On Thursday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the European Parliament during an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels. Opening the session, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said to President Zelenskyy: “We understand that you are fighting not only for your values, but for ours.” “Ukraine is Europe and your nation’s future is in the European Union”, President […]
Extraordinary European Council meeting: discussion on further assistance to Ukraine
Russia’s war against Ukraine, the economic situation in the EU and migration are on the agenda of EU leaders as they meet in Brussels for a special European Council meeting, which kicks off on 9 February. Agenda highlights: Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine EU leaders will discuss recent developments with regards to Russia’s war of […]
The Single Market, the key instrument for meeting current challenges, turns 30 years old
The Commission has published the 2023 Annual Single Market Report and the 2022 Single Market Scoreboard, as part of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the Single Market. The reports confirm that the Single Market remains a key tool to address Europe’s current challenges and highlight the importance of continuously improving its functioning, as well as […]
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the publication of the recent UN Group of Experts report
The EU commends the resolute African-led initiatives to address the root causes of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The EU reaffirms its full support to the Luanda and Nairobi processes and calls on all parties to rapidly implement the decisions taken within their frame. The EU welcomes the political […]
Council approves reinforced rules on granting trade preferences to developing countries
EU member states’ ambassadors today agreed the Council’s negotiating mandate on the revised Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regulation that grants trade preferences to developing countries. The new framework maintains the main features of the current system, but includes some improvements, such as stronger links to respect for human rights and the environment, and a better monitoring and transparency of […]
Council and Parliament reach provisional deal on EU emissions trading system and the Social Climate Fund
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on important legislative proposals of the ‘Fit for 55’ package that will further reduce emissions and address their social impacts. The deal is provisional pending formal adoption in both institutions. EU emissions trading system The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a carbon […]
EU adopts Chips Act to address shortage of semiconductors
The Council has adopted its position (‘general approach’) on the proposed regulation establishing a framework of measures to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem, better known as the ‘Chips Act’. The Chips Act addresses the current shortage of semiconductors in Europe. With the Chips Act, the EU aims to double its global market share in semiconductors from 10% to at least […]
Conference on the Future of Europe: feedback event to take place in Brussels
The European Parliament, Council and Commission organise today a feedback event as a follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe. The event will be an opportunity for the three institutions to explain how they are following up on the proposals stemming from the Conference and to exchange with those citizens who participated in the European […]
Council adds the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes
The Council unanimously adopted a decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes’ included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. Pavel Blažek, Czech Minister of Justice: The EU has responded with determination to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. It has adopted an unprecedented number […]