The European Commission and KfW, the German development bank, announced the signing of a guarantee agreement worth up to €135 million to expand access to finance through alternative channels for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Western Balkans, the Eastern Neighbourhood, North Africa and the Middle East, and Turkey. Supported by the European […]
Legal Affairs MEPs call for protection of copyrighted works used by AI
Owners of protected content rights should be able to opt out of artificial intelligence (AI) training and automated data scraping. AI providers and implementers must be transparent about the protected content used to train their systems. Rights holders should receive adequate remuneration, and the EU’s creative and press sectors should be protected. Access to high-quality […]
Europe’s health and competitiveness are being undermined by the slow implementation of anti-pollution laws.
A mid-term review of the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan concluded that faster implementation is needed. Areview of the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Planconcludes that Member States must act swiftly and decisively if the EU is to achieve its pollution reduction targets for 2030. The report highlights the close link between environmental protection and public […]
The Road to Green 23: How the EU is tackling the challenge of ‘forever chemicals’
Are PFAS the most worrying pollutants of our time, and can we rid ourselves of them? Invisible but ubiquitous, PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in everything from non-stick pans to smartphones. While these chemicals are essential to modern industry, their “eternal” nature means that they accumulate in our environment and in our bodies, […]
Commission approves Spanish state aid for electricity cogeneration
The European Commission has approved, in accordance with EU state aid rules, a €3.1 billion Spanish programme to support electricity production from new or substantially refurbished high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plants. This measure will contribute to the implementation of Spain’s National Energy and Climate Plan, the Clean Industrial Pactand theEU’senergy efficiencytargets. The Spanish […]
The European Commission and the European Parliament strengthen the EU’s access to space
At the 18th European Space Conference, five disruptive innovations received the Revolutionary Innovation Award for European Launch Solutions, in the presence of Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and MEP Christophe Grudler. Each winner received €950,000 for their innovation, which will redefine Europe’s access to space, strengthen our strategic autonomy and improve the competitiveness of the European space […]
EU approves landmark Declaration on the integrity of climate change information
The European Union has endorsed theDeclaration on the Integrity of Climate Change Information,following its approval by the Council on 20 January. This Declaration was launched during COP30 by the Global Initiative for Integrity of Climate Change Information, established by UNESCO, the Government of Brazil and the UN. It establishes shared international commitments to address the […]
The EU and Brazil sign agreements to create the world’s largest zone of free and secure data flows
The European Commission and Brazil have today adopted mutual adequacy decisions confirming that their data protection levels are comparable. Recognising the high standards of data protection that protect consumers and citizens on both sides, these agreements now allow businesses, public authorities and researchers to freely exchange data between the EU and Brazil. By ensuring that […]
New measures to protect EU steel market from global overcapacity
On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted a series of measures to counteract the negative impact of global overproduction on the EU steel market. By 36 votes in favour and 2 against, with 5 abstentions, MEPs on the International Trade Committee have adopted their position on the proposed regulation to counteract the negative trade-related effects of the […]