This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU and four Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) States (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles) concluded negotiations on an enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Šefčovič, participated via videoconference in the conclusion ceremony that took place today […]EU concludes modernised Economic Partnership Agreement with Sub-Saharan Africa partners
June 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU and four Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) States (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles) concluded negotiations on an enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Šefčovič, participated via videoconference in the conclusion ceremony that took place today […]Commission publishes Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content
June 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission published the final Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content. The Code is voluntary and sets out practical steps to help providers and deployers of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems meet the AI Acttransparency obligations that will […]Commission presents first-ever EU strategies for islands and coastal communities
June 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities, setting out for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential. The two initiatives introduce a […]EU and Republic of Korea bolster strategic partnership with new areas of cooperation
June 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union and the Republic of Korea held their 11th Summit in Brussels today. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, met with the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee […]Refugee numbers drop for first time in a decade, but millions remain trapped
June 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Global forced displacement has decreased for the first time in a decade, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Thursday, though the figure remains unacceptably high and tens of millions of people are still trapped in prolonged exile with little prospect of rebuilding their lives. UNHCR‘s flagship […]Commission and EU Drugs Agency present the 2026 European Drug Report
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) are presenting the 2026 European Drug Report2026, with the latest evidence on the state of the drugs situation in Europe. Based on data from 29 countries (EU-27, Norway and Türkiye), the report shows that drugs have an increasingly […]Commission greenlights Slovenia’s sixth payment request for €41 million under NextGenerationEU
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission positively assessed Slovenia’s sixth payment request for €41 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This is an important step in the delivery of the reforms and investments tied to this payment request, which aims to support Slovenia’s […]EU to mobilise up to €25 billion for renewable energy and clean technology by 2035 through Pact for the Mediterranean initiative
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Union launches the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation (T-MED) – a flagship initiative under the Pact for the Mediterranean. T-MED aims to accelerate the development of renewable energy, hydrogen, clean technology manufacturing and modern electricity networks across the Mediterranean […]Commission imposes interim measures on Meta to preserve free access to WhatsApp for rival AI assistants
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for rival general-purpose AI assistants, and maintain it until the end of the Commission’s antitrust investigation. This will prevent serious and irreparable harm to competition in this growing market by Meta’s conduct, […]Commission issues €8 billion in its sixth syndicated transaction of 2026
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has raised €8 billion of EU-Bonds in its 6th syndicated transaction for 2026. The dual-tranche transaction concerned a €3 billion tap 5-year EU-Bond,maturing on 14 October 2030 and a €5 billion tap of the 15-year EU-Bond,maturing on 12 December 2040. Building […]Miles for Water: The Daily Health Burden of Climate Change on Women
June 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Jasminy Musa Belotti Dessiyeh, a 19-year-old medical student at FACISB (Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos), Brazil. 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 […]One Europe, One Market: from strategy to delivery – EESC, CoR and EP discuss the EU’s new roadmap for a truly unified market
June 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. Insufficient enforcement of common EU rules, threats to consumer confidence, excessive complexity for SMEs and a loss of competitiveness in the digital sector are among the greatest challenges facing the Single Market. The EU has a duty to protect it in […]Countries urged to ‘go further, faster’ and deliver on climate commitments
June 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The United Nations climate chief called on Monday for countries to step up action to implement existing commitments, warning that fossil fuel dependency is deepening economic instability and exposing vulnerable communities to worsening climate impacts. Simon Stiell addressed the opening of the UN June Climate Meetings in Bonn, Germany – an important step ahead of […]‘Rare, untreatable strain’: Ebola toll mounts in eastern DR Congo
June 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The top UN aid official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in Ituri province – the epicentre of the country’s Ebola outbreak – for a three-day assessment visit, as the confirmed case count reaches 515 across three eastern provinces. Damien Mama, interim Humanitarian Coordinator […]Children are dying as US sanctions push Cuba to the brink, warns UN human rights chief
June 9, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Children are dying because doctors cannot access essential medicines, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in a stark warning on Monday, calling for the immediate lifting of United States sanctions against the Caribbean nation that were causing “widespread harm”. “The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of […]Bulgarian businesses to get €340 million financing boost under new agreement between EIB Group and Allianz Bank Bulgaria
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. A range of Bulgarian businesses will be eligible for around €340 million in financing under a new agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and Allianz Bank Bulgaria. The accord enables Allianz Bank Bulgaria to increase loans for Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as […]Faith, fear and trust: Inside DR Congo’s fight against Ebola
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In a village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health workers arrived a few days ago to help bury a person who had died from Ebola. Instead, they were threatened, told armed rebels would be called if they stayed, and forced to leave. The family […]AI’s environmental costs threaten water, land and climate
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Artificial Intelligence is not only responsible for worrying amounts of earth-warming greenhouse gases: the technology’s environmental footprint is also expanding at a pace that could strain the planet’s natural resources. Data centres, the global infrastructure powering AI, could consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity annually by 2030 – […]World News in Brief: Millions displaced in South Sudan, global meat supply quadruples, Middle East crisis deepens global hunger
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Months of fighting and insecurity have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei State, triggering “one of the most severe conflict-related displacement emergencies in recent years”, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. Tweet URL Fighting between the […]Humanity’s future depends on protecting the rapidly changing ocean
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. When US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, triggering one of the most serious geopolitical crises in years, the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow channel just 34 kilometres wide at its narrowest point – became a global flashpoint overnight. Iran closed the waterway […]Humanity’s future depends on protecting the rapidly changing ocean
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the planetand regulates climate, sustains biodiversity, and supports economies and cultures worldwide. It’s the foundation of life on Earth. However, it has been under duress for some time and going forward faces multiple threats which not only gravely […]Five things you need to know about ocean plastics
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. From surgical gloves to water bottles, shopping bags and chewing gum, every part of our daily lives includes plastic. They epitomise convenience – their durability makes our dependence on them inextricable, but it also stifles the environment. Once plastics are released into the marine environment, large pieces choke wildlife […]Ukraine: MEPs welcome reform efforts amid ongoing war
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs are encouraged by the EU accession-related reforms carried out by Ukraine’s government, and insist Ukrainians should determine the conditions for peace with Russia. On Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee adopted, by 54 votes in favour, 17 against, and with 5 abstentions, a report […]Commission endorses Lithuania’s €884 million Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households and small enterprises in the clean transition
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved Lithuania’s Social Climate Plan – the second national plan approved under the new Social Climate Fund, which uses revenues from carbon pricing to ensure a fair and inclusive clean transition for vulnerable communities and businesses. The Lithuanian Social Climate Plan will […]Commission approves €23 billion Italian State aid scheme to support renewable electricity production
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €23 billion Italian State aid scheme to support electricity production from renewable energy sources, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy and reaching the […]EU and Kenya strengthen partnership
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Union and Kenya are deepening their strategic partnership on trade, digital transformation and sustainable investment to drive mutual economic growth for the benefit of businesses and citizens on both sides. This reinforced cooperation reflects Kenya’s pivotal role as a key partner for […]Commission approves €100 million Austrian State aid scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €100 million Austrian scheme to support clean technology (‘cleantech’) manufacturing capacity, 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 […]EU-Western Balkans Summit highlights enlargement as a strategic investment in Europe’s peace, stability and security
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola joined leaders from Member States and the six Western Balkan partners at the EU-Western Balkans Summit. The Summit was […]Lebanon crisis: Needs soar as UN launches new funding appeal
June 8, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN in Lebanon appealed for an additional $331.5 million on Friday to help 1.4 million people in crisis as already massive needs continue to grow, three months since deadly violence erupted between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces. “Humanitarian needs are soaring with each day of the […]World Ocean Assessment highlights urgent need for science and global action
June 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In the wood-panelled rooms of New York’s storied Explorers Club, where portraits of pioneering adventurers line the walls, diplomats, scientists and ocean advocates gathered on Tuesday evening with a shared sense of urgency – and anticipation. They were joined by renowned ocean advocate Sylvia Earle and explorer […]Killed for speaking up: UN sounds alarm over attacks on environmental defenders
June 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Thursday for greater protection for environmental and land defenders, noting that hundreds worldwide have been killed or detained in recent years. His appeal came in remarks to the first-ever European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders held in Strasbourg, France, […]AI listens in to help protect wildlife
June 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was published in association with the Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine. Strolling through a forest, you may notice that the air is filled with sound. Birds sing, insects and small mammals rustle through the undergrowth, and at dusk bats squeak as they communicate with each other. These soundscapes contain a wealth of information […]Commission decides to refer Slovenia to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the Birds Directive
June 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Slovenia to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the requirements of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC), which requires Member States to designate Special Protection Areas with the aim of protecting […]
