President Metsola presented the Sakharov Prize 2025 to representatives of the journalists, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, at a ceremony in Strasbourg on Tuesday. Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola said: “I am proud to award this year’s Sakharov Prize to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli in recognition of their courageous struggle for freedom of expression […]
Commission takes action for more affordable housing across Europe
With the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan presented last Decemeber 16, the Commission addresses one of the most pressing needs of European citizens: access to affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing. With an average increase of house prices by more than 60%, and of rents by more than 20% in the past ten years, millions of Europeans are […]
EU adopts new measures against Russian shadow fleet ecosystem and Belarus
The Commission welcomes last December 15’s decision by EU Member States to adopt supplementary sanctions against key components of the Russian shadow fleet value chain, as well as against Belarus. These new measures aim at further increasing pressure on Russia and Belarus to reinforce and support the EU’s commitment to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Supplementary sanctions on shadow […]
Commission approves Spanish state aid scheme to support decarbonisation
The European Commission has approved a Spanish scheme worth €408 million to support the decarbonisation of the manufacturing industry, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industry Pact. This measure, which will contribute to the transition towards a zero net emission economy, is financed under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. The scheme has been […]
EU introduces customs duties on low-value e-commerce packages
The Commission welcomed last December 12’s decision by EU Member States to introduce a €3 customs duty per item on e-commerce parcels valued below €150, starting in July 2026. The new duty will help protect the competitiveness of European businesses by levelling the playing field between e-commerce and traditional retail. Given the rapid increase in e-commerce goods being imported into the EU, the Commission and Member States have together acknowledged the need for an urgent […]
Commission invests €14 billion through Horizon Europe to boost global research and innovation leadership
On December 11, the European Commission adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, a €14 billion investment designed to drive research and innovation (R&I) across the EU’s strategic goals. These goals include achieving climate neutrality, boosting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation, and ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing […]
Eurobarometer: Digital skills need equal priority in schools alongside reading, maths, and science
Nine in ten Europeans would include digital skills into education at all levels, according to a new Eurobarometer survey published last December 11. The ‘Future Needs in Digital Education’ survey reveals citizens’ views on the importance of digital skills in education, including the role of teachers, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and the benefits and […]
Europeans see strong benefits from EU membership and call for a more assertive Union
The latest Eurobarometer shows that nearly three quarters of EU citizens consider that their country has benefited from EU membership. Support for the euro, as well as for common defence and security, is among the highest ever recorded. In a contested geopolitical environment, Europeans increasingly call for a stronger and more assertive EU with reinforced […]
EU becomes major Green Bond issuer
The EU has become one of the largest issuers of green bonds in the world, according to the 2025 edition of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) Green Bonds Annual Allocation and Impact Report, published last December 9. It shows that, a total of €78.5 billion worth of NextGenerationEU Green Bonds have been issued to date, which will […]