Europol is based in The Hague (Netherlands) and its mission is to support EU Member States in preventing and combating all forms of serious and organised international crime, cybercrime and terrorism. The objectives of the Europol internship programme are: To provide trainees with unique, first-hand experience of the workings of Europol in particular and the […]
Commission seeks feedback on the Ocean Observation Initiative
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to shape the European Ocean Observation Initiative, one of the cornerstones of the European Ocean Pact. The initiative will improve access to actionable marine knowledge for everyone who relies on the ocean and make Europe a global leader in ocean observation and the development of related technologies. […]
EU tourism nights at record 3.08 billion in 2025
In 2025, the estimated number of nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU reached 3.08 billion, exceeding the previous year by 61.5 million, or 2%. The growth in tourism nights was mainly driven by an increase in nights spent by international guests (+46.1 million), while the nights spent by domestic guests saw growth at a slower pace (+15.4 million). […]
Easier mobility for architects as EU-Canada agreement enters into force
EU and Canadian architects wishing to work in each other’s jurisdictions can now easily do so. The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for architects with Canada – the first such EU deal covering services – has become binding, facilitating professional mobility and expanding opportunities for architects in Europe and Canada. In conjunction with the entry into […]
Cyprus Presidency includes focus on effective migration management and ProtectEU
Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January to 30 June 2026. Under the slogan “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World,” the Presidency focuses on 5 overarching priorities: Autonomy through Security, Defence Readiness and Preparedness Autonomy through Competitiveness Open to the World, Autonomous An Autonomous Union of Values that Leaves […]
High Seas Treaty enters into force: A milestone for ocean conservation
The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), enters into force on 17 January 2026. The European Union and its Member States are celebrating this significant milestone in ocean conservation and sustainable use of Ocean. This landmark agreement provides a framework for the common governance of about half of our planet’s surface and 95% […]
EU and Mercosur sign historic and ambitious partnership
Last January 17, the European Union and Mercosur signed a Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and an Interim Trade Agreement (iTA), representing a historic milestone between the two regions, and an ambitious platform for strengthening their economic, diplomatic and geopolitical relations. The Agreement signed will create one of the biggest trade zones in the world covering a […]
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Council prolongs restrictive measures for another year
The Council last January 16 decided to extend by one year, until 20 January 2027, the existing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them. Individuals […]
Council paves the way for creation of AI gigafactories
On 16 January, the Council adopted an amendment to the Regulation governing the activities of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC Joint Undertaking), extending its objectives to facilitate the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) gigafactories in Europe and to include a specific pillar on quantum technologies. The amended Regulation enables the development and […]