European Commission

Von der Leyen defends delays in securing vaccinations, defends need to ensure European unity

The European Union has underestimated how hard it would be for pharmaceutical companies to manufacture coronavirus vaccines on a vast scale, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding…

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€61 million to support research and innovation for innovative applications in economy and society in Croatia

Today, the European Commission has approved an investment of more than €61 million from the European Regional Development Fund to modernise and expand the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) in Zagreb, Croatia, to…

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Euro should be global standard for hydrogen trades, EU says

BRUSSELS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The European Union will seek to establish the euro as the reference currency for international hydrogen trading as it makes a dash for clean energy…

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EU Commission proposes harsher travel restrictions

The European Commission is pushing for further travel restrictions both within its borders as well as for passengers coming from third countries. This plan builds on proposals announced by President…

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Commission approves €300 million Austrian scheme to support organisers of events affected by coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €300 million Austrian scheme to support organisers of events affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under…

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EU to strengthen plans to promote euro as international trading currency – reports

The European Commission is expected to strengthen plans to establish the euro as the leading international currency through financial markets, trade and foreign policy. Political news portal Politico revealed today…

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EU Agenda: 19 January-22 January

Tuesday 19 January: European Parliament debate on the EU global strategy on Covid-19 vaccinations Wednesday 20 January: Commissioner Sinkevičius holds a virtual meeting with Mr Costel Alexe, Minister of Environment…

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EU Agenda

Tuesday 12 January: Vice-President Schinas meets via videoconference Mr Jean-Michel Blanquer, French Minister of Education. Wednesday 13 January: Ms. Stella Kyriakides delivers a keynote speech to the EPP Group Health…

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EU countries may not start vaccinations at the same time

Some EU countries do not plan on starting vaccination programmes together, despite European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisting on otherwise. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on…

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COVID-19 vaccinations in EU to start from Dec. 27, Commission chief says

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries will begin inoculating people against the new coronavirus from Dec. 27, the head of the EU commission said on Thursday, assuming the EU regulator…

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Equality on Commissioner Dalli’s first country mission to Malta

European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli was in Malta on a two-day mission on 10 and 11 December 2020. In her first ‘country mission’ to Malta, following an invitation from…

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EU Commission launches European Democracy Action Plan

The European Commission announced its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU. Standing up to challenges to our democratic systems from rising…

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Commission renews its commitment to strengthen fundamental rights in the EU

Today, the European Commission presents a new Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU. Fundamental rights cannot be taken for granted. The new Strategy confirms…

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State aid: Commission approves €11.7 million Croatian grant to compensate Croatia Airlines for damage caused by coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has found a Croatian grant of €11.7 million (approximately HRK 88.5 million) to the state-owned airline Croatia Airlines to be in line with EU State aid rules.…

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Coronavirus response: €183.5 million to support Greek economy

The Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic presents a major challenge to the entire European Union. National, regional and local communities are on the front line in countering the disease and its…

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Commission fines pharmaceutical firms Teva and Cephalon for delaying of cheaper generic medicine

The European Commission has fined the pharmaceutical companies Teva and Cephalon €60.5 million for agreeing to delay for several years the market entry of a cheaper generic version of Cephalon's…

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€13.6 million in EU funds being invested to strengthen Malta’s border security

The Malta Police Force will be investing in more high-end security systems at the airport. With €13.6 million allocated in European funds, these systems will lead to better security management at…

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EU seeks to bypass patents to boost drugs access in crises

The European Union is planning bold measures to boost its access to drugs, from sidestepping patent rights in emergencies to offering incentives for companies to shift production to Europe, according…

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European Commission has asked EU members for vaccination plans – Merkel

The European Commission has asked all European Union member states to provide their plans to vaccinate the population against the coronavirus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. "Vaccination priorities are similar…

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Calls for solidarity and responsibility in a system that manages migration in the long term and which is fully grounded in European values

On Thursday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a keynote speech at the Interparliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum, hosted by the President of the European…

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State aid: Commission approves €5 million Slovenian scheme to support airlines affected by coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €5 million Slovenian scheme to support airlines in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The…

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Over €280 million in EU funding for environment, nature and climate action projects

The European Commission has approved an investment package of more than €280 million from the EU budget for over 120 new LIFE programme projects. This EU funding will trigger total investments of…

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Commission proposes to provide € 2.5 billion to Ireland under SURE

The European Commission has today presented a proposal to the Council for a decision to grant € 2.5 billion in financial support to Ireland under the SURE instrument. Today's proposal…

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EU approves contract with BioNTech-Pfizer alliance to ensure access to a potential Covid-19 vaccine

On Wednesday, the European Commission approved a fourth contract with pharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Pfizer, which provides for the initial purchase of 200 million doses on behalf of all EU…

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European Commission takes first steps towards European Health Union

The European Commission is taking the first steps towards building the European Health Union announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address. The Commission is putting forward…

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EC President von der Leyen congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Ursula von der Leyen tweeted her congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala HArris on their election. She emphasised that the EU and the USA are friends and allies, our citizens…

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Second Covid-19 wave disrupts EU economic recovery

Economic rebound was interrupted as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe, the European Commission found. Economic activity in Europe suffered a severe shock in the first half…

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EU Agenda – What’s on at the European institutions

03 November – 07 November Tuesday 03 November - European Commission Vice President for the Green Deal delivers a keynote speech via videoconference at the Commission’s Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference.…

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The Commission sends Statement of Objections to Czech rail incumbent for alleged predatory pricing

The European Commission has informed the state-owned Czech rail incumbent České dráhy (ČD) of its preliminary view that ČD has breached EU antitrust rules by charging prices below costs. Executive…

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Malta: ‘Brussels action on Malta passport sale has no legal basis’

Malta’s parliamentary secretary for citizenship Alex Muscat has said a letter of formal notice announcing action on Malta’s sale of citizenship to the global elite “lacks any legal basis”. Muscat said the…

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European Commission Vice President has coronavirus

European Commission Vice President for promoting the European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating. https://twitter.com/MargSchinas/status/1321019325587873794 "I have just learned that my regular scheduled COVID19 test ...came…

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‘Time is very short’ Britain says as EU’s Barnier heads to London

Britain said on Monday that time was very short to bridge the significant remaining gaps on key issues in talks with the European Union, as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier heads to…

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First rescEU ventilators dispatched to Czechia

Following a request for assistance from Czechia, the EU is immediately sending a first batch of 30 ventilators from rescEU - the common European reserve of medical equipment set up…

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EU governments not yet prepared to new COVID-19 surge – Commission

The European Commission warned on Thursday EU governments were unprepared for the new surge of COVID-19 infections and recommended common measures to roll out vaccines should they become available. "While…

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EU Commission tightens rules for senior staff after Commisioner tests positive

The European Commission is tightening rules for senior staff to prevent further coronavirus infections, after Commissioner Mariya Gabriel announced she tested positive Saturday. POLITICO reports that the “Special chefs” meetings,…

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Greek PM and Commission president meet

Due to the constraints and precautions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a videoconference on…

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EU signs joint procurement contract for remdesivir supply

The European Commission said on Thursday it had signed a contract with U.S. drugmaker Gilead for the supply of up to 500,000 treatment courses for remdesivir, sharply increasing the supply…

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McGuinness and Dombrovskis confirmed by EP as finance, trade commissioners

The European Parliament confirmed Mairead McGuinness and Valdis Dombrovskis to new positions in the European Commission. McGuinness won the support of the European Parliament to join the EU executive body…

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EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel in self-isolation

European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said on Twitter that she is self-isolating after she was notified that a member of her team tested positive…

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Malta: Delia promises more action against government corruption next week

Incumbent Partit Nazzjonalista leader Adrian Delia has promised more action from the Opposition against government corruption next week. In a short video message on Facebook, the PN leader commented on…

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Europe comes into view

by JESMOND SALIBA When the new EU Commission was unveiled in late 2019, a media storm erupted over the appointment of a commissioner for the promotion of the European Way…

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Malta: Justice Minister reacts to concerns highlighted in EU rule of law report, Daphne inquiry

The EU report on rule of law released today has praised Malta for adopting certain reforms, but two major red flags were those relating to deep corruption patterns and a…

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Malta developments on rule of law welcomed, but more needs to be done: European Commission

The first-ever report by the European Union’s executive on rule of law gaps across the bloc, singled out challenges to media and the judiciary as key risks to upholding democratic…

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EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides goes in coronavirus quarantine

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said that she will self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. "I was informed that a…

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Comuniq.EU – European Commission

by Keith Zahra New Irish Commissioner appointed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Mairead McGuinness as the new Irish commissioner in charge of financial stability and capital markets and…

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The European Commission would view Brexit legal remedies from end September

The European Commission will look into legal remedies at the end of the month if Britain does not adjust the parts of a domestic bill which breaches the Brexit divorce…

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CDE Viewpoint – Let’s make change happen – Ursula Von Der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Throughout history, pandemics have changed the destiny of people. They make us see the world in a different light and remind…

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Nobody is born racist – Commissioner Dalli

Nobody is born racist. It is not a characteristic, which we are born with. So it is a question of nurture, and not nature. And this action plan, together with…

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EU plans to crack down on racism

The European Commission pledged on Friday to take tougher action against member states failing to fully implement EU anti-racism laws, in a move reflecting global outrage at police violence against…

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European Commission recommends green energy, transport, digital investment for recovery

The European Commission recommended on Thursday that EU governments spend money from the 750 billion euro EU recovery package to boost the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic on green energy,…

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LIVE: Commission President delivers State of the European Union Speech

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is addressing the European Parliament in her first State of the European Union address. The annual event will see von der Leyen update…

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Could you imagine Malta without the EU during the pandemic?

EU member states were frozen when the Coronavirus pandemic first hit, European Commission Representation head Elena Grech said. The European Commission was now ensuring that the EU is better prepared…

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Facebook, Google, Twitter urged by EU to do more against fake news

Two years after agreeing to a self-regulatory code of practice to tackle disinformation, Facebook, Alphabet's Google, Twitter and other tech rivals must try harder to be more effective, the European…

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Mairead McGuinness set to be appointed Irish EU Commissioner

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will name Mairead McGuinness as the new Irish commissioner in charge of financial stability and capital markets, and hand over the prominent trade portfolio to…

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Ireland nominates two contrasting candidates to replace former EU commissioner Hogan

Ireland’s government on Friday nominated two contrasting personalities to replace Phil Hogan, after the Irish politician resigned as EU trade chief last week. POLITICO reports that it is not certain that Ireland will retain…

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EU donates €400 million to global access cause for Coronavirus vaccine

The European Commission contributed €400 million in guarantees to support the Covid-19 Global Access (COVAX) facility yesterday. The organisation seeks to provide universal access to affordable coronavirus vaccination, treatment and…

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EU delivers additional assistance following explosion in Lebanon

A second EU Humanitarian Air bridge flight landed in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. The aircraft delivered 12 tonnes of essential humanitarian supplies and medical equipment, including a mobile hospital and face…

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