On 22 June, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the Directive updating criminal law provisions on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. This marks a significant milestone in child protection, particularly in light of worrying trends such as the proliferation of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence, […]
The Commission approves €402 million in Spanish state aid for road haulage companies
The Commission has approved Spanish state aid worth 402 million euros for road haulage companies affected by rising fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. The scheme has been approved under the Temporary Framework for Aid in Response to the Crisis in the Middle East (METSAF), which the Commission adopted on 29 […]
The Council adopts a roadmap for European cooperation on education and training up to 2030
The Council has adopted a resolution that will guide cooperation at EU level in the field of education and traininguntil 2030. The resolution on the second cycle of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area (2026–2030) sets out thework programme for EU-level cooperation in the fields of […]
The EU’s first tripartite agreement to boost energy storage is signed
The European Commission has brought together several EU energy ministers, storage system developers and manufacturers, renewable energy developers, energy-consuming industries and financial institutions to sign the EU’s first tripartite agreementon energy storage. The signing took place today in Luxembourg, as part of the meeting of the Energy Council. The aim of this first tripartite agreement […]
New analysis on the EU’s most threatening criminal networks
Last June 26, the European Commission, Europol and the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU are presenting a new Europol analysis of the EU’s most threatening criminal networks. While law enforcement action has disrupted criminal networks across the EU, the report shows that the threat from organised crime remains strong, adaptive and deeply embedded across Europe. The report analyses […]
The Commission proposes to extend the temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine for a further year
On 26 June, the European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for one further year for people fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, taking into account Ukraine’s overall capacity to defend itself. With this measure, the Commission reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary. Russia has continued its unprovoked war […]
The EU sends emergency aid to Venezuela following the earthquakes
The European Commission is deploying rescue teams and other forms of emergency aid to Venezuela following the two powerful earthquakes on 24 June, which have claimed numerous lives. To date, eight Member States (the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands) are sending aid through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. […]
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 […]