The Commission has adopted the 2026 Spring Package of the European Semester. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, the package sets out policy guidelines for Member States, with a particular focus on strengthening competitiveness, strategic autonomy, economic and social resilience and EU cohesion, whilst maintaining fiscal sustainability. The 2026 cycle of the European Semester provides […]
The Commission issues opinions on temporary internal border controls within the Schengen area
The Commission has issued opinions on the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls by Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, SloveniaandSweden. Whilst EU law allows for the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls under certain conditions, it also requires the Commission to issue an opinion where such controls last for more than 12 […]
Stricter anti-corruption rules come into force
On 31 May, more harmonised anti-corruption rules came into force across the EU under the new Anti-Corruption Directive. The Directive introduces modern rules to better prevent, detect and punish corruption throughout the EU, thereby helping to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and public trust, whilst promoting competitiveness across the European Union. The new […]
The Commission is accelerating the transition away from the use of animals in chemical safety assessments
The European Commission has presented a roadmap for the phasing out of animal testing in chemical safety assessments, setting out clear and concrete steps to ensure the transition to innovative, non-animal approaches. This roadmap will also safeguard the integrity of safety assessments, which ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health, as […]
The Eurobarometer highlights the perceived obstacles and opportunities for European small and medium-sized enterprises when it comes to recruiting skilled workers from outside the EU
A new Eurobarometer survey shows that almost half of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (46%) are struggling to find workers with the right skills. According to the survey, the recruitment of third-country nationals remains limited. One in seven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has attempted to recruit workers from outside the EU in the […]
New scoreboard shows success of European startup policies
Europe’s startup and scaleup ecosystem has been growing steadily, according to the first-ever European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard (ESSS) published last May 29 by the European Commission. The scoreboard reveals a clear trend: pro-startup policies drive real results. Since 2020, the baseline year for the Scoreboard, 20 out of 27 EU Member States have improved their […]
The Commission approves €500 million in Spanish state aid for agricultural businesses affected by higher fertiliser prices
The European Commission has approved a Spanish state aid scheme worth €500 million to help agricultural businesses facing higher fertiliser 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 […]
Participation – EU Civic Tech Hackathon – Belgium
The European Commission is organising the EU Civic Tech Hackathon on 22 and 23 June 2026 and invites individuals and organisations with an interest in or experience of civic technology and democratic participation to take part. Who can take part? Developers and designers, civic tech organisations, civil society actors, researchers, start-ups and SMEs, and public […]
The EU is making good progress towards its 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction target
In 2024, the EU set a target of achieving an annual injection capacity of 50 million tonnes in the EU’s geological CO₂ storage sites by 2030, with the aim of supporting carbon capture and storage projects, reducing industrial emissions and increasing the availability of such storage sites in Europe. The published report shows that significant […]