The European Commission is taking steps to coordinate and support the responses of national authorities to the hantavirus outbreak. Currently, theEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Controlconsiders the risk to the general public in Europeto be very low, given that appropriate infection prevention and control measures are being implemented and that hantaviruses are not easily […]
A new law strengthening water protection in the EU comes into force
The EU directiverevising the lists of pollutants in surface water and groundwater came into force today (11 May), ensuring that the lists are brought into line with the latest scientific recommendations and that new substances are subject to more comprehensive monitoring and stricter controls. Three pieces of EU legislation will be amended: theWater Framework Directive, […]
A Spanish state aid scheme worth €1.5 billion has been approved to support farmers affected by the 2025/26 floods in Andalusia and Extremadura
The European Commission has approved, in accordance with EU state aid rules, a €1.5 billion Spanish scheme to support farmers affected by various adverse weather events that occurred in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura between 10 November 2025 and 9 February 2026. The aid scheme aims to prevent farm closures and preserve agricultural production. […]
Digital Markets Act: MEPs call for stricter enforcement in the face of external pressure
MEPs are calling on the Commission to implement the EU Digital Markets Act in a timely and effective manner and to scrutinise AI-powered search tools and cloud services more closely. In a resolution adopted by a show of hands on Thursday, Parliament urges the Commission to implement the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) swiftly and […]
Parliament approves the EU’s renewed trade instrument for development
On Tuesday, Parliament approved the revised rules on the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The updated rules, approved by 459 votes to 127, with 70 abstentions, allow vulnerable developing countries to export goods to the EU at low or zero tariffs. Several international human rights and environmental conventions have been added to the list of […]
EU and ASEAN reinforce Strategic Partnership at 25th Ministerial Meeting in Brunei
The 25th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting convened on 28 April in Bandar Seri Begawan, bringing together Foreign Ministers from the European Union and ASEAN to advance their longstanding partnership and address pressing global challenges. Marking nearly five decades of dialogue relations, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to a rules-based international order, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable development. Ministers welcomed progress under the EU-ASEAN Plan of Action […]
The EU and the US launch a strategic partnership on critical minerals
The EU and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a strategic partnership on critical minerals and agreed on an EU-US Action Plan on Critical Minerals. These initiatives reflect the EU’s commitment to deepening cooperation on critical raw materials. This is a key step towards improving the resilience and diversification of supply chains, […]
The EU and the EIB will support businesses in partner countries with €1.3 billion in funding
Following a new agreement between the European Commission and EIB Global, private project partners, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and financial institutions in the EU’s partner countries will have access to €1.3 billion in funding to support infrastructure projects in clean energy and digitalisation. This new initiative is backed by a €362 million guarantee from […]
The Council adopts new EU-wide legislation to combat corruption
The Council has given its final approval to a new piece of EU legislation that harmonises the definition of corruption across all Member States and establishes a common level of penalties for such offences. With measures to prevent corruption and rules to strengthen its investigation and prosecution, the legislation will bolster the fight against corruption […]