European Commission

France gets EU Commission approval for €7 billion aid to businesses

The European Commission has approved a €7 billion French “umbrella” scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporates in France affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme,…

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EU Commission launches research-sharing platform in fight against coronavirus

The European Commission together with several partners launched a European COVID-19 Data Platform to enable the rapid collection and sharing of available research data. The platform, part of the ERAvsCorona Action Plan,…

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EU Commission lays down the law on contact-tracing apps

The European Commission rolled out a set of parameters to guide developers building contact tracing and warning apps to be used within the EU. The ‘toolbox’ allows governments in member…

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EU Commission President offers “heartfelt apology to Italy”, promises strong change in behaviour

Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission has offered a heartfelt apology to Italy, admitting in Parliament that “many countries were not there in the hour of need”.…

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EU Commission presents guidance on asylum and resettlement

In the light of recent challenges facing Member States with regards to persons seeking asylum as well as procedures related to resettlement in the context of the current pandemic, the…

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EU Commission wants coordinated approach in easing of lockdowns and border restrictions

In an effort to avoid the confusion that characterised the European approach during the first week of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission is strongly insisting with Member States to…

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EU approves Swedish support scheme for airlines

In what is being considered as the first major bailout of coronavirus-affected airlines, the European Commission has approved Sweden's 450 million euro support scheme for airlines, with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS),…

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EU Commission coordinating supply of vital medicines to treat coronavirus patients

The Commission has initiated the coordination of European efforts to ensure that Europeans have access to essential medicines during the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic has highlighted significant challenges in ensuring…

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€3.3 billion in support to Romania’s SMEs approved by EU Commission

The European Commission has approved around €3.3 billion in support to Romania's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State…

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EU Commission approves €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support insurance market in coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €10 billion French guarantee scheme to support the domestic credit insurance market in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.…

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EU approves €1 billion in incentives to support Croatian economy

The European Commission has approved two Croatian schemes to support the Croatian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Croatia notified to the Commission under the Temporary Aid Framework…

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EU Commission to allow state aid for capital injections in private companies

The European Commission is proposing an extension in the State Aid temporary framework, adopted last month, in its bid to further support European economies in facing the challenges brought by…

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CommuniqEU Dispatch – Taxation

This article by Keith Zahra appeared first on Diplomatique.Expert (Edition 23) and is compiled by CiConsulta for Corporate Dispatch In its effort to combat tax fraud and enchance cooperation between national tax…

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Drive by the European Commission for active involvement of citizens and civil society in Cohesion Policy

The European Commission decided to launch two new pilot actions to involve citizens more when rolling out cohesion projects on the ground. The aim is to support active involvement…

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European Commission takes first step to launch negotiations with the United Kingdom

The European Commission has today issued a recommendation to the Council to open negotiations on a new partnership with the United Kingdom. This recommendation is based on the existing European…

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Opinion: A new dawn for Europe

As the night draws in this evening, the sun will set on more than 45 years of the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. For us, as Presidents of…

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Drought in southern Africa: EU releases over €22 million in humanitarian aid

The European Commission is mobilising a humanitarian aid package of €22.8 million to help address emergency food needs and support vulnerable people in Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The…

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EU launches ‘fair minimum wage’ initiative

The EU Commission has started talks with businesses and trade unions to ensure a fair minimum wage for all EU workers. However, the body said that they are not aiming…

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European Commission ramps up legal pressure against Poland

The European Commission on Tuesday turned to the Court of Justice of the EU to rein in Poland's judicial changes, asking it to order Warsaw to suspend the functioning of…

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New criticism for Von der Leyen over second phone

Ursula von der Leyen is facing fresh criticism over the wiping of a second mobile phone that could have been used as evidence in a parliamentary inquiry. The inquiry is…

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Less than half of EU travellers are aware of EU Passenger Rights

The European Commission today released the results of a Eurobarometer survey on passenger rights in the European Union (EU). According to the survey, 43% of EU citizens who have travelled…

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Post-Brexit UK always welcome back in EU, says Timmermans

Britain has been unnecessarily damaged by Brexit and “more will follow”, the vice-president of the European commission has written in a “love letter” to the British people in which he…

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Booking.com commits to align practices presenting offers and prices with EU law following EU action

Following dialogue with the European Commission and national consumer authorities, Booking.com has committed to make changes in the way it presents offers, discounts and prices to consumers. Once these…

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European Commission approves maritime transport support schemes in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Sweden

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules five schemes to support maritime transport in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland and Sweden. The schemes encourage ship registration in…

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European Commission examining EU curbs on state-backed foreign companies

Brussels’ competition chief is examining ways of curbing unfair competition from foreign state-owned enterprises, as EU member states urge closer scrutiny of Chinese investment on the continent. Margrethe Vestager,…

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European Commission reinforces tools to ensure Europe’s interests in international trade

The European Commission unveiled a proposal that will allow the European Union to protect its trade interests despite the paralysis of the multilateral dispute settlement system in the World Trade…

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President von der Leyen on the roadmap for a European Green Deal

Do we, humans, want to continue living well and safely on this planet? Humanity faces an existential threat – the whole world is beginning to see. Forests burn from America…

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European Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List

The European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational…

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The EU adopted €297 million in concrete actions for refugees and local communities in Jordan and Lebanon

The European Union adopted a new €297 million assistance package to support refugees and host communities in Jordan and Lebanon via the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the…

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Ursula von der Leyen demands ‘thorough and independent’ probe into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s killing

The head of the European Union’s executive arm, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday evening demanded a “thorough and independent” investigation into the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.…

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EU allocates €50 million to fight Ebola and malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The European Commission announced €50 million to help the most vulnerable people affected by the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funding will address urgent needs and…

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Jean-Claude Juncker gives his last news briefing

Jean-Claude Juncker gave one last news briefing before he hands over power to Ursula von der Leyen. The Commission handover was delayed a month after parliament rejected three commissioner-candidates from…

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Recruitment of foreign doctors is new flashpoint in Europe’s health debates

Politico reports that outgoing Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis waded into the increasingly heated EU debate over the recruitment of foreign health care professionals, criticizing the U.K. for its plan…

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EU Commission calls on 9 Member States, including Malta, to transpose EU legislation

The Commission has decided to send letters of formal notice to Belgium, Austria, Spain, Estonia and Hungary as well as reasoned opinions to Malta, Portugal, Cyprus and Greece, requesting the…

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Africa-Europe Alliance: Denmark provides €10 million for sustainable development under the EU External Investment Plan

The European Commission and Denmark signed a transfer agreement for a voluntary contribution of around €10 million (DKK 75 million) to the EU External Investment Plan. The European Investment Plan…

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2018 Sakharov laureate Oleg Sentsov receives his award

The 2018 Sakharov Prize winner, Ukrainian film director and human rights activist Oleg Sentsov, received his award in Strasbourg on 26 November. He was able to receive the 2018 prize…

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MEPs approve Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission

MEPS in Strasbourg on Wednesday, MEPs voted in favour on the entire College of Commissioners following a debate with von der Leyen. There was no doubt that von der Leyen’s…

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Ursula von der Leyen says Europe can shape the global order

European Union Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has argued that Europe can shape the global order in a speech that put climate change and migration at the heart of…

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MEPs set to approve new EU executive to take office on December 1

MEPs are expected on Wednesday to finally approve a new executive European Commission under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen after delays and disagreements. Von der Leyen needs a…

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Stop violence against women: Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative

Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the European Commission and High Representative Federica Mogherini issued the following statement: “Violence against women…

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EU ambassadors pave the way for new Commission to start work in December

EU ambassadors on Friday gave their approval to a document that would allow the next European Commission to start work in December without a U.K. commissioner, according to three diplomats…

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EU-China landmark agreement against imitations and counterfeiting

The European Union (EU) and China have concluded negotiations on a bilateral agreement to protect 100 European Geographical Indications (GI) in China and 100 Chinese GI in the EU against…

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Maltese cyberbullying case illustrates EU collaboration

A Maltese case of cyberbullying risk is being featured in a campaign by the European Commission across EU member states. A woman was alarmed to come across an indecent picture…

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EU Parliament will vote on new Commission next week

The European Parliament will vote on Ursula von der Leyen's top team next Wednesday, paving the way for the new Commission to start work on December 1, Parliament President David…

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Majority of EU citizens positive about international trade

The results of a special Eurobarometer survey published today by the European Commission show that 60% of Europeans feel that they personally benefit from international trade, 16 percentage points more…

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UK won’t nominate EU commissioner before election

The U.K. will not nominate an EU commissioner until after its December 12 national election, Britain’s Ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow wrote in a letter to the European Commission…

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Von der Leyen: ‘Europe must learn the language of power’

The European Union needs to take a more active role in global politics if it wants to protect its interests, incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on…

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DiscoverEU: 20,000 travel passes available for 18-year-olds to explore Europe next summer

The Commission is launching a new application round for DiscoverEU travel passes, which allows participants to travel across Europe, learn about its cultural heritage, whilst developing their own knowledge and…

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Juncker warns of difficulties implementing activists’ climate demands

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday that no matter how hard climate activists fight, implementing their demands is not necessarily feasible. In an interview with German magazine Der…

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Stepping up the fight against Ebola: €6 million of EU funding to support vaccine trials

The European Commission announced a €6 million contribution to a vaccination trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The funding comes from the EU's research and innovation programme,…

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Implementation of EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey: EU mobilises €663 million in humanitarian assistance

The European Commission is mobilising €663 million in humanitarian aid to continue major projects under the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. €600 million will ensure the continuity of the…

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EC questions Romania’s latest commissioner nomination

There are "serious doubts that Romania’s nomination [for the position of European Commissioner] was legitimately sent by the interim government,” EC spokesperson Mina Andreeva stated on October 30. It is…

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EU weighs new anti-money laundering body in wake of scandals

The EU is to explore the creation of a central authority to crack down on money laundering activity after a series of high-profile scandals have underlined Europe’s weaknesses in preventing…

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Euro zone economic sentiment worsens as gloom spreads to services

Euro zone economic sentiment deteriorated in October for a second straight month, data showed on Wednesday, as pessimism in industry spread to services and consumers in a bad sign for…

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European Commission opens investigation into public support for Air Nostrum’s fleet renewal in Spain

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the plan by the Spanish region of Valencia to grant €9 million of public support to regional airline Air…

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Romanian leaders’ squabble over Commission pick

Romania's political leaders are at loggerheads over the country's nominee for the next European Commission, with the president accusing the caretaker prime minister of being "irresponsible" for putting someone forward for…

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Teaching and learning in the digital age: 450,000 students and teachers use the EU’s SELFIE tool for schools

As one year has passed since the launch of SELFIE (Self-reflection on Effective Learning by Fostering Innovation through Educational technology), the European Commission's free online tool that helps schools assess…

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