On March 19th, the Commission and the High Representative presented a White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030. The Commission has also presented, as part of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, an ambitious defence package providing financial levers to EU Member States to drive an investment surge in defence capabilities. While the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness […]
Brussels IX Conference on “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”
The Brussels IX Conference on “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, hosted and chaired by the European Union (EU) on 17 March 2025, gathered key regional and international partners together with the Syrian Arab Republic. Building on the ministerial meetings in Aqaba (14 December 2024), Riyadh (12 January 2025) and […]
EU road fatalities to fall by 3% by 2024, yet progress remains slow
On March 18th, the European Commission published preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2024. Around 19,800 people were killed in road crashes in the EU last year, a slight 3% drop compared to 2023. It is the equivalent to 600 fewer lives lost. Even if road fatalities decreased more significantly in 2024 than they did in 2023, the […]
European Comission approves Spanish state aid scheme for energy storage and the transition to a zero-emission econom
The European Commission has approved a €699 million Spanish scheme to support investments in energy storage facilities to foster the transition to a net zero emission economy. The scheme contributes to achieving the European Commission’s priorities for 2024-2029, as set out in the policy guidelines calling for investments in clean energy and clean technologies. The […]
The Council adds one entity to its autonomous list of sanctions associated with ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida.
On 17 March the Council decided to add Al Azaim Media Foundation to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida and therefore subject to EU restrictive measures. Al Azaim Media Foundation is the media arm of the Islamic State-Khorasan. With the 17 March decision, the autonomous […]
Third payment of close €3.5 billion to Ukraine has been approved by the Council
Ukraine will soon receive approximately €3.5 billion after the Council approved a third payment of non-repayable grants and loans to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. The main objective of the Facility is to support Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and recovery, reconstruction and modernisation. With this third disbursement, Ukraine will have received close to €20 billion under the Ukraine Facility since its entry into force […]
EU pledges €2.5 billion to support Syria and the region
On March 17th, in a pivotal moment for Syria’s transition, the European Union hosted the ninth edition of the Brussels Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition.” Amid renewed hope and significant challenges after the fall of the Assad regime, the EU alongside EU Member States, regional and international partners, as […]
Burn victims of North Macedonian nightclub fire being evacuated by the EU
In the early hours of Sunday, March 16, a fire broke out in a discotheque in Kocani, North Macedonia, killing 59 people and injuring more than 155 others. The EU Emergency Response Coordination Center quickly contacted the North Macedonian civil protection authorities to offer solidarity and support. North Macedonia has activated the Union Civil Protection […]
Las Plazas de Europa tour stops in Andújar: a window to EU opportunities
One hundred high school students from four Andalusian schools discover first-hand the mobility and training opportunities that the EU offers them. On March 5, 2025, the courtyard outside the Palacio de los Niños de Don Gome, in the town of Andújar, became a hotbed of Europeanism as it hosted the 19th stop of the rural […]