On 11 May, representatives of the European Union, together with Ukraine and Canada, organised a ‘High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children’. This initiative was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her 2025 State of the Union address. President von der Leyen stated: […]
The Commission is coordinating the European response to the hantavirus outbreak
The European Commission is taking steps to coordinate and support the responses of national authorities to the hantavirus outbreak. Currently, theEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Controlconsiders the risk to the general public in Europeto be very low, given that appropriate infection prevention and control measures are being implemented and that hantaviruses are not easily […]
The EU will provide €20 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable refugees and host communities in Turkey in 2026
The European Union has allocated €20 million in humanitarian aid to support the most vulnerable refugees and host communities in Turkey in 2026. Turkey continues to host around 2.3 million registered refugees, mainly from Syria, as well as from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, and remains one of the countries hosting the most refugees in the […]
A new law strengthening water protection in the EU comes into force
The EU directiverevising the lists of pollutants in surface water and groundwater came into force today (11 May), ensuring that the lists are brought into line with the latest scientific recommendations and that new substances are subject to more comprehensive monitoring and stricter controls. Three pieces of EU legislation will be amended: theWater Framework Directive, […]
A Spanish state aid scheme worth €1.5 billion has been approved to support farmers affected by the 2025/26 floods in Andalusia and Extremadura
The European Commission has approved, in accordance with EU state aid rules, a €1.5 billion Spanish scheme to support farmers affected by various adverse weather events that occurred in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura between 10 November 2025 and 9 February 2026. The aid scheme aims to prevent farm closures and preserve agricultural production. […]
Rubén Amón, Ángeles Blanco and María Paz López, winners of the Salvador de Madariaga European Journalism Prize in 2026
This year marks the 32nd edition of the Salvador de Madariaga European Journalism Prize. The jury has just announced the winners of the 2026 edition, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to the European Union. The winner in the radio category is Rubén Amón, from Onda Cero; the winner in the television […]
The Commission approves a €5 billion German state aid scheme to support the decarbonisation of industry
The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €5 billion German scheme to help industrial companies decarbonise their production processes. This scheme contributes to achieving Germany’s energy and climate targets, as well asthe EU’s objectives of sustainable prosperity and competitiveness. The German plan Eligible projects must involve fundamental technological changes and replace […]
Eurobarometer shows great majority of Europeans see benefits from EU membership and the EU as a pillar of stability and security
Published ahead of Europe Day, the new Eurobarometer survey shows nearly three quarters of Europeans believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. In a challenging global context, Europeans increasingly see the EU as a source of stability, alongside record-high backing for a common defence and security policy. Three quarters of respondents (75%) say they feel they […]
The EU and Syria meet to strengthen their relations and cooperation
Today, 11 May, the European Union and the Syrian Transitional Authorities will hold two high-level meetings in Brussels to strengthen relations between the EU and Syria and discuss ways to support Syria’s socio-economic recovery, reconstruction and long-term stability. Following the fall of the Assad regime, the EU opened a new chapter in its relations with […]