In 2022, 65% of EUcitizens watched TV or watched videos online. In 24 out of 27 EU countries, more than half of 16-74 year olds used the internet to watch TV or stream videos. Finland had the highest percentage at 93%, followed by the Netherlands (90%) and Denmark (89%). At the other extreme, […]
European Commission announces winners of the New European Bauhaus 2024 Awards
The Commission today announced 20 winners of the New European Bauhaus (NBE) 2024 awards, for the fourth consecutive year, organised with cohesion policy funding. These awards reward outstanding projects and initiatives that combine sustainability, inclusiveness and aesthetics, demonstrating how the European Green Pact transition can practically enrich the lives of individuals and communities. The […]
Spanish was the second most studied foreign language in upper secondary education in the EU.
In 2022, 60.8% of students in general upper secondary education across the EU studied two or more foreign languages as compulsory subjects or as compulsory curricular options, a decrease of only 0.2 percentage points compared to 2021 (61.0%). In upper secondary vocational education, this percentage was 33.8 %, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points compared […]
Eurostat: Income inequality across the EU
In 2022, the median equivalised disposable income in the EU was 18 706 purchasing power standards (PPS) per inhabitant, increasing from 18 011 PPS recorded in 2021. At the national level, the EU countries with the highest median disposable incomes in 2022 were Luxembourg (33 214 PPS), the Netherlands (25 437 PPS), Austria (25 119 PPS), Belgium (24 142 PPS), Denmark (23 244 PPS) and Germany (23 197 PPS). […]
European Chips Act enters into force
the European Chips Act enters into force. It puts in place a comprehensive set of measures to ensure the EU’s security of supply, resilience and technological leadership in semiconductor technologies and applications. Semiconductors are the essential building blocks of digital and digitised products. From smartphones and cars, through critical applications and infrastructures for healthcare, energy, defence, communications […]
EU participates in the UN General Assembly
The high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly starts on 18 September 2023. The first day of the general debate was on Tuesday, 19 September. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will address the General Assembly on behalf of the EU and will participate in a series of side events. EU priorities […]
Violence against women and girls: EU sanctions 9 individuals and 3 entities
The European Council decided to impose restrictive measures on nine individuals and three entities in view of their role in committing serious human rights violations and abuses, particularly sexual and gender-based violence. Today’s action reaffirms the EU’s determination to promote and protect human rights around the world. The new listings include: two acting Taliban ministers for Higher […]
EU and Singapore step up cooperation as strategic partners and launch Digital Partnership
The EU and Singapore are strengthening their cooperation as strategic partners. Following the announcement of a new Digital Partnership between the EU and Singapore by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Lee at the EU-ASEAN summit in December 2022, Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton and Singapore Minister of Industry and Trade S Iswaran signed a Digital Partnership […]
EU addresses local plastics challenges through pilot scheme in Colombia
Colombia is ranked among the top 20 most polluting rivers in the world, due to the high levels of plastic material in the Amazon and Magdalena rivers. The latter is affected by its proximity to major cities such as Bogotá and Medellín, and its highly interconnected water basin. This is why the European Union, in […]