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 […]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 […]EP supports local authorities fighting the effects of the pandemic
May 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Besides Parliament’s core activities, President Sassoli has offered EP support to local authorities providing meals, shelter and a COVID-19 testing centre. The current precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 have not affected the European Parliament’s capacity to ensure the legislative, budgetary and […]
European Youth Event 2020: giving a voice to young people to influence EU policy
May 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The European Youth Event (EYE) goes online to engage young people with high-level politicians, experts and influencers and discuss EU role in the COVID-19 crisis. ‘EYE online’, following the postponement of EYE2020 due to the pandemic, goes into its final week and offers young […]
State aid: Commission approves €9 billion Italian “umbrella” scheme to support economy in coronavirus outbreak
May 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €9 billion Italian “umbrella” scheme to support the Italian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 […]Coronavirus global response: EU allocates additional €50 million in humanitarian aid
May 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today the European Commission announced an additional €50 million in humanitarian aid to help respond to the dramatic increase in humanitarian needs caused by the Coronavirus pandemic globally. The new funding follows increased appeals by humanitarian organisations, including the UN Global Appeal. Janez Lenarčič, […]
European Semester Spring Package: Recommendations for a coordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic
May 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Commission has proposed today country-specific recommendations (CSRs) providing economic policy guidance to all EU Member States in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, focused on the most urgent challenges brought about by the pandemic and on relaunching sustainable growth. The recommendations are structured […]
COVID-19: MEPs urge quick action to prevent “huge recession”
May 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. In an EP webinar on the EU’s long-term budget and response to the crisis, MEPs urged that the recovery fund must be set up as soon as possible to prevent a major recession. In Tuesday’s EP webinar for journalists on the EU long-term budget […]
Protection of workers from biological agents: how to classify COVID-19
May 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will debate with the Commission on Wednesday how to classify SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, to protect workers’ health and safety. On Wednesday afternoon from 15.00 – 16.00, Members of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) will debate […]Coronavirus: Commission boosts urgently needed research and innovation with additional €122 million
May 19, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission has mobilised another €122 million from its research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, for urgently needed research into the coronavirus. The new call for expressions of interest contributes to the Commission’s €1.4 billion pledge to the Coronavirus Global Response initiative, launched by […]Parliament: EU27 need €2 trillion recovery package to tackle COVID-19 fallout
May 18, 2020 by 2 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. In a resolution on the post-2020 EU budget revision and economic recovery plans, MEPs demand a robust package, focused on citizens’ needs and building on the EU budget. The resolution was adopted on Friday by 505 votes in favour, 119 against and 69 abstentions. […]Partner countries get €3bn in loans to prop up economies affected by pandemic
May 18, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Parliament on Friday approved €3 billion in loans to help EU neighbours and partner countries deal with the fallout of COVID-19. The loans, which will be given on highly favourable terms and disbursed over a year, will help the following ten countries whose economies […]European Citizens’ Initiative: Commission decides to register 2 new initiatives
May 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to register two European Citizens’ Initiatives entitled ‘Start Unconditional Basic Incomes (UBI) throughout the EU’ and ‘Freedom to share’. The Commission considers that the two initiatives are legally admissible, as they met the necessary conditions. The Commission has not […]COVID-19 tracing apps: MEPs stress the need to preserve citizens’ privacy
May 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Citizens need data protection and privacy safeguards with regard to new smartphone apps used to manage the spread of the pandemic, say MEPs. In a plenary debate on Thursday, MEPs noted that, together with other COVID-19 related measures such as social distancing, masks and […]Approving most of EU’s accounts, EP requests new measures to protect EU spending
May 15, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. European Parliament granted discharge to the Commission and most other EU institutions, but called for the fight against conflict of interest to be strengthened. The Parliament, voting on Wednesday by 499 votes in favour, 136 against and 56 abstentions, granted discharge of the Commission’s […]The European Green Deal must be at the heart of the COVID-19 recovery
May 15, 2020 by 2 Comments
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Martina Larkin, Head of Regional Strategies, Europe and Eurasia; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum The coronavirus crisis recovery is a chance to redesign a sustainable, inclusive economy, revitalizing industry, preserving vital biodiversity systems and tackling […]Hungary’s emergency measures: MEPs ask EU to impose sanctions and stop payments
May 14, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Democracy and fundamental rights are under threat in Hungary, say most MEPs, who urge the Commission and the Council to protect Hungarian citizens and rule of law. In a debate with EC Vice-President Vera Jourová and the Croatian Presidency of the EU, a majority […]European Investment Advisory Hub sends projects worth €34 billion to European Investment Bank pipeline
May 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Advisory Hub has received 2,300 advisory support requests since 2015 Majority of requests from cohesion countries More than 150 projects worth €34 billion have applied for EIB financing as a result, as part of an ever increasing contribution to an investable project pipeline The […]Indexation of family benefits, child tax credit and family tax credits: Commission takes Austria to Court for discrimination
May 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Austria to the Court of Justice of the EU. The Commission considers that Austrian law on the indexation of family benefits, child tax credit and family tax credits is not allowed under EU rules and is discriminatory. […]Long-term EU budget: Parliament wants safety net for beneficiaries
May 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The current health crisis compels us to tackle the risk of the next long-term EU budget not coming into force on 1 January 2021 with even more urgency, MEPs say. On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a legislative resolution by 616 votes in favour, 29 against […]EP wants data protection guaranteed before allowing fingerprint exchange with UK
May 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. As long as guarantees on reciprocity and data protection are not in place, Council should not allow fingerprint data exchange between the UK and EU countries, say MEPs. MEPs rejected the Council draft implementing decision on the exchange of fingerprints with the UK with […]Coronavirus: a common approach for safe and efficient mobile tracing apps across the EU
May 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. What is a contact tracing and warning app? A contact tracing and warning app is voluntarily installed and used to warn users if they have been in proximity for a certain duration to a person who reported to have been tested positive of COVID-19. […]Tourism and transport: Commission’s guidance on how to safely resume travel and reboot Europe’s tourism in 2020 and beyond
May 13, 2020 by 5 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission presents a package of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen, after months of lockdown, while respecting necessary health precautions. The Commission’s guidance aims to offer people the chance to get […]Commission publishes guidance on coronavirus-related humanitarian aid to Syria despite sanctions
May 12, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has published detailed guidance on how coronavirus-related humanitarian aid can be sent to countries and areas around the world that are subject to EU sanctions. This guidance note on Syria is the first in a series of comprehensive Q&As, which aims […]Coronavirus: €117 million granted for treatments and diagnostics through the Innovative Medicines Initiative
May 12, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission announced today that 8 large-scale research projects, aimed at developing treatments and diagnostics for the coronavirus,were selected in a fast-track call for proposals, launched in March by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a public-private partnership. In order to fund a larger number […]State aid: Commission approves €500 million Greek scheme to support the self-employed affected by coronavirus outbreak
May 12, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €500 million Greek scheme to support self-employed individuals, including self-employed managers of small companies in sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March […]Do not take the EP’s consent on MFF for granted, says Budget Committee Chair
May 12, 2020 by 5 Comments
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Ahead of this week’s plenary vote on a resolution on the planned new long-term EU budget, Budget Committee Chair Van Overtveldt shared his thoughts in an interview on EP’s Facebook page. During a live interview on the Parliament’s Facebook page, the Chair of the […]Commission launches the Fit for Future Platform and invites experts to join
May 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today launched the Fit for Future Platform – a high-level expert group, which will help the Commission simplify existing EU laws and reduce administrative burden for citizens and businesses. It will also help ensure that EU legislation remains future-proof, given […]Von der Leyen on Europe Day: What does Europe mean to me and why is solidarity more valid than ever
May 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Alongside 27 European leaders and the Presidents or European Parliament and Council, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen explained what Europe meant to her. She said: “For my generation Europe is freedom and rule of law” and “for my children Europe […]Coronavirus Global Response: EU sets up a Humanitarian Air Bridge
May 8, 2020 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has set up an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge to transport humanitarian workers and emergency supplies for the coronavirus response to some of most critical areas around the world. Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, is travelling today to Bangui on the […]
