This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On Thursday, the Employment Committee will vote on which risk group SARS-CoV-2 should be classified in to protect the health and safety of workers. Several political groups in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) oppose the European Commission’s decision to classify SARS-CoV-2, the […]Protecting workers from biological agents: how to classify SARS-CoV-2
June 10, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On Thursday, the Employment Committee will vote on which risk group SARS-CoV-2 should be classified in to protect the health and safety of workers. Several political groups in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) oppose the European Commission’s decision to classify SARS-CoV-2, the […]COVID-19 and German constitutional court decision top meeting with ECB’s Lagarde
June 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs quizzed ECB President Christine Lagarde for the first time since the pandemic and the German constitutional court’s ruling on the ECB’s bondbuying programme. During the quarterly ‘Monetary Dialogue’ with Ms Lagarde on Monday, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs focused almost exclusively on […]Transport Committee approves major reform of road transport sector
June 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Transport Committee MEPs endorsed on Monday the deal reached with EU ministers on a major reform of the road transport sector. The revised rules for posting of drivers, drivers’ rest times and better enforcement of cabotage rules (i.e. transport of goods carried out by […]Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Bayer’s animal health division by Elanco, subject to conditions
June 9, 2020 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 of Bayer AGs animal health division by Elanco Animal Health Inc. The decision is conditional on the divestment of otitis products and several types of parasiticides in the European Economic Area […]Quality of Europe’s bathing waters remains high, latest annual assessment finds
June 8, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. 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 met the European Union’s highest and most stringent ‘excellent’ quality standards. The results published […]Coronavirus: EU grants €314 million to innovative companies to combat the virus and support recovery
June 8, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission announced today that it has awarded 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 will be granted to another 36 companies set to contribute to […]Forest fires: Commission adds planes to rescEU fleet to prepare for summer
June 5, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. To prepare for the risk of forest fires during the upcoming summer, the EU is further reinforcing its European fleet of firefighting aircraft under the rescEU system. The EU is financing purchases by the Swedish government of 2 new firefighting airplanes to add to […]Returning to free movement across borders is of utmost importance
June 5, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. A swift return to a fully functional Schengen area is needed to safeguard freedom of movement and ensure the EU’s economic recovery, says the Civil Liberties Committee. Civil Liberties Committee MEPs express their concern about the current situation of internal border controls in the […]Coronavirus Global Response: European Commission pledges €300 million to Gavi
June 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission is announcing a pledge of €300 million to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for the period 2021–2025. It will help immunise 300 million children around the world and finance vaccine stockpiles to shield against outbreaks of infectious diseases. Today’s Global Vaccine […]
Commission proposes to top up support for refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey
June 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today proposed to top up support for refugees and host communities in response to the Syria crisis by a total of €585 million. Out of the amount proposed today, €100 million will go to Jordan and Lebanon, who are hosting […]EU budget: Commission takes steps to make €11.5 billion available for crisis repair and recovery in 2020
June 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has today proposed modifications to its budget for 2020 to make €11.5 billion for crisis repair and recovery available already in 2020. Once available, the funds will go to help the regions most in need, support businesses and those in need outside […]Fair minimum wages: Commission launches second-stage consultation of social partners
June 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission launches the second-stage consultation of European trade unions and employers’ organisations on how to ensure fair minimum wages for all workers in the European Union. This follows the first-stage consultation which was open from 14 January to 25 February 2020, to […]Yemen: EU allocates over €70 million to help most vulnerable population
June 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission will provide new funding of €70 million in Yemen, as the coronavirus threatens to worsen one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, where famine already looms. More than €40 million of this package will help prevent and respond to the spread of […]Aviation Safety: Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List
June 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission today updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union as they do not meet international safety standards. The Commission wishes to ensure the highest level […]Antitrust: Commission consults stakeholders on a possible new competition tool
June 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has published today an inception impact assessment as well as an open public consultation inviting comments on exploring the need for a possible new competition tool that would allow addressing structural competition problems in a timely and effective manner. Stakeholders can […]Commission launches consultation to seek views on Digital Services Act package
June 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today the Commission has launched a public consultation on the Digital Services Act, a landmark package announced by President von der Leyen in her political guidelines and in the Commission’s Communication “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future” of 19 February. The consultation seeks to gather views, […]State aid: Commission approves € 1.6 billion Polish scheme to compensate companies for damages suffered due to coronavirus outbreak and provide liquidity support
June 1, 2020 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, an approximately €1.6 billion (PLN 7.5 billion) Polish scheme that partially compensates large enterprises and certain small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the losses suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak and provides them with […]US announcement on breaking ties with the World Health Organisation: Statement by the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative/ Vice-President Josep Borrell
June 1, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the main task for everyone is to save lives and contain and mitigate this pandemic. The European Union continues to support the WHO in this regard and has already provided additional funding. In an EU-led resolution […]EU approves disbursement of €500 million in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
May 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has approved the disbursement of a €500 million loan to Ukraine as part of its fourth macro-financial assistance (MFA) programme. With this disbursement, the EU has now provided Ukraine with €3.8 billion in MFA loans since […]Mergers: Commission waives the commitments made by Takeda to obtain clearance of its acquisition of Shire
May 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has waived, under the EU Merger Regulation, the commitments made by Takeda to obtain clearance of its acquisition of Shire. The Commission approved the acquisition of Shire by Takeda on 20 November 2018, subject to the divestment of a biologic drug […]Austria, Italy, Portugal, Spain receive €279m after natural disasters in 2019
May 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, Budgets Committee Members approved €279 million in EU aid following extreme weather events in Austria, Italy, Portugal and Spain in 2019. The draft report by rapporteur José Manuel Fernandes, (EPP, PT), who recommended that the assistance be approved, was adopted by 38 […]Supporting the recovery: MEPs adopt budget priorities for 2021
May 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. 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 rapporteur Pierre Larrouturou (S&D, FR), adopted by the Committee on Budgets on Thursday by […]EU future at stake: MEPs broadly welcome Commission’s recovery package proposals
May 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Focussing on future generations, Commission President von der Leyen discussed the €750 billion recovery instrument within a revamped long-term EU budget in plenary. Following the presentation by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the pledge by the Croatian Council representative Nikolina Brnjac to […]EP negotiators: recovery plan crucial, but do not trade long-term for short-term
May 28, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. It is high time to start negotiations on the MFF with the Council without delay, said the EP’s negotiating team for the long-term EU budget and Own Resources reform. The six members of the MFF/OR negotiating team commented on the Commission’s proposals for a […]MEPs: Focus on crisis response when coordinating economic and budgetary policies
May 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Wednesday, MEPs discussed the European Semester and economically and socially sustainable ways out of the crisis with Commissioners Dombrovskis, Gentiloni and Schmit. Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) MEPs stressed that in order to become a proper recovery tool, the Commission’s Country-Specific Recommendations […]Europe’s moment: Repair and prepare for the next generation
May 27, 2020 by 4 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission has put forward its proposal for a major recovery plan. To ensure the recovery is sustainable, even, inclusive and fair for all Member States, the European Commission is proposing to create a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, embedded within […]EU citizens want more competences for the EU to deal with crises like COVID-19
May 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. In a new survey commissioned by the European Parliament, a majority (58 %) state they have experienced financial difficulties since the start of the crisis. Conducted at the end of April 2020, nearly seven out of ten respondents (69%) want a stronger role for […]EU mobilises international donors to support Venezuelan refugees and migrants and countries in the region
May 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union and the Spanish Government convened the International Donors’ Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants and countries in the region, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). […]Coronavirus: following Commission’s call, platforms remove millions of misleading ads
May 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. As part of its commitment to protect consumers online, the European Commission has coordinated a screening (‘sweep’) of websites, with the aim of finding out where consumers in the EU are being subjected to content promoting false claims or scam products in the context […]COVID-19: Single market must emerge stronger from the crisis, say MEPs
May 26, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs voiced concerns about the internal market during a debate with Commission Executive Vice-President Vestager on Monday. The majority of MEPs perceive the timely state aid schemes as a lifeline for companies during the COVID-19 crisis. However, they stress […]COVID-19: MEPs debate how to best protect cross-border and seasonal workers
May 26, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee is set to delve into alleged breaches of EU law on working time, health and safety of cross-border workers, on Tuesday. Following disturbing reports about the precarious situation facing potentially hundreds of thousands of cross-border and seasonal workers […]Rule of Law in Poland: concerns continue to grow among MEPs
May 26, 2020 by 5 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The attacks on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in Poland need to be addressed urgently, say a majority of MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee. In a committee debate on Monday, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) presented his draft interim […]Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into proposed acquisition of Transat by Air Canada
May 26, 2020 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 the proposed acquisition of Transat by Air Canada, under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is concerned that the proposed transaction may reduce competition in the passenger air transport services between the European Economic […]
