The European Commission today registered a European citizens’ initiative entitled “HouseEurope! Power to Renovation” (HouseEurope! Power to Renovation). The aim of the initiative is to create incentives for the renovation and transformation of existing buildings. The organizers are asking the Commission to propose legislation to incentivize the reuse of existing buildings, based on the following: […]
Launch of European Automotive Industry Dialogue on January 30
The Commission and the European Board for Digital Services welcome the integration of the revised ‘Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online +’ into the framework of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which encourages voluntary codes of conduct to tackle risks online. The Code of conduct+, which builds on the 2016 on the initial Code […]
Combatting child sexual abuse: Council adopts position on strengthened EU criminal law
Last december 13, the Council agreed its position on a proposal to update the EU’s criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. The revised rules expand the definition of the offences, making sure that all forms of child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, including those enabled or facilitated by new […]
Fight against trafficking in human beings: Council and European Parliament reach agreement to strengthen rules
The Belgian presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to add forced marriage, illegal adoption and surrogacy as types of exploitation covered by the EU’s anti-trafficking law. The update of the directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings will also require EU countries to make sure […]
MEPs vote to speed up the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets
The new legislation on seizing criminal assets would ensure fast and efficient freezing operations everywhere in the EU, and quicker compensation for victims. To speed up asset freezing and confiscations and close loopholes, MEPs on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee adopted on Tuesday a draft position on new rules with 50 votes […]
Final vote on the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act
On Tuesday, Parliament held the final vote on the new Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), following a deal reached between Parliament and Council on 23 April and 24 March respectively. The two bills aim to address the societal and economic effects of the tech industry by setting clear standards for how they operate and […]
Commission antitrust rules
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence and a public consultation inviting feedback on the performance of the EU Regulations which lay out the procedures for the application of EU competition rules (Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004). Interested parties can respond to the public consultation for 14 weeks, until 6 October 2022. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge […]
Council adopts legislation entrusting new tasks to the Europol
On 24 May, the Council adopted a regulation amending the Europol Regulation. The text should be published in the Official Journal and enter into force before the end of June. Europol is an EU agency that plays a crucial role in police cooperation. On the basis of the Commission proposal, the European Parliament and the […]
European environmental liability standards under review
MEPs want to strengthen existing EU rules on companies’ environmental liability to reduce and prevent environment harm. In order to enforce implementation and increase citizens’ trust in EU rules, and to prevent and remedy environmental damage more effectively, Parliament demands that the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) and the Environmental Crime Directive (ECD) be improved. Recommendations […]