The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €9 billion capacity mechanism for electricity supply in Spain. This aid measure aims to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to generate, store or consume electricity flexibly and that electricity generation meets projected demand. The Spanish aid Spain notified the Commission of the introduction […]
New scoreboard shows success of European startup policies
Europe’s startup and scaleup ecosystem has been growing steadily, according to the first-ever European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard (ESSS) published last May 29 by the European Commission. The scoreboard reveals a clear trend: pro-startup policies drive real results. Since 2020, the baseline year for the Scoreboard, 20 out of 27 EU Member States have improved their […]
Overcapacity in the steel sector: MEPs approve new measures to protect the EU steel market.
The new regulations replace the measures due to expire on 30 June 2026 and will help to protect the EU steel industry from the negative effects of a global steel surplus. The regulation introduces lower import quotas by limiting duty-free import volumes to 18.3 million tonnes per year, representing a 47% reduction compared to the […]
The Commission is urging EU countries to start preparing for winter amid energy disruptions in the Middle East
In light of the market volatility caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the European Commission is urging EU countries to begin the gas storage season and make preparations in a coordinated and timely manner ahead of next winter. The EU’s energy supply security remains safeguarded at this stage thanks to its low dependence […]
Commission renews decisions to allow for the free and safe flow of personal data with the UK
Last December 19, the Commission renewed the two 2021 adequacy decisions for the free flow of personal data with the United Kingdom. The decisions ensure that personal data can continue flowing freely and safely between the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom, as the UK legal framework contains data protection safeguards that are […]
EP and Council reach a deal to update safe third country rules
Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a political agreement on updates to the 2024 Asylum Law regarding the conditions for applying the rules on safe third countries. On Thursday the negotiating team of the Civil Liberties Committee informally agreed with the Council new rules under which member states may decide that a non-EU country is […]
Critical medicines act: Council agrees its position on new rules to tackle shortages
The Council has agreed its position on a new regulation that seeks to strengthen the EU’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges to security of supply of critical medicines in Europe. The critical medicines act (CMA) aims to tackle shortages in key medicines such as antibiotics, insulin and painkillers by improving security of supply and availability in the […]
Child sexual abuse: Council reaches position on regulation to protect children from online abuse
The EU is stepping up its efforts to combat child sexual abuse. Representatives of the EU Member States agreed today on the Council’s position on a Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. Once adopted, the new regulation will establish obligations for digital companies to prevent the dissemination of child sexual abuse material and […]
Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative on passports design
Last November 25, the European Commission has registered the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘EU Stars On My Passport (STAR-PASS)’. The initiative invites the Commission ‘to facilitate the introduction by the EU Member States of an additional option for the cover design of passports, offered to citizens applying for a new passport’. The organisers of […]