This article is published in association with United Nations. The wildfires burning across Europe and North America highlight the urgent need for action now – as climate change, land-use pressures and human activity make severe fires more likely in the future. The warning comes from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) which said that more than 434,000 hectares […]Wildfires: Prevention is the best defence, UN says
July 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The wildfires burning across Europe and North America highlight the urgent need for action now – as climate change, land-use pressures and human activity make severe fires more likely in the future. The warning comes from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) which said that more than 434,000 hectares […]Commission seeks feedback on proposed amendments to regional State aid guidelines
July 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its proposal to amend the Guidelines on regional State aid to keep them up-to-date. The proposed amendments The guidelines set out the legal framework governing the granting of State […]Commission endorses Malta’s €60 million Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households and small companies in the clean transition
July 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today endorsed Malta’s Social Climate Plan – the fourth national plan adopted under the Social Climate Fund using revenues from carbon pricing to ensure a fair and inclusive clean transition. Malta’s plan will mobilise €60.6 million until 2032, including €45.4 million […]Climate alarm ‘blaring from every direction’
July 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Climate-driven disasters are reaching “nightmare proportions” due to humanity’s “addiction” to fossil fuels, a top UN official warned on Tuesday. “The climate alarm is blaring from every direction,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in a statement. “With the mercury set to soar again this […]Commission proposes more than €410,000 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support dismissed car industry workers in Finland
July 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €410,310 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 235 workers dismissed by Valmet Automotive in Finland. Valmet Automotive is a contract manufacturer for the car industry, dependent on fixed-term contracts with major […]Commission approves €149 million Swedish State aid for agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices
July 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €149 million (SEK 1.6 billion) State aid scheme for agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework […]Commission preliminary finds TikTok in breach of Digital Services Act for failing to ensure safe accounts for minors
July 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission sent TikTok preliminary findings indicating that TikTok accounts of minors do not meet the safety standards required under the Digital Services Act (DSA). On TikTok, minors can choose to set their account as ‘public’. This means that any user, including […]Climate Change, Food Insecurity, and Anemia Risk in Women of Reproductive Age: A Socio-Environmental Perspective
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Valéria Cerqueira Pinto, a medical student. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European […]Housing – The EU needs a bolder strategy for construction
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. The EESC continues to push for an end to Europe’s housing crisis. In a new opinion, it argues that, to achieve more affordable housing, the EU needs a number of urgent measures, including: a better strategy for land use and rural […]Commission fines Google €890 million for breaches of the Digital Markets Act
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission took two decisions finding non-compliance by Google with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for self-preferencing its own services on Google Search, and for putting in place restrictions on businesses to direct consumers to alternative, often cheaper, purchase channels on Google […]From lithium to nickel: How the UN is helping countries make the most of critical minerals
July 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world’s shift to clean energy is driving huge demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper. Digging them out of the ground may be the most straightforward part of the process. Around the world, the United Nations is helping countries make sure these […]Commission approves Paramount’s acquisition of Warner, subject to conditions
July 23, 2026 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 proposed acquisition by Paramount Skydance Corporation (‘Paramount‘) of Warner Bros. Discovery (‘Warner‘). The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Paramount. Paramount and Warner are both active in the […]Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed merger between Saipem and Subsea7
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed merger between Saipem and Subsea7 to become “Saipem7”. The Commission is concerned that the proposed concentration may significantly impact effective competition in some offshore engineering and construction […]Commission concludes eligibility checks for two European Citizens’ Initiatives on digital identity and age-verification, and on migration and asylum
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission concluded the eligibility checks for the registration requests of two European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) entitled: ‘Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification‘ and ‘Save Europe Act‘. The Commission registered the initiative ‘Stop Killing The Internet: No […]European Pillar of Social Rights: a renewed commitment to protect and empower EU’s citizens
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It confirms that the Pillar remains the EU’s social shield and compass for fairness in an age of fast transformation, for a Europe that protects and empowers citizens. The Communication […]Critical minerals: The hidden resources powering the clean energy future
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Why are critical minerals suddenly at the centre of global politics? The story in 60 seconds Every electric vehicle, wind turbine, solar panel, smart phone; they all depend on minerals extracted from the earth. As countries accelerate the transition to clean (non-fossil fuel) energy, demand for minerals […]‘Business as usual is a business of death’: UN adopts road safety pledge over US objection
July 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN General Assembly closed its first ever High-level Meeting on road safety on Tuesday by adopting a sweeping new declaration aimed at halving road deaths by 2030 – over the sole objection of the United States. The Progress Declaration passed by a recorded vote of 162 […]Questions and answers on a set of recommendations to implement the EU Methane Regulation
July 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. What is the Commission recommending to Member States to implement the EU Methane Regulation? The European Commission has adopted two recommendations (one on compliance solutions and one on penalties) to help Member States and industry implement effectively the EU Methane Regulation, a key tool […]Commission fines AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act
July 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission endorsed Latvia’s Social Climate Plan — the third national plan approved under the new Social Climate Fund. Using carbon pricing revenues, the Fund ensures a fair and inclusive clean transition for vulnerable citizens and businesses. The Latvian Social Climate Plan will […]Commission publishes guidelines on transparency obligations for providers and deployers of certain AI systems
July 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission published guidelines to assist providers and deployers of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in meeting the AI Act’s transparency obligations, which start to apply on 2 August 2026. Transparency obligations will help people recognise when they are interacting with AI or […]EU defence innovation: deal with Council on new AGILE programme
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The draft law aims to respond to the new security environment shaped by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, where fast and low-cost defence innovation cycles are critical. On Wednesday, MEPs and the Irish Presidency of the Council reached a provisional political agreement on […]Organic products: MEPs back measures to support EU production
July 17, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new measures seek to protect EU organic food production from unfair external competition and increase consumer trust. On Tuesday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee adopted by 37 votes in favour, 4 against and 8 abstentions, its position on the proposed update of […]Commission approves €300 million Irish State aid scheme for temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €300 million Irish scheme to provide temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive companies in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. Through the condition to reinvest a significant share of the aid received in decarbonisation measures, […]Commission proposes €6.5 million to support almost two thousand dismissed workers in Belgium and Spain
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €6.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 1,928 workers following dismissals by hypermarket Cora in Belgium and in the car sector in Spain. Commission supports 1,257 dismissed workers in Belgium […]Commission approves €41 million Greek State aid for agricultural companies facing increased fertiliser prices
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €41 million Greek aid scheme to support agricultural companies facing increased fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on […]EU law on nitrates pollution remains effective, with scope for smarter implementation
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission today published the first comprehensive evaluation of the Nitrates Directive since its adoption in 1991. Covering more than 30 years of implementation, the evaluation shows that EU rules remain effective to protect Europe’s waters from agricultural nitrate pollution. It also identifies […]EU trade relations with developing countries continue to create sustainable economic growth
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy published a new joint report on the implementation of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) – the EU’s main trade policy tool to support developing countries’ exports to the […]Commission provides guidance to Google for AI interoperability on Android and sharing of Google Search data under the Digital Markets Act
July 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has issued two sets of binding specification measures to Google under the Digital Markets Act. The aim of the first specification measures is to ensure that competitors’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) services can compete with Google’s own AI services, such as […]EIB backs TenneT Germany’s landmark €3.5 billion European Green Bond
July 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has backed TenneT Germany’s inaugural €3.5 billion multi-tranche senior European green bond – the largest corporate issuance ever executed in the corporate debt capital markets in alignment with the European Green Bond Standard Regulation. This marks the EIB’s first green bond […]Better enforcement of rules needed for a safer social media and online environment
July 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Companies should guarantee that the use of social media and the digital environment is safe, particularly for children and young people, MEPs say. To protect minors from the impact of social media, MEPs want EU legislation better enforced and implemented. In a report adopted […]Commission approves French State aid to support offshore wind energy
July 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €63 billion French scheme to support offshore wind energy in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial […]Commission approves €659 million German State aid for four new semiconductor facilities
July 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved €659 million in German State aid to support the establishment of four first-of-a-kind facilities in the semiconductor value chain. The measures will contribute to strengthening the EU’s position and autonomy in the semiconductor value chain by supporting the construction […]Commission Demography Report highlights the challenges and opportunities of Europe’s demographic transformation
July 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission published its third report on demographic transformation in the EU, highlighting both the challenges and the opportunities it presents for competitiveness, innovation, social cohesion and sustainable development if addressed early and effectively. Europe’s population is set to shrink and age, […]
