European Commission

EU Commission presents new Schengen strategy

The European Commission presents today a new Strategy aiming to make the world's largest free movement area - the Schengen area - stronger and more resilient. The Schengen area is home to…

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European Commission and national consumer protection authorities launch dialogue with TikTok

Today, the European Commission and the network of national consumer authorities (CPC) have launched a formal dialogue with TikTok to review its commercial practices and policy. This follows an alert by the European Consumer…

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European Commission to close half of its buildings as telework is ‘new norm’

The European Commission plans to close half of its 50 office buildings across Brussels by 2030 as it aims to merge office space and allow home working beyond the pandemic.…

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Commission disburses €14.1 billion under SURE to 12 Member States

The European Commission has today disbursed €14.137 billion to 12 EU Member States in the seventh instalment of financial support under the SURE instrument. As part of today's operations, Belgium…

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EU agenda

Tuesday 25 May: Conference on a European approach on housing policies Wednesday 26 May: EP President David Sassoli will address the special European Council meeting on Monday at 19:00, where…

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Coca Cola in EU antitrust regulators’ crosshairs

EU antitrust regulators have launched a preliminary investigation into Coca Cola Co, the European Commission said. "We can confirm that the Commission has sent out questionnaires, as part of its…

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Commission approves €90 million Dutch scheme to support SMEs in context of coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €90 million Dutch scheme to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State…

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2021 Annual Report highlights the contribution of taxation towards a more innovative, business friendly and healthier EU

The European Commission has published the 2021 Annual Report on taxation, a yearly review of Member States' tax policies and their contribution to the priorities of the EU, such as the twin digital…

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European Commission proposes new, ambitious business tax agenda

The European Commission has today adopted a Communication on Business Taxation for the 21st century to promote a robust, efficient and fair business tax system in the European Union. It sets out…

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Political agreement reached on EU blue card in new rules for migrant workers

The Commission welcomes the agreement reached yesterday by the European Parliament and the Council on new rules for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU…

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European Commission appoints the first ever Anti-Racism Coordinator

The European Commission has appointed Michaela Moua as its first ever Anti-Racism Coordinator, delivering on an important commitment set out in the EU anti-racism action plan. In her new role, the…

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EU eyes another go at more unified European business taxation

The European Commission wants to propose in 2023 a more unified way of taxing companies in the European Union, hoping that such rules, which have failed to win support in…

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European Commission calls for limiting essential travel from India

The Commission calls on EU Member States to take coordinated action to further restrict travel from India on a temporary basis, with a view to limiting the spread of the…

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Commission launches consultation and discussion on EU digital principles

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the formulation of a set of principles to promote and uphold EU values in the digital space. The consultation, open until…

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Coronavirus: EU helps Nepal to tackle infections surge

Nepal has requested EU assistance to help contain the explosion in COVID-19 cases. In response, the EU has mobilised an initial €2 million in humanitarian funding, which will support monitoring…

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Commission aims for zero pollution in air, water and soil in Green Deal

Today, the European Commission adopted the EU Action Plan: “Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil” – a key deliverable of the European Green Deal and the main topic of this year's EU Green…

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UPDATED: EU seals new Pfizer deal for 1.8 bln COVID-19 vaccines

The European Union signed a new contract with Pfizer-Biontech to receive 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 2021-2023, to cover booster shots, donations and reselling of doses, the European…

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EU plans faster approval, new joint purchases of COVID-19 drugs

The European Commission wants to speed up the approval in the European Union of experimental COVID-19 drugs, according to a document released by the EU executive, with the aim of…

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Commission proposes new Regulation to address distortions caused by foreign subsidies in the Single Market

The European Commission proposes today a new instrument to address potential distortive effects of foreign subsidies in the Single Market. Today's legislative proposal follows the adoption of the White Paper in June 2020…

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Commission extends flexibilities of Common Agricultural Policy checks for 2021

With restrictions still in place across the EU, the Commission adopted today rules to extend to 2021 flexibilities for carrying out checks required for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support. The…

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EU Agenda

Tuesday 04 May- Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi holds a conference call with Executive Director of FRONTEX, Fabrice Leggeri. Wednesday 05 May- Commissioner Helena Dalli holds a videoconference call with representatives of…

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Commission launches new learning portal for tax and customs professionals across the EU

The European Commission has launched a new EU learning portal offering tax and customs professionals across the EU an opportunity to build, upscale or share their knowledge on important topics…

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UPDATED: EU aims to open up to foreign tourists this summer amidst COVID-19

BRUSSELS, May 3 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive has recommended easing COVID-19 travel restrictions next month to let foreign travellers from more countries enter the bloc, hoping to boost…

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Commission fines investment banks €28 million for participating in cartel

The European Commission has fined Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Crédit Agricole, and Credit Suisse a total of €28,494,000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Deutsche Bank was not fined as…

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Record €1.8 billion funding for projects promoting rights and values in the EU

The European Parliament gave its final approval for two new funding programmes: the Justice programme and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. The budget for both amounts to €1.8…

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EU channels critical support to India amid coronavirus spike

A shipment of urgently needed oxygen, medicine and equipment will be delivered over the coming days by EU Member States to India, following the country's request for support through the…

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Commission approves €462 million Portuguese coronavirus support

The European Commission has found a €462 million Portuguese support measure in favour of Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, S.A. (“TAP”) to be in line with EU State aid rules. The measure…

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Trust in EU has increased since last summer, Eurobarometer shows

The Commission has published the results of the latest Standard Eurobarometer survey conducted in February-March 2021. It shows that while the coronavirus pandemic has affected Europeans' daily lives for more…

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EU allocates over €43 million in humanitarian aid to South Sudan

Commissioner Lenarčič, who is currently in South Sudan, has announced today new funding of €43.5 million in humanitarian aid in the country. The funds will be used, among others, to help…

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Member States agree on Digital Green Certificate technical specifications

One month after the Commission's proposal for a Digital Green Certificate, Member States representatives in the eHealth Network agreed on guidelines describing the main technical specifications for the implementation of the system. This is a…

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EU Commission takes further steps to channel money towards sustainable activities

The European Commission has today adopted an ambitious and comprehensive package of measures to help improve the flow of money towards sustainable activities across the European Union. By enabling investors…

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EU Commission proposes new rules and actions for excellence and trust in AI

The Commission proposes today new rules and actions aiming to turn Europe into the global hub for trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI). The combination of the first-ever legal framework on AI and a…

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EU Commission launches public consultation on electoral rights of mobile EU citizens

Today, the European Commission has launched a public consultation on the electoral rights of mobile EU citizens, as part of the follow-up of the 2020 Citizenship Report. The electoral rights of…

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EU continues to address humanitarian needs in Ethiopia by allocating over €53 million

The EU has announced today new funding of €53.7 million in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia, including those affected by the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region.…

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EU to borrow around 150 bln euros annually for recovery fund

The European Commission plans to borrow around 150 billion euros annually until 2026 to finance the bloc's unprecedented plan to make its economy greener and more digitalised, making it the…

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Team Europe continues to deliver with more than €26 billion disbursed in support to partner countries in one year

One year ago today, the European Commission and the High Representative set out plans for a targeted EU response to support partner countries' efforts in tackling the Coronavirus pandemic combining…

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Europe should invest in chip design, not a mega-fab – think tank

Europe's ambition to make the most powerful computer chips risks wasting billions of euros, a German think tank said in a report on Thursday, urging policy makers to focus instead…

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Commission disburses further €13 billion under SURE to six Member States

The European Commission has disbursed €13 billion to six EU Member States in the sixth instalment of financial support under the SURE instrument. This is the third disbursement in 2021.…

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Commission approves modified German support scheme for offshore wind energy

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a German operating aid scheme to further develop offshore wind energy generation in Germany (modified ‘WindSeeG'). The scheme, that will…

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Commission hosts first EU matchmaking event to mobilise Europe’s full potential for the production of COVID-19 vaccines

Today, the Commission is hosting the first pan-European matchmaking event with over 300 participating companies from 25 Member States to expand COVID-19 vaccine production capacities across Europe and address production…

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EU rescue funds agreement compatible with EU treaties, ECB’s de Cos says

The European Union agreement to disburse rescue funds to member countries funded by common debt is compatible with EU treaties, European Central Bank Governing Council member Pablo Hernandez de Cos…

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Commission approves modification of Spanish schemes to support economy due to covid

The European Commission has found the modification of three existing Spanish schemes to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak to be in in line with the…

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EU’s Breton: EU has absolutely no need for Sputnik V vaccine

PARIS, March 21 (Reuters) - The European Union has absolutely no need for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 and will be able to reach immunity by July 14 with…

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EU sustainable finance advisers say green means green

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Economic activities should be labelled as green investments only if they truly contribute to science-based goals to fight climate change, European Union advisers said on Friday, as…

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‘EU is late on Covid-19 vaccine distribution – European Commission

The European Parliament discussed the Covid-19 vaccine in the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last month. During the debate, the European Commission President admitted that the…

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Commission sends letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom for breach of its obligations under the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland

The European Commission has sent today a letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom for breaching the substantive provisions of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well…

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