“Seville, 30 June 2025 Mr. President of the Conference, Secretary-General Guterres, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me start with a key fact: last year, development aid worldwide stood at just over $200 billion. The annual investment gap on the Sustainable Development Goals, as Pedro Sánchez has pointed out, is in the […]
Commission proposes EU Space Act to boost market access and safety
Last June 25, the European Commission has proposed the EU Space Act, a new set of ambitious measures to make Europe’s space sector cleaner, safer and more competitive in Europe and its export markets. Europe’s space rules are currently fragmented, with many different national approaches. This patchwork holds back innovation, reduces the European market share and creates extra costs. A clear and harmonised framework at European level will ensure safety, resilience, and environmental […]
Transport MEPs seek to reinforce passenger rights
MEPs push for a common reimbursement form, no charge for selecting a child seat, free on-board personal item and small hand luggage and better protection for multimodal journeys. On Tuesday, Transport and Tourism Committee proposed changes to EU passenger rights rules by 38 votes to two and two abstentions to close enforcement gaps and make sure […]
Clean Industrial Pact must reconcile competitiveness and climate action
The Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and the Affordable Energy Action Plan are crucial for the competitiveness and resilience of European industry, says the EP. The resolution adopted by the plenary on Thursday is a response to the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Pact Plan. It stresses the need to combine climate action with industrial competitiveness. It also […]
Commission restricts Chinese participation in medical devices procurement
The European Commission decided to exclude Chinese companies from EU government purchases of medical devices exceeding €5 million. This measure follows the conclusions of the first investigation under the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), and allows no more than 50% of inputs from China for successful bids. This response is proportionate to China’s barriers, while ensuring that all the necessary medical devices […]
8 arrests for migrant smuggling and drug trafficking across the Mediterranean
Europol has supported Spanish authorities (Policía Nacional) in a transnational operation against a highly-organised network involved in both migrant smuggling and drug trafficking between Spain and Morocco. Authorities believe the group smuggled over 200 people and obtained over EUR 2.5 million in profits. The action day led to the following results: 8 arrests, including the […]
EP calls for more coordinated and resilient European electricity grids
Parliament on Thursday put forward measures to modernise the EU’s electricity grid, make it more resilient, integrate renewables and speed up permitting. The text adopted by the plenary calls for the implementation of the European action plan for electricity grids and stresses the need for ambitious investment and substantial improvements in infrastructure, with the aim […]
Commission refers Spain to CJEU for failure to comply with labor standards
The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fully transpose the Directive on transparent and predictable working conditions (Directive 2019/1152) into national law. EU rules require, for example, that workers receive timely and complete information on key aspects of their employment, such as […]
Agreement reached to suspend visa-free travel over security and rights concerns
EP and Council teams have reached an agreement on grounds for suspending visa-free travel for short stays into the EU. A reform of the mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU, agreed today between Parliament and Council negotiating teams, will allow the EU to respond more flexibly when countries backslide on important principles […]