The European Commission launched last July 9 two initiatives under its Preparedness Union agenda: an EU Stockpiling Strategy and a Medical Countermeasures Strategy. Both are designed to improve access to essential goods for European citizens and societies, businesses and economies – ensuring continuity of essential goods and lifesaving medical supplies at all times, in particular during crises such as […]
Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative on the right to food
Last July 8, the European Commission registered the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Food is a Human Right for All! Guaranteeing healthy, just and sustainable food systems’. This initiative calls ‘on the EU to make the right to food a reality’ and integrate it into the EU legal framework. The organisers consider that the ‘EU […]
Commission proposes €23 billion payment to Spain under NextGenerationEU
Last July 7, the Commission positively assessed Spain’s fifth payment request for 23 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This assessment is a significant step towards the disbursement of EU funds to support Spain’s economic growth and resilience efforts. The Commission found that Spain delivered reforms and investments that will benefit citizens and businesses, focusing […]
Nature Credits Roadmap to reward nature-positive action and boost private finance
Last July 7, the European Commission launched a ‘Roadmap towards Nature Credits’, to incentivise private investments into actions that protect and preserve nature, and reward those who undertake these actions and invest in them. Nature credits represent an investment into nature-positive actions by a company, a financial institution, a public entity or a citizen, which in […]
EU and Moldova forge deeper ties at historic first Summit in Chișinău
At the first ever EU-Moldova Summit in Chișinău, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu agreed to deepen cooperation in the interest of EU and Moldovan citizens. The leaders discussed EU accession and related reforms, economic growth as well as security and defence […]
Commission to cut EU Taxonomy red tape for companies
The European Commission has adopted a set of measures to simplify the application of EU Taxonomy. This will reduce the administrative burden for EU companies, thus enhancing EU competitiveness while preserving core climate and environmental goals. The Taxonomy Regulation entered into force in 2020, and its reporting requirements apply since 2022. By providing a common sustainability reference point for […]
Commission fines Alchem for participating in a pharmaceutical cartel
The European Commission has fined Alchem International Pvt. Ltd. and its subsidiary Alchem International (H.K.) Limited (together ‘Alchem‘) €489,000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. The Commission has found that, for more than 12 years, Alchem participated in a cartel concerning an important pharmaceutical ingredient. In October 2023, the Commission adopted a settlement decision and imposed fines […]
Commission launches strategy to lead in life sciences by 2030
On 2 July, the European Commission launched a new strategy to make Europe the most attractive place in the world for life sciences by 2030. Life sciences – the study of living systems, from cells to ecosystems – are fundamental to our health, our environment and our economy. They drive innovation in medicine, food and […]
EU invests €2.8 billion in 94 projects to enhance sustainable mobility across Europe
The European Commission selected 94 transport projects to receive nearly €2.8 billion in EU grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). By modernising railways, inland waterways and maritime routes across the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the projects will not only help better connect European regions and cities – north to south, east to west, but also make the EU’s […]