On 22 June 2026, the European Commission published the Annual Report on European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) 2025/2026 and a new report on women entrepreneurs in Europe. Both reports provide new data to support future policies, initiatives and funding measures for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Annual Report shows that Europe’s 34 million SMEs […]
The Commission presents a framework for AI literacy to educate students
The European Commission, together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), presented last Juen 16 an ‘AI Literacy Framework’ for primary and secondary education. The framework provides teachers, education leaders and policymakers with a shared vision of the skills pupils need to understand and use AI responsibly and ethically. It provides guidance and […]
Europe’s bathing waters remain safe for swimming
From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the vast majority of Europe’s bathing waters met the European Union’s strictest ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards in 2025, according to the latest annual report on bathing waters published today. This represents 85% of Europe’s bathing areas, with 96% of all monitored EU bathing areas meeting the minimum quality […]
The Commission welcomes the political agreement on seeds and other plant reproductive material
The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached last night by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on the revision and simplification of EU legislation on plant reproductive material (PRM). Today’s agreement modernises the current legislation, enabling producers and businesses to benefit from the latest innovations, technologies and digitalisation in this field. […]
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 EU is making good progress towards its 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction target
In 2024, the EU set a target of achieving an annual injection capacity of 50 million tonnes in the EU’s geological CO₂ storage sites by 2030, with the aim of supporting carbon capture and storage projects, reducing industrial emissions and increasing the availability of such storage sites in Europe. The published report shows that significant […]
The EU and Vietnam are strengthening their cooperation in science, technology and innovation
The European Commission and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology have signed a letter of intent to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation. This initiative is expected to deepen collaboration between researchers, universities, start-ups, industry and public institutions. Signed during Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva’s mission to Hanoi, the letter of intent forms part of the […]
Six EU-backed films have won awards at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, including the Palme d’Or
Six films that received funding from the European Union won awards at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which drew to a close on Saturday 23 May. The big winner of the night wasFjörd, by director Cristian Mungiu, whose development was funded by the EU and which won the prestigious Palme d’Or. Two further productions backed […]
Parliament is calling for a European day to commemorate the victims of workplace accidents
The European Parliament has adopted its proposals to reduce the number of work-related accidents, illnesses and deaths in the EU. In memory of the victims of workplace accidents and occupational illnesses, MEPs are calling for 8 August to be designated as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Workplace Accidents and for the Protection […]