On 31 May, more harmonised anti-corruption rules came into force across the EU under the new Anti-Corruption Directive. The Directive introduces modern rules to better prevent, detect and punish corruption throughout the EU, thereby helping to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and public trust, whilst promoting competitiveness across the European Union. The new […]
The Commission is accelerating the transition away from the use of animals in chemical safety assessments
The European Commission has presented a roadmap for the phasing out of animal testing in chemical safety assessments, setting out clear and concrete steps to ensure the transition to innovative, non-animal approaches. This roadmap will also safeguard the integrity of safety assessments, which ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health, as […]
Commission welcomes political agreement on the Return Regulation
The Commission welcomes last June 1st’s political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Regulation establishing a new Common European System for Returns. Proposed by the Commission in March 2025, the new rules on returns are a key deliverable under this Commission’s political guidelines and the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy. It is a core […]
The Eurobarometer highlights the perceived obstacles and opportunities for European small and medium-sized enterprises when it comes to recruiting skilled workers from outside the EU
A new Eurobarometer survey shows that almost half of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (46%) are struggling to find workers with the right skills. According to the survey, the recruitment of third-country nationals remains limited. One in seven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has attempted to recruit workers from outside the EU in the […]
The EU and the WHO are stepping up their efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
The European Union and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are stepping up their cooperation to support national authorities in responding to the Ebola outbreaks currently occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with the aim of rapidly containing transmission, protecting communities and strengthening preparedness in the region, ultimately saving lives. Thanks […]
The Council sets out a new framework for science diplomacy
On 29 May, the Council adopted a Recommendation on the development of a new European Union framework for science diplomacy. The framework aims to strengthen the Union’s position as a global leader in science and technology and to use scientific cooperation to advance its foreign policy objectives. Science as a diplomatic tool The Recommendation emphasises […]
The Commission approves Spain’s €9 billion capacity mechanism to ensure the security of electricity supply
The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €9 billion capacity mechanism for electricity supply in Spain. This aid measure aims to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to generate, store or consume electricity flexibly and that electricity generation meets projected demand. The Spanish aid Spain notified the Commission of the introduction […]
New scoreboard shows success of European startup policies
Europe’s startup and scaleup ecosystem has been growing steadily, according to the first-ever European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard (ESSS) published last May 29 by the European Commission. The scoreboard reveals a clear trend: pro-startup policies drive real results. Since 2020, the baseline year for the Scoreboard, 20 out of 27 EU Member States have improved their […]
The Commission approves €500 million in Spanish state aid for agricultural businesses affected by higher fertiliser prices
The European Commission has approved a Spanish state aid scheme worth €500 million to help agricultural businesses facing higher fertiliser 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 […]