The European Commission launched last July 9 two initiatives under its Preparedness Union agenda: an EU Stockpiling Strategy and a Medical Countermeasures Strategy. Both are designed to improve access to essential goods for European citizens and societies, businesses and economies – ensuring continuity of essential goods and lifesaving medical supplies at all times, in particular during crises such as […]
Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative on the right to food
Last July 8, the European Commission registered the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Food is a Human Right for All! Guaranteeing healthy, just and sustainable food systems’. This initiative calls ‘on the EU to make the right to food a reality’ and integrate it into the EU legal framework. The organisers consider that the ‘EU […]
28 ‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence
Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania, special intervention teams have arrested 28 suspected criminals of Italian and Albanian nationality. Among the individuals taken into custody is an Italian national from the […]
New EU rules to make the automotive sector more sustainable
On Monday, the Environment and Internal Market Committees adopted their proposals on new EU rules to cover the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to final end-of-life treatment. The regulation would apply to cars and vans one year after its entry into force (five years for buses, heavy-duty vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, quads, mopeds and minicars). There […]
Commission proposes €23 billion payment to Spain under NextGenerationEU
Last July 7, the Commission positively assessed Spain’s fifth payment request for 23 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This assessment is a significant step towards the disbursement of EU funds to support Spain’s economic growth and resilience efforts. The Commission found that Spain delivered reforms and investments that will benefit citizens and businesses, focusing […]
House prices and rents continue to rise in early 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, house prices in the EU rose by 5.7%, while rents increased by 3.2% compared with the same quarter of 2024. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, house prices increased by 1.4% and rents by 0.9%. Between 2010 and the first quarter of 2025, house prices in the EU increased by […]
Nature Credits Roadmap to reward nature-positive action and boost private finance
Last July 7, the European Commission launched a ‘Roadmap towards Nature Credits’, to incentivise private investments into actions that protect and preserve nature, and reward those who undertake these actions and invest in them. Nature credits represent an investment into nature-positive actions by a company, a financial institution, a public entity or a citizen, which in […]
EU and Moldova forge deeper ties at historic first Summit in Chișinău
At the first ever EU-Moldova Summit in Chișinău, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu agreed to deepen cooperation in the interest of EU and Moldovan citizens. The leaders discussed EU accession and related reforms, economic growth as well as security and defence […]
Commission to cut EU Taxonomy red tape for companies
The European Commission has adopted a set of measures to simplify the application of EU Taxonomy. This will reduce the administrative burden for EU companies, thus enhancing EU competitiveness while preserving core climate and environmental goals. The Taxonomy Regulation entered into force in 2020, and its reporting requirements apply since 2022. By providing a common sustainability reference point for […]