The widespread use of pesticides is a major source of water, soil and air pollution, leading to loss of biodiversity and promoting pest resistance. Human exposure to chemical pesticides is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, heart, respiratory and neurological diseases. The EEA’s new information note How pesticides impact human health and ecosystems in […]
European Chips Act enters into force
the European Chips Act enters into force. It puts in place a comprehensive set of measures to ensure the EU’s security of supply, resilience and technological leadership in semiconductor technologies and applications. Semiconductors are the essential building blocks of digital and digitised products. From smartphones and cars, through critical applications and infrastructures for healthcare, energy, defence, communications […]
Sakharov Prize 2023: the nominees
The nominees for the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought – the European Parliament’s human rights prize – have been announced. Each year Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. In 2022, the winners were the brave people of Ukraine, represented by their president, […]
EU releases €140 million to support the Afghan people, in particular women and girls
The European Union has agreed to release €140 million of basic needs and livelihoods assistance in the fields of education, health, agriculture and women’s economic empowerment in Afghanistan. The decision to release funds, previously frozen since December 2022 in response to the Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in NGOs, comes after six months […]
Joint Communiqué by Fourth Trilateral Meeting of African Union, European Union and United Nations
18 September 2023, New York – Following is the joint communiqué of the Fourth Trilateral Meeting of the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, issued today in New York: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the European Council, Charles Michel; the European Union High Representative for […]
EU produced 14.7 million bicycles in 2022
In 2022, a total of 14.7 million bicycles were produced in the EU. This figure presents a 10% increase in bicycle production compared to the previous year (2021), and a 29% increase over the course of a decade from 2012 to 2022. El nuevo programa de uso compartido de eBikes de Barcelona utilizará información de posicionamiento […]
EU mobilises emergency aid to support Libya after severe floods
Following yesterday’s request for international assistance by the Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the United Nations office in Geneva, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to support Libya in the aftermath of the major flood that has left thousands of casualties. Immediately, EU Member States – so far Germany, […]
European Parliament condemns attempt to reverse elections in Guatemala
MEPs call on all Guatemalan political parties, branches of government and institutions to respect the integrity of the electoral process and the electoral outcome clearly expressed by Guatemalan citizens in 2023 elections. Congratulating Bernardo Arévalo and Karin Herrera from Movimiento Semilla on their election as President and Vice President, MEPs call on all state institutions […]
Spain will have two more seats in the 2024 European elections
MEPs have approved the European Council’s decision increasing the number of seats in the European Parliament for the next legislative term from 705 to 720. The European Council’s proposal was based on Parliament’s report of June 2023, which started the process and was prompted by demographic changes in the EU since the 2019 elections. Additional […]