On 17 July ,the European Commission adopted a Communication on the competitiveness of the EU banking sector, setting out measures to strengthen the single banking market. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “Getting capital flowing is how we will get Europe growing. Our Savings and Investments Union needs a strong, competitive banking sector […]
The Council and the Parliament reach a political agreement on a programme for agile and rapid innovation in defence
On 15 July, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal to establish a Programme for Agile and Rapid Innovation in Defence (AGILE), a new €115 million instrument designed to provide rapid, agile and targeted financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises – including start-ups and scale-ups – that […]
EU law on nitrates pollution remains effective, with scope for smarter implementation
The European Commission last July 15 published the first comprehensive evaluation of the Nitrates Directive since its adoption in 1991. Covering more than 30 years of implementation, the evaluation shows that EU rules remain effective to protect Europe’s waters from agricultural nitrate pollution. It also identifies opportunities to simplify its implementation, reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes for both farmers and the environment. This is accompanied […]
Europe’s performance in the field of innovation is becoming more firmly established against a backdrop of global competition
Europe’s innovation performance continues to improve, with the EU’s overall score having risen by 11.6 percentage points since 2019, according to the 2026 European Innovation Scoreboard, recently published by the European Commission. This result reflects almost a decade of steady growth and highlights the resilience of Europe’s innovation ecosystem in an increasingly competitive global environment. […]
The Commission sets out guidelines for a thriving livestock sector and a self-sufficient protein system
The European Commission has adopted the Livestock Strategy to ensure that Europe’s valuable livestock sector remains strong and resilient in the long term. This strategy, the first of its kind, sets out measures to help livestock farmers tackle economic, environmental and market challenges. This long-term vision recognises the vital role of sustainable livestock farming in […]
MEPs back the EU’s new defence innovation programme
The bill aims to respond to the new security environment brought about by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in which rapid, low-cost cycles of defence innovation are essential. On Thursday,the Committee on Industry, Research and Energyand theCommittee on Security and Defenceadopted their position on the establishment of the Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation Programme […]
Simplifying EU regulations to support competitiveness.
Simple and clear rules are vital for a strong European economy. They help businesses attract investment, grow and create quality jobs, while also saving citizens time and money. The European Commission has presented two new omnibus proposals as part of its wider efforts to cut red tape and boost Europe’s competitiveness: Energy products: this proposal […]
The Commission is simplifying energy and tyre labelling and making it more accessible to European consumers
European consumers, suppliers and retailers of household appliances, electronic devices and tyres will benefit from the simplified labelling rules proposed by the Commission. The simplified energy labelling and tyre labelling rules will make the requirements easier for suppliers and retailers to comply with, whilst ensuring that consumers receive the information they need when purchasing a […]
A solid start: first progress report on the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap
Following the signing of the Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2026 and the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have worked closely together to effectively deliver on all the priorities set out therein. Progress will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. The June 2026 progress […]