The 2023 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard and the bi-yearly edition of the Regional Innovation Scoreboard published today showcase that, despite the recent crises, EU Member States and their regions keep improving their innovation performance. The European Innovation Scoreboard 2023 highlights a substantial improvement in the innovation performance of approximately 8.5% since 2016, confirming the EU’s […]
Commission presents EU-Chile agreement to Council for signature authorisation
The modernised EU-Chile agreement has today taken a step towards ratification, with the Commission sending the Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) to the Council for authorising its signature. Once the Council gives its green light, the EU would sign the agreement with Chile. As highlighted during the recent visit of President von […]
The EU wants to introduce minimum standards to make nearly all products on its market sustainable
Ecodesign entails the integration of environmental considerations into product development, aiming to create goods with the lowest possible environmental impact throughout their life cycle. EU manufacturers already have to align with ecodesign rules for energy-related products, such as heaters, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners or computers, reducing energy consumption and negative environmental effects in the design stage. […]
The European Commission has published its Rule of Law Report 2023
The Commission has published its fourth annual Rule of Law Report, taking the pulse of the rule of law situation in each Member State. While Rule of Law concerns remain in some EU Member States, the report has become a key driver for change and positive reforms. In fact, 65% of last year’s recommendations have been, […]
The Commission announced 18 new projects to contribute to the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’
The Commission announced 18 new projects which will receive over €106 million to contribute to the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’. The projects gather over 370 beneficiaries from 36 countries, including SMEs, research institutions, local authorities, schools and businesses. They will play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature by protecting and restoring biodiversity in waters, cutting […]
President von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners will participate in the inauguration of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in Madrid
President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Madrid today, Monday, together with the other European Commissioners, to participate in the inauguration of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They will first visit the Galería de las Colecciones Reales and will be received by Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and members […]
Council and Parliament strike a deal on a European digital identity
With a view to ensuring secure, trusted, and seamless access to cross-border public and private services in the EU, the Council presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional political agreement on the core elements of a new framework for a European digital identity (eID). The revised regulation constitutes a clear paradigm shift for digital identity in […]
European Commission presents two proposals to support the use of cash and on a framework for a digital euro
The European Commission has put forward two proposals to ensure that citizens and businesses can continue to access and pay with euro banknotes and coins across the euro area, and to set out a framework for a possible new digital form of the euro that the European Central Bank may issue in the future, as […]
EU proposes comprehensive new on Climate-Security nexus
The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication laying out how the EU will address the growing impact of climate change and environmental degradation in the fields of peace, security, and defence. Recurrent climate extremes, rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification, water scarcity, threats to biodiversity, environmental pollution and contamination are threatening the health and […]