Background With these proposals, the European Union intends to facilitate the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on the ground, in line with the measures for Northern Ireland presented by the Commission on 13 October 2021. European Health Union: a stronger role for the European Medicines Agency About the proposals EU ambassadors today agreed on […]
Support for Ukraine and the energy situation in Europe
Russian military action in Ukraine is causing major damage to the country’s energy capacities. Energy ministers have said that they are willing and ready to provide assistance to Ukraine in this regard. Moreover, these military operations are leading to an increase in gas prices in the EU as well as in international oil prices. This […]
Spanish government calls on Russia to put an immediate end to military invasion of Ukraine
The Government of Spain calls on Russia to put an immediate end to the military invasion of Ukraine The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, participated during the night of February 24 in Brussels in the extraordinary European Council to address the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation during which they held a […]
Coordinated maritime policies: Gulf of Guinea and northwestern Indian Ocean
EU Foreign Ministers met on February 21, 2022 in Brussels to discuss a number of current issues affecting the European Union. The meeting was chaired by Josep BORRELL, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Foreign Ministers discussed recent developments in Russia’s military activities around Ukraine. This was followed by a discussion on […]
EU agrees to give Europol more powers and resources in its fight against crime
The Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a draft regulation amending the Europol regulation. The provisional agreement is subject to approval by the Council and the European Parliament before going through the formal adoption procedure. On the basis of a Commission proposal, the European Parliament and the Council agreed to […]
Europe’s priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries
Following the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 January 2022, the European ministers set several objectives and priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries. Agriculture – Priorities of the French presidency These priorities include, on the one hand, the reciprocity of trading standards – in other words, ensuring (chiefly by means of ‘mirror […]
Europe agrees to strengthen competition in the digital field
The Council reached an agreement on its position (“general approach”) on the proposed Digital Markets Act. The proposal aims to ensure the competitiveness and fairness of the digital sector in order to promote innovation, high quality of digital products and services and high quality and choice in the digital sector. Online platforms that provide basic […]
What Slovenian MEPs expect from their country’s presidency
Slovenia took over the rotating presidency of the Council on 1 July. Find out what Slovenian MEPs expect during their country’s turn at the helm. Slovenia took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Portugal. The focus is on facilitating the EU’s recovery and making it more resilient. On 6 July, […]
Council agrees its negotiating mandate on the Digital Green Certificate
EU ambassadors today agreed a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposal for a Digital Green Certificate. This certificate will facilitate safe and free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. The […]