This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, €325 million of public support to connect 12,000 schools in Italy to very high-speed internet. The schools that will benefit from the measure are located in areas with insufficient connectivity in Italy, in line […]State aid: Commission approves €325 million public support to provide schools in Italy with very high internet speeds
January 21, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, €325 million of public support to connect 12,000 schools in Italy to very high-speed internet. The schools that will benefit from the measure are located in areas with insufficient connectivity in Italy, in line […]Human rights and COVID-19: MEPs denounce measures taken by authoritarian regimes
January 21, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Parliament is deeply concerned that many authoritarian regimes around the world have used the pandemic to repress civil society and critical voices. In their annual report assessing the human rights situation in the world, adopted on Wednesday, MEPs highlight that several authoritarian regimes have […]Antitrust: Commission fines Valve and five publishers of PC video games € 7.8 million for “geo-blocking” practices
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has fined Valve, owner of the online PC gaming platform “Steam”, and the five publishers Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax € 7.8 million for breaching EU antitrust rules. Valve and the publishers restricted cross-border sales of certain […]New US President: MEPs hope for a new dawn in transatlantic ties
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs welcome the inauguration of Joe Biden as an opportunity for Europe to strengthen EU-US ties and tackle common challenges and threats to the democratic system. On Wednesday morning, MEPs debated the inauguration of Joe Biden as new US President and the political situation […]MEPs call for additional EU sanctions against Russia over Navalny’s imprisonment
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs strongly condemn Alexei Navalny’s arrest and call on the EU to extend sanctions against Russian officials to cover those involved in his jailing. In a debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs called on the Russian authorities to […]MEPs adopt Technical Support Instrument to speed up post-COVID-19 recovery
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Technical Support Instrument will help EU countries prepare the recovery plans needed to access funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The regulation adopted by Plenary on Tuesday, with 540 votes in favour, 75 against and 77 abstentions outlines how the Technical Support […]EU will have stronger powers in trade disputes
January 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted new rules allowing the EU to use countermeasures in trade disputes when arbitration is blocked. The strengthening of the so-called enforcement regulation allows the EU to protect its trade interests against partners acting illegally. From now on, the EU can […]UK and EU27 citizens in the UK to remain part of EP Communication programmes
January 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Parliament reaffirms its will to continue to engage with young generations of UK citizens and EU27 citizens resident in the UK. Following its decision in February 2019 to maintain the European Parliament’s presence in the UK, notably through its London Office, the […]State aid: Commission approves €300 million Austrian scheme to support organisers of events affected by coronavirus outbreak
January 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. 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 the State aid Temporary Framework. Today’s decision confirms the agreement in principle reached in […]Commission sets out key actions for a united front to beat COVID-19
January 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Two days ahead of the meeting of European leaders on a coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Commission set out a number of actions needed to step up the fight against the pandemic. In a Communication adopted today, it calls on Member States […]COVID-19 vaccines: EU must respond with unity and solidarity
January 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs expressed broad support for the common EU approach to fighting the pandemic and called for complete transparency regarding contracts and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines. In the plenary debate on Tuesday, MEPs exchanged views with Ana Paula Zacarias, Portuguese Secretary of State for European […]College meeting: European Commission reorganises the “Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom” into the “Service for the EU-UK Agreements”.
January 19, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The conclusion of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 24 December 2020 means that the very successful mandate of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF) will come to an end. The UKTF will cease to exist on 1 March […]State aid: Commission approves Greek public funding for construction and operation of North section of E65 motorway
January 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Greek public funding of €442 million for the construction of the North section of the Central Greece Motorway (E65). The Commission also approved support estimated at €38 million to cover the operating and maintenance […]New European Bauhaus: Commission launches design phase
January 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission launched the design phase of the New European Bauhaus initiative, announced by President von der Leyen in her 2020 State of the Union address. The New European Bauhaus is an environmental, economic and cultural project, aiming to combine design, sustainability, accessibility, […]Creative Europe: 30 years of support to European films and cultural and creative media works
January 18, 2021 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The MEDIA strand of the EU programme Creative Europe, designed to support European film and audiovisual industries, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021. To mark this, the European Commission is launching a campaign to celebrate the 30 years of support, as well as […]European Citizens’ Initiative: European Commission replies to ‘Minority Safepack’ initiative
January 15, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission responded to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Minority Safepack – one million signatures for diversity in Europe’, the fifth successful Initiative supported by over 1 million citizens across the EU. The Initiative aims to improve the protection of persons belonging to national […]New EU-UK agreement is welcome but thorough scrutiny remains, insist lead MEPs
January 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Foreign Affairs and Trade MEPs welcome the new EU-UK agreement as a good deal but demand proper parliamentary scrutiny powers and thorough access to information. On Thursday morning, members on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committees held a first joint meeting on the […]EU files WTO panel request against illegal export restrictions by Indonesia on raw materials for stainless steel
January 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU has requested the establishment of a panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to seek the elimination of unlawful export restrictions imposed by Indonesia on raw materials necessary for the production of stainless steel, notably nickel ore and iron ore. The […]Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Refinitiv by London Stock Exchange Group, subject to conditions
January 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Refinitiv by the London Stock Exchange Group (‘LSEG’). The approval is conditional on full compliance with a commitments package offered by LSEG. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, […]Coronavirus: Commission concludes exploratory talks with Valneva to secure a new potential vaccine
January 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission concluded exploratory talks with the pharmaceutical company Valneva with a view to purchasing its potential vaccine against COVID-19. The envisaged contract with Valneva would provide for the possibility for all EU Member States to purchase together 30 million doses, and […]‘Trickle-down’ tax cuts don’t work, study says
January 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. A study claims that taxing the richest less doesn’t strengthen economies and worsens inequality.London-based academics have analysed 50 years of growth, income and employment data covering 18 countries.The study comes as governments are considering raising taxes to repair the economic damage of COVID-19.Billionaires have […]Coronavirus: Commission concludes exploratory talks with Valneva to secure a new potential vaccine
January 12, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission concluded exploratory talks with the pharmaceutical company Valneva with a view to purchasing its potential vaccine against COVID-19. The envisaged contract with Valneva would provide for the possibility for all EU Member States to purchase together 30 million doses, and […]Trade MEPs promise thorough scrutiny of the EU-UK agreement
January 12, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Trade MEPs on Monday welcomed the achievements of the agreement between the EU and the UK but promised detailed scrutiny of the deal before a consent decision. At the first discussion of the EU-UK trade and partnership agreement concluded on 24 December 2020, MEPs […]COVID-19: Commission supports blood services to increase COVID-19 convalescent plasma collection
January 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has selected 24 projects that will build new programmes, or expand existing ones, for the collection of plasma from donors recovered from COVID-19. The plasma donations will be used for the treatment of patients with the disease. These grants are the […]Commission proposes to purchase up to 300 million additional doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine
January 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission today proposed to the EU Member States to purchase an additional 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by BioNTech and Pfizer, with the option to acquire another 100 million doses. This would enable the EU to purchase up […]Key elements of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment
December 31, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The cumulative EU foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from the EU to China over the last 20 years have reached more than €140 billion. For Chinese FDI into the EU the figure is almost €120 billion. EU FDI in China remains relatively modest with […]EU-China Leaders’ meeting: Delivering results by standing firm on EU interests and values
December 30, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union (represented by President of the European Council, Charles Michel and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen held a leaders’ meeting with China (represented by President Xi Jinping) via videoconference on 30 December 2020. The European Union (represented by […]European Union and African Union sign partnership to scale up preparedness for health emergencies
December 7, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched a new partnership initiative to strengthen the capacity of Africa CDC to prepare for and respond to public health threats in Africa. […]Coronavirus response: Commission welcomes agreement on crucial VAT relief for vaccines and testing kits
December 7, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has welcomed the adoption today of important new measures which will enable Member States to relieve EU hospitals, medical practitioners and individuals of Value-Added Tax (VAT) when acquiring coronavirus vaccines and testing kits. The new rules, adopted unanimously by all Member States […]Ethiopia: Authorities must protect civilians and ensure access of humanitarian workers
November 26, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič issued the following statement: “Today in Brussels I met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and in the wider region. I conveyed my […]MEPs call on EU leaders to end MFF deadlock without giving in on rule of law
November 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. EP group leaders and the Commission advise Hungary and Poland to take the EU to Court on rule of law, instead of penalising EU citizens by blocking the budget. In the debate on the European summit of 10-11 December, Commission President Ursula von der […]Successful third issuance of EU SURE bonds by the European Commission
November 25, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has issued a €8.5 billion social bond under the EU SURE instrument to help protect jobs and keep people in work. This has been the third bond issuance this year under the programme. It consisted of a single tranche due for […]COVID-19 and natural disasters: €823 million in EU aid for eight member states
November 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, Parliament approved €823 million in EU aid for the Croatia earthquake, floods in Poland, and the response to the coronavirus crisis in seven EU countries. The €823 million in aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) will be distributed as follows: […]
