Following three days of negotiations, fisheries ministers agreed on fishing opportunities in the Atlantic, the North Sea, and in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas for 2024. The political agreement reached by the Council is in line with the goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish stocks, while at the same time protecting the livelihoods of communities that […]
Enlargement: how do countries join the EU?
EU enlargement is a way to foster peace and stability in Europe, increase prosperity for Europeans and create opportunities for companies. Countries preparing to join benefit from closer ties with the EU, stronger support for fundamental rights as well as from funding and expertise from the EU to make the process easier. In November 2023, […]
EU ministers meet Ukraine MFA Dmytro Kuleba
The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after an intervention by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba who joined EU Foreign Ministers in person. He briefed EU ministers on the latest developments on the ground, and highlighted how Ukraine is currently committed on two fronts: the military front – as Putin tries to create a […]
Commission proposes new rules to improve animal welfare
As announced by our Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Green Deal’s agenda for sustainable agriculture and food production, the Commission has today proposed the biggest reform of EU animal welfare rules during transport in 20 years. The Commission is also proposing, for the first time ever, new EU rules on the welfare and traceability […]
EU announces €125 million in initial humanitarian aid for Palestinians for 2024
As the humanitarian situation continues to worsen in the Middle East, the Commission will provide €125 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in 2024. This new funding will support humanitarian organisations working in both Gaza and the West Bank. In Gaza, where the humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, the focus will […]
EU and Chile strengthen cooperation and trade
The Council has adopted two decisions to sign the Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA) with Chile, which together constitute an updated version of the EU-Chile Association Agreement currently in place. The new agreement will strengthen EU-Chile political and economic relations and deepen cooperation and trade. It will help to jointly address new global challenges such as the repercussions of the Russian […]
EU leads global initiative at COP28 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency measures
At the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, President Ursula von der Leyen launched the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency together with the COP28 Presidency and 118 countries. This initiative, first proposed by the Commission President at the Major Economies Forum in April, sets global targets to triple the installed capacity of renewable energy to at least 11 terawatts (TW) and […]
EU announces €175m support to reduce methane emissions
Climate super-pollutants – including methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone – are responsible for over half of today’s warming. Under the Global Methane Pledge, launched by the EU and the US, more than 150 countries are now implementing a collective goal of reducing global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, from 2020 levels. This global […]
The Commission and the High Representative present a strategic and forward-looking report on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations
The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication on the state of play of EU-Türkiye political, economic and trade relations, following up to the task set out by the European Council of 29-30 June 2023. The Joint Communication builds on and updates the Joint Communication submitted by the Commission and the High Representative to […]