On 2 July, the European Commission gave partial approval to Spain’s sixth payment request, worth EUR 5,700 million, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. At the same time, it has approved a payment for two milestones that had previously been suspended under the fifth payment request. This is an important step […]
Specialist prosecutors step up the fight against human trafficking
On 17 and 18 June, the Working Group of Prosecutors Specialising in Human Trafficking met at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague. The meeting was co-chaired by the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and focused on recent developments in the fight against human trafficking. This fifth meeting of the Working Group addressed the practical challenges of applying the […]
Energy Union: New Spain-Portugal power interconnector inaugurated
On 2 July, the European Commission celebrated the inauguration of the electricity interconnector between Spain and Portugal. The commissioning of this new infrastructure project linking northern Portugal and Galicia, in north-western Spain, marks a key milestone in the energy sector. The project increases cross-border electricity transmission capacity by 1,000 MW, bringing the total to 4,200 MW […]
The Commission clarifies the rules on the recycling of plastic bottles
The European Commission has today adopted new rules on the recycling of single-use plastic beverage bottles, made mainly from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These rules establish, for the first time, a methodology for calculating, verifying and reporting on chemically recycled content. This forms part ofthe Commission’s December 2025 plastics package. The new rules will ensure transparency […]
The Commission approves €402 million in Spanish state aid for road haulage companies
The Commission has approved Spanish state aid worth 402 million euros for road haulage companies affected by rising fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Framework for Aid in Response to the Crisis in the Middle East (METSAF), which the Commission adopted on 29 […]
New analysis on the EU’s most threatening criminal networks
Last June 26, the European Commission, Europol and the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU are presenting a new Europol analysis of the EU’s most threatening criminal networks. While law enforcement action has disrupted criminal networks across the EU, the report shows that the threat from organised crime remains strong, adaptive and deeply embedded across Europe. The report analyses […]
The Commission proposes to extend the temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine for a further year
On 26 June, the European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for one further year for people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, taking into account Ukraine’s overall capacity to defend itself. With this measure, the Commission reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary. Russia has continued its unprovoked war […]
Simplifying EU regulations to support competitiveness.
Simple and clear rules are vital for a strong European economy. They help businesses attract investment, grow and create quality jobs, while also saving citizens time and money. The European Commission has presented two new omnibus proposals as part of its wider efforts to cut red tape and boost Europe’s competitiveness: Energy products: this proposal […]
The Convergence Report examines Member States’ progress towards joining the euro area
On 24 June, the European Commission published the 2026 Convergence Report, which assesses the progress made by Member States outside the euro area towards adopting the euro. More than 27 years after the introduction of the single currency, the euro has become a powerful symbol of Europe’s identity in the world. It is now the […]