European Commission

Phil Hogan to resign from EU Commissioner

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan is resigning from his role following controversy over his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden, Co Galway last week, a spokesperson has said.…

Read More Here

Irish Taoiseach ask EU Commisioner Phil Hogan to consider his position for breaching coronavirus restrictions

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have asked EU Commissioner Phil Hogan to consider his position, following his attendance at a golf dinner for 81 people in Clifden last…

Read More Here

Czech PM joins call for Belarusian elections rerun

The Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for the presidential election in Belarus to be rerun with independent monitoring, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, POLITICO reports. Protests…

Read More Here

European Commission reaches deal for purchase of 300 million doses of vaccine – UPDATE

The European Commission said on Friday it had reached a deal with British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca for the purchase of at least 300 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine.…

Read More Here

EU pledges additional 30 million euros to Lebanon

At the international conference on assistance and support to Beirut and the Lebanese people, the European Commission has pledged a new funding worth €30 million to help address the immediate…

Read More Here

EU approves five new cross-border projects for Erasmus+ funding to develop excellence in vocational training in Europe

The Commission has proposed today Erasmus+ funding for five new Platforms of Centres of Vocational Excellence, to meet the needs of an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy. Funded through Erasmus+ for a…

Read More Here

EIF and European Commission launch new Covid-19 measures supporting micro- and social enterprises

The EIF and the European Commission have launched new COVID-19 support measures under the EaSI Guarantee Instrument (EaSI) to enhance access to finance for micro-borrowers, micro- and social enterprises. The new…

Read More Here

WTO ruling in EU-Russia dispute confirms legality of some EU rules – EU

The European Commission said on Friday a World Trade Organisation ruling on the European Union's dispute with Russia confirmed the legality of specific EU anti-dumping rules, but raised issues about their practical application. A…

Read More Here

EU countries must urgently diversify 5G suppliers, Commission says

EU countries must take urgent action to diversify their 5G suppliers, the European Commission said on Friday, a move set to shrink Huawei's presence in Europe as the United States pressured the…

Read More Here

Malta: Commission approves €720,000 Maltese scheme to support Bluefin tuna fishermen

The European Commission has approved a €720,000 Maltese scheme to support self-employed Bluefin tuna fishermen that are affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Source: The Malta Independent Updated 15:50pm

Read More Here

Comuniq.EU – Anti-Money Laundering

by Keith Zahra Interconnected registers of beneficial owners, a preventive blacklisting policy and effective sanctions are among tools proposed by MEPs to stop money laundering. MEPs want the Commission to…

Read More Here

Boosting the EU’s Green Recovery: EU invests over €2 billion in 140 key transport projects to jump-start the economy

The EU is supporting the economic recovery in all Member States by injecting almost €2.2 billion into 140 key transport projects. These projects will help build missing transport links across…

Read More Here

European Commission calls for action in protecting seasonal workers

The European Commission has presented guidelines to ensure the protection of seasonal workers in the EU in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. It provides guidance to national authorities, labour…

Read More Here

EU wants to ascertain Google will not use Fitbit data for advertising

EU antitrust enforcers are asking interested parties whether Google's pledge not to use fitness tracker maker Fitbit's health data for its advertising, and to separate the dataset from its own,…

Read More Here

Summer is no time to relax, but to prepare for second wave – European Commission

The European Commission warned European citizens and countries two weeks before August holidays that now isn't the time to let your guard down against the coronavirus. Through large-scale lockdowns, European…

Read More Here

Coronavirus: Commission strengthens preparedness for future outbreaks

The Commission has presented immediate short-term measures to strengthen EU health preparedness for COVID-19 outbreaks. The Commission has from the outset coordinated the exchange of information and recommendations with regard to…

Read More Here

EU Commission President welcomes Malta’s plans to reform rule of law

In a letter to Prime Minister Robert Abela, EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen praised the decision taken by the Maltese Government to consult the Venice Commission and request…

Read More Here

Positive developments in the efficiency of justice systems in the EU while trust in judicial independence decreases

The EU has seen a continued improvement in the efficiency of justice systems in a large number of Member States. At the same time, according to the results of a…

Read More Here

MEPs set out new measures to stop money laundering

In a resolution adopted with 534 votes to 25 and 122 abstentions, MEPs welcomed the Commission’s Action Plan on how to fight effectively against money laundering and terrorist financing and…

Read More Here

European Council head suggests tweaked EU Covid-19 recovery package

European Council President Charles Michel on Friday sought to offer concessions to countries across the EU in plans for the EU's long-term budget and economic recovery, hoping to bridge differences…

Read More Here

MEPs to make case for strong financial package as EP Plenary returns

Ahead of the EU summit on 17 July, MEPs - returning today in a plenary session, will make their stance clear on the EU's budget for 2021-2027 and the recovery plan in…

Read More Here

Italy PM Conte says won’t accept “weak compromise” on EU recovery fund

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday the European Union must provide a strong response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that support measures must be activated rapidly.…

Read More Here

Shipping industry must contribute to climate neutrality, say MEPs

The Commission has put forward a proposal to revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verifying CO2 emissions from maritime transport (the “EU MRV Regulation”) and bring it in line…

Read More Here

Malta: European Commission predicts 6% decrease in Malta’s GDP in 2020, but 6.3% bounce-back in 2021

The European Commission has predicted that Malta’s gross domestic product will drop by 6% in 2020 owing to Covid-19, but then stage a bounce back by 6.3% in 2021. Source:…

Read More Here

EU sees an even deeper recession with wider divergences

The EU economy will experience a deep recession this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite the swift and comprehensive policy response at both EU and national levels. Because the…

Read More Here

Competition rules should not stand in the way of collective bargaining – EU

The European Commission has launched a process to ensure that the EU competition rules do not stand in the way of collective bargaining for those who need it. The initiative…

Read More Here

Boosting the EU’s green recovery: Commission invests €1 billion in innovative clean technology projects

The European Commission the first call for proposals under the Innovation Fund , one of the world's largest programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the…

Read More Here

Merkel calls for EU resolve and unity as Germany takes the helm

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged European Union leaders to reach agreement on a multi-billion euro coronavirus recovery fund, calling for resolve and saying Europe was facing the most difficult situation in its history. Echoing Merkel's…

Read More Here

EU Commission presents European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience

The European Commission has launched the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. It sets ambitious, quantitative objectives for upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in…

Read More Here

EU consumers to achieve broader opportunity for redress

Consumers across the EU are about to be granted broader opportunities for the collective defence of their rights. Member states’ ambassadors have approved a deal concluded between the Croatian presidency…

Read More Here

Malta: European Commissioner Helena Dalli claims there is structural racism even within the Commission

The European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said that racism is alive even in Europe and appealed for structural discrimination to be addressed even within the European Commission itself. Source:…

Read More Here

EU claims breakthrough in battle against online hate speech speech

The EU's battle against illegal hate speech made important strides forward during the past year, with 90% of all flagged content being assessed within 24 hours, while 71% of the…

Read More Here

EU becoming safer, better-off and healthier – but less gender-equal

Crime, violence, poverty, ill health and air pollution have all declined in the European Union over the last five years - but gender inequality has worsened and efforts to fight climate change have…

Read More Here

EU member states agree specs for coronavirus app interoperability

European Union member states have agreed technical standards for interoperability between smartphone apps that track the risk of coronavirus infections, a step that could help revive travel and tourism, the…

Read More Here

Eurojust coordinates EU-wide action against illegal pay-tv streaming

Authorities in Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Germany have arrested 11 suspects for offering illegal access to over 40 000 streaming services, subscription television channels and films, violating audiovisual copyright on…

Read More Here

European Defence Fund: €205 million to boost the EU’s strategic autonomy and industrial competitiveness

The European Commission has announced 16 pan-European defence industrial projects and three disruptive technology projects that will benefit from €205 million financing aimed at enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy. In a…

Read More Here

EU Bank to provide BioNTech with up to €100 million in debt financing for COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and BioNTech has concluded a €100 million debt financing agreement to support the development of BNT162, the company's COVID-19 vaccine programme. The deal will also…

Read More Here

EU Commission launches web platform for safe return of tourism

The European Commission has launched 'Re-open EU', a web platform containing essential information for a safe relaunch of tourism in Europe in the post-Covid period. Europeans will now be able…

Read More Here

Brexit negotiations stall as both sides agree that new momentum was required

Britain and the European Union agreed on Monday that new momentum was required in talks on their future ties, supporting plans to intensify the negotiations that have all but stalled…

Read More Here

EU state aid regulators to ease bailout rules for small firms, startups

EU competition regulators plan to loosen the bloc's state aid rules to make it easier for private investors to team up with EU governments to bail out virus-hit start-ups and…

Read More Here

Non-euro EU Member States remain far off from reaching convergence criteria

The European Commission has published the 2020 convergence report in which it provides its assessment of the progress non-euro area Member States have made towards adopting the euro. The report…

Read More Here

Quality of Europe’s bathing water rated as high

The quality of Europe's bathing water remains high, according to this year's European bathing water quality assessment published today. Just under 85% of swimming sites across Europe monitored in 2019…

Read More Here

EU strengthens action to tackle disinformation, expects reports from social media giants

Facebook, Google and Twitter should provide monthly reports on their fight against disinformation, two senior EU officials said on Wednesday as they called out Russia and China for their roles…

Read More Here

Barnier says Britain is asking too much of EU in Brexit talks

Britain is seeking a trading relationship with the European Union that is too close to that of an EU member, the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday, urging…

Read More Here

Europe pushes forward trials of gene-engineered COVID-19 vaccine

European officials aim to speed up trials for coronavirus vaccines containing genetically modified organisms, two EU sources told Reuters, in a move that could help shots developed by companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson &…

Read More Here

Health threats: boosting EU readiness and crisis management

The EU is proposing to substantially increase its health funding by €9.4 billion through a new Europe-wide programme, EU4Health, which aims to strengthen Europe’s health systems to respond better to…

Read More Here

EU finance ministers review Euro 750 billion plan for post pandemic recovery

European Union finance ministers reviewed the EU's 750 billion euro plan for post-pandemic recovery on Tuesday ahead of what will be fractious negotiations over who should get the cash and…

Read More Here

EU grants €314 million to innovative companies to combat the virus and support recovery

The European Commission has warded nearly €166 million, via the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Pilot, to 36 companies set to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, over €148 million…

Read More Here

Children in the times of the COVID-19 crisis

by European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica and Commissioner Didier Reynders The COVID-19 pandemic is a human tragedy of massive proportions. We often hear that this is a disease that does…

Read More Here

Combat 5G COVID-19 fake news, urges EU

European Union (EU) nations banking on 5G to boost economic growth are eager to tackle conspiracy theories linking the wireless technology to the spread of the novel coronavirus that have seen masts…

Read More Here

EU to initiate controversial digital platform reforms

A significant, and politically-sensitive revolution in EU regulation is expected to be kicked off this afternoon by the European Commission. The EU's executive branch will be launching a public consultation…

Read More Here

EU urges US to reconsider its decision to cut ties with WHO

The European Union urged the United States on Saturday to reconsider its decision to cut ties with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. "In the…

Read More Here

Austria opposing Europe’s recovery plan

Austria has stated its opposition to Europe's current 750 billion euro plan to help economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic and wants to negotiate changes to the proposal, the country's…

Read More Here

Lufthansa’s board accepts demands from EC in exchange of €9 billion bailout

Lufthansa's management board accepted a more favourable set of demands made by the European Commission in exchange for approval of a 9 billion euro ($10 billion) government bailout, the carrier…

Read More Here

Supporting the recovery: MEPs adopt budget priorities for 2021

The 2021 budget priorities should be to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and support the recovery, building on the Green Deal and digital transformation. In the resolution by…

Read More Here

EU Commission proposes a public loan facility to support green investments

The European Commission has today presented a proposal for a public sector loan facility encouraging investments that support the transition towards a climate-neutral economy by public sector authorities to the…

Read More Here

Malta: Billion Euro from the EU to benefit Maltese families and businesses

The European Commission confirmed that Malta will be given a billion Euro to safeguard Malta against the effects of COVID-19. NET News can unveil that the EU will be giving…

Read More Here