This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs approve the Commission’s management of the 2024 EU budget but warn that rule of law backsliding in several member states is harming the use of EU funds. On Wednesday, plenary signed off the budgetary management by the European Commission, responsible for the majority […]Discharge: MEPs sign off on the management of the EU’s budget in 2024
April 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs approve the Commission’s management of the 2024 EU budget but warn that rule of law backsliding in several member states is harming the use of EU funds. On Wednesday, plenary signed off the budgetary management by the European Commission, responsible for the majority […]Commission greenlights Italy’s ninth payment request for €12.8 billion under NextGenerationEU
April 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission positively assessed Italy’s ninth payment request of €12.8 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. Following its assessment of the payment request, the Commission found that Italy has satisfactorily completed all 16 milestones and 34 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. The reforms and […]Parliament endorses renewed EU trade instrument for development
April 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted the renewed regulation on the generalised system of preferences (GSP). The updated rules, passed with 459 votes in favour, 127 against and 70 abstentions, allow vulnerable developing countries to export goods to the EU with low or no tariffs. Several […]EP President Metsola to EU leaders: “Europe cannot face a new era with an old budget”
April 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. At the European Council, President Metsola addressed three main topics: the situation in the Middle East, the ‘One Europe One Market’ Roadmap and the Multiannual Financial Framework. Speaking to EU leaders, Parliament President Metsola focused on three topics: The situation in the Middle East […]European Institutions agree Roadmap to achieve “One Europe, one Market” by end of 2027
April 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On the sidelines of the Informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Cyprus, the President of the Republic of Cyprus as the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the Presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission, […]Chokepoints and conflict: How the Hormuz crisis is exposing global shipping vulnerabilities
April 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The blockading of ships in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the conflict between the United States and Iran has demonstrated how ships and seafarers have become “leverage in geopolitical disputes,” according to the head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO). Since conflict began […]Commission greenlights Poland’s fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under NextGenerationEU
April 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Poland’s fourth payment request for €7.2 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. Following its assessment of the payment request, the Commission found that Poland has satisfactorily completed the 30 milestones and 13 targets set out […]EIB and Commerzbank launch new cooperation for €2 billion in grid investments in Europe
April 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The EIB and Commerzbank signed a new cooperation agreement at Hannover Messe that will enable investments of up to €2 billion in electricity grids in Germany and other EU Member States. The cooperation will address key financing bottlenecks for grid expansion and upgrades, which are crucial for integrating […]EU long-term budget: MEPs want a 10% increase to support EU priorities
April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday MEPs endorsed their negotiating position on the 2028-2034 EU budget, including a breakdown of the amounts they want to allocate to each EU funding programme. The 2028-2034 EU budget (the multiannual financial framework – MFF) should be set at 1.27% of EU […]Commission issues €9 billion in its fourth syndicated transaction of 2026
April 15, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has raised €9 billion of EU-Bonds in its 4th syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €3 billion tap of the 3-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 July 2029, and a €6 billion new 20-year EU-Bond, maturing on 12 October […]Development finance gap risks reversing decades of progress
April 13, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Global fragmentation, deepening geopolitical tensions and conflicts are putting decades of development progress at risk, the UN warned in a report published on Thursday – calling for stepping up investment to meet internationally agreed goals. The 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report assesses progress on the Sevilla Commitment, a 2025 […]Development finance gap risks reversing decades of progress
April 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Global fragmentation, deepening geopolitical tensions and conflicts are putting decades of development progress at risk, the UN warned in a report published on Thursday – calling for stepping up investment to meet internationally agreed goals. The 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report assesses progress on the Sevilla Commitment, a […]The EU’s electricity grids must be strong, smart and secure
April 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. At its March plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) stressed that the EU needed more decentralised energy and better coordination on electricity grids. Networks should be rapidly digitalised and be aligned with national energy and climate plans. The […]Developing countries are being priced out, in struggle for affordable finance
March 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Developing countries are being priced out of the affordable finance they desperately need for sustainable development, with sovereign credit ratings often overstating risk and overlooking long-term economic potential, the UN said on Monday. A credit rating is an assessment of how likely a borrower, such as a government, is to […]Commission welcomes historic agreement to reform EU Customs Union
March 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes today’s agreement between the European Parliament and the Council, delivering a landmark reform of the EU Customs Union. The most ambitious reform of EU customs rules since 1968 introduces new measures for e-commerce and launches a modern, data-driven customs architecture that simplifies procedures and enhances efficiency. With these vital upgrades in […]Future EU Customs Authority to be headquartered in Lille, France
March 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, the Parliament and the Council decided to establish the future EU Customs Authority in Lille, France. In line with the agreed procedure, the Parliament and the Council first selected a shortlist of two top locations each on Wednesday morning. After that, the two […]EIB Global and Techcombank announce €200 million credit line for climate investments in Viet Nam
March 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) have announced a €200 million financing agreement to accelerate climate action and environmental sustainability projects across Viet Nam. The long-term financing facility aims to bridge the financing […]Deeper EU capital markets need stronger supervision and integration
March 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. In an opinion adopted at its March plenary session, the EESC calls for more ambitious reforms to integrate Europe’s capital markets and reinforce EU-level supervision, warning that persistent fragmentation is holding back investment, competitiveness and growth. Supporting the European Commission’s proposals […]EU and Australia strengthen relations with Security and Defence Partnership and Trade Agreement
March 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and Australia have today announced the adoption of a groundbreaking Security and Defence Partnership. They have also concluded negotiations for an ambitious and balanced free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to launch formal negotiations for the association of Australia to Horizon Europe, […]Statement by Commissioner Tzitzikostas on the IMO decision on the Strait of Hormuz
March 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU welcomes the adoption of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Council decision, strongly condemning the threats and attacks by Iran against vessels which affect innocent civilian seafarers. The EU echoes IMO Council’s demands to cease any actions or threats aimed at closing, obstructing […]Deeper EU capital markets need stronger supervision and integration
March 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. In an opinion adopted at its March plenary session, the EESC calls for more ambitious reforms to integrate Europe’s capital markets and reinforce EU-level supervision, warning that persistent fragmentation is holding back investment, competitiveness and growth. Supporting the European Commission’s proposals […]France: EIB Group and BNP Paribas increase their existing guaranteed portfolio under InvestEU to €325 million to continue financing innovation and sustainability in Europe
March 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. BNP Paribas has secured an additional €250 million guarantee from the European Investment Bank Group via the European Investment Fund (EIF) under the InvestEU Programme. This significant envelope enables BNP Paribas to advance its goal in supporting innovative and sustainable businesses across the EU, reinforcing its […]Italy: EIB provides €225 million to Iren to promote circular economy and energy efficiency
March 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iren Group have signed a new €225 million finance contract to support the company’s investment plan for 2025-2028. Signed today in Milan by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Iren Executive President Luca Dal Fabbro, the operation aims to back a range […]Women’s representation in parliament sees sluggish gains
March 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Women held 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide as the year began –a 0.3 per cent increase from 2025, marking the slowest growth in nearly a decade, according to a new report from the UN-backed Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The report titled Women in parliament 2025 released […]UN calls for fair play in the global race for critical minerals
March 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt are central to the transition to a zero-carbon economy. As the Security Council meets on Thursday to discuss “energy, critical minerals and security,” here is some of the work the UN is doing to ensure that the transition is just […]EIB and WTO sign first agreement to strengthen cooperation on global trade and investment
March 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat have taken an unprecedented step to support sustainable global commerce and economic development. The EIB Group’s arm for international partnerships and development finance, EIB Global, and the WTO Secretariat today signed a Memorandum of Understanding […]EIB and Canada team up to strengthen critical raw material resilience
March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government of Canada have taken an important step toward strengthening cooperation on critical raw materials. At the PDAC 2026 conference in Toronto, the two sides signed a non‑binding Letter of Intent, signalling their commitment to closer cooperation on securing […]EU–US trade legislation: legislative work on hold following US Supreme Court ruling
February 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee and standing rapporteur for the US, issued the following statement. Following a meeting of the committee’s shadow rapporteurs (i.e. political group representatives), Bernd Lange (S&D, DE) said: “The ruling by the Supreme Court of the United […]Brazil Can Boost Growth by Bringing More Women into the Labor Force
February 16, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Priority reforms include improving childcare, recalibrating social transfers, and closing wage gaps When Brazil’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in November 2025—the lowest in a quarter century—it punctuated an impressive turnaround from the pandemic. Yet, while men’s participation in the labor market has returned to its pre-COVID […]Parliament’s proposals to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2035
February 12, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, Parliament called for more funding and coordination to combat poverty and social exclusion in the EU. MEPs want the Commission to recognise poverty as a violation of human dignity in its upcoming anti-poverty strategy and want to see it work urgently to […]MEPs stress the importance of independent central banks in times of heightened tension
February 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted its annual review of the European Central Bank’s policies and its recommendations for 2026. The vote followed a debate with ECB President Lagarde on Monday. The adopted text says the European Central Bank’s (ECB) independence is essential for it to […]European Commission issues €11 billion in its 2nd syndicated transaction of 2026
February 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today raised €11 billion of EU-Bonds in its 2nd syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €6 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 13 December 2032 and a €5 billion tap of the EU-Bond maturing on 12 October 2045. The […]EU-US trade legislation: MEPs to resume work on Turnberry proposals
February 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee and standing rapporteur for the US, has issued the following statement regarding the EU-US trade deal. Following a Wednesday afternoon meeting of the committee’s shadow rapporteurs (i.e. political group representatives responsible for work on the legislation […]
