.2 million will be made available by the end of March 2022 and the remainder by April 2023 at the latest. This funding will help mitigate the impact […]
11-M: European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Terrorism
The European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism is an annual event to commemorate the victims of terrorism worldwide. On this day in 2004, the Madrid bombings took place claiming the lives of 193 people and injuring thousands more. For the 18th European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism, the Commission issued the following statement: […]
Negotiations for the international treaty on pandemics
The Council adopted a decision to authorise the opening of negotiations for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The decision also clears the way for negotiating complementary amendments to the International Health Regulations. The decision authorises the Commission, for matters falling within Union competence, to negotiate an international agreement on pandemic prevention, […]
European sanctions against disinformation by the parliamentary commission
The EU should have a specific regime of sanctions to tackle foreign interference and disinformation campaigns by foreign powers, according to a Parliament committee. Without a proper sanctions regime in place in the EU, malicious foreign powers can safely assume that their destabilisation campaigns will meet no consequences. That is one of the conclusions in […]
COVID-19 research and public health, EU priorities
70.9% of adolescents aged 15-17 years and 34.8% of those aged 10-14 years completed the primary course of vaccination against COVID-19, albeit with a wide range among EU/EEA countries. More than half of adolescents aged 10-17 years in the EU/EEA have not yet completed the primary course. Although the risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, and […]
EU and Spain in the global action plan against COVID-19
In the COVID-19 Global Action Meeting, convened by US Secretary of State Blinken and gathering the EU, represented by Commissioner Urpilainen, and other partner countries, participants discussed yesterday a ‘COVID-19 Global Action Plan’. The objective is to help coordinate actions and mobilise resources in six priority areas in relation to the global COVID-19 response to […]
Economic Forecasts 2022: Constraints on EU Growth
The winter 2022 economic forecast indicates that, after a remarkable 5.3% expansion in 2021, the EU economy will grow by 4.0% in 2022 and 2.8% in 2023. Growth in the euro area is also forecast to stand at 4.0% in 2022 and to moderate to 2.7% in 2023. Following the vigorous pickup in economic activity […]