Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition of VOO and Brutélé by Orange, subject to conditions

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 VOO and Brutélé by Orange. The approval is conditional on full compliance with a commitments package offered by Orange.  Today’s decision follows an in-depth investigation of the proposed acquisition of […]

Venezuelan crisis: Commission releases €75 million in humanitarian funding during 2023 International Solidarity Conference

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the international community is gathering for the second day of the 2023 ‘International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants and their Host Countries and Communities’, co-organised by the European Union and Canada, to reaffirm its support for Venezuelans in need affected […]

Why industry collaboration is necessary for a sustainable future

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Luis Gomez, Partner, Baker McKenzie Industry collaboration can break down sustainability barriers and drive systemic change by accelerating progress and spreading the burden of innovation. With temperatures rising and extreme weather patterns increasing in intensity and frequency, climate change […]

Circular economy in action: 9 examples of businesses and policy-makers accelerating the transition

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Megan Murdie, Editor and writer, Circle Economy Today, circularity has fallen from 9.1% to a meagre 7.2%. This means that of the more than 100 billion tonnes of materials extracted from the planet annually, only 7.2% are cycled back […]

Human rights breaches in Iran, Tunisia and Cambodia

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on the respect for human rights in Iran, Tunisia and Cambodia. Iran: in particular the poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls Referring to numerous incidents since November 2022, where thousands of girls and women across Iran have […]

Parliament ready to negotiate with Council for an EU-wide digital wallet

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new digital identity framework would provide EU citizens with digital access to key public services across EU borders. Parliament on Thursday confirmed -with 418 votes to 103, with 24 abstentions- the negotiating mandate for talks with the EU member states on the revision […]

€1.2 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 300 dismissed workers in Spain

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission proposed to support 303 workers dismissed by aluminium producer Alu Ibérica in the region of Galicia in Spain with €1.2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). The funding will help them find new jobs through […]

Critical Raw Materials: ensuring secure and sustainable supply chains for EU’s green and digital future

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission proposes a comprehensive set of actions to ensure the EU’s access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Critical raw materials are indispensable for a wide set of strategic sectors including the net zero industry, the […]

Launch of the EU-NATO Task Force: Strengthening our resilience and protection of critical infrastructure

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The challenges to the European Union’s security and resilience are becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. A range of actors constantly test our resilience, seeking to exploit the openness, interdependence and connectivity of our societies and economies. The weaponisation of energy and the acts of […]

Metaverse requires regulatory scrutiny, EU competition chief says, and other metaverse stories you need to read this week

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author:  Cathy Li, Head, Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment & Sport; Member of the ExCom, World Economic Forum 1. Metaverse requires competition checks, EU antitrust chief says The metaverse needs regulatory scrutiny to ensure unfair competition does not […]

How technology can help address the world’s water security crises

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Sundararajan Mahalingam, President – Strategy, HCL Corporation With the global population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, the need to preserve our natural resources has never been more urgent. Our global freshwater supply has been severely impacted by […]

How to promote the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Latin America

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Carlos David Carrasco Muro The implications of building societies based on information and knowledge are not fully known to most people. Put simply, it is difficult to achieve comprehensive or holistic visions around technological advances. Latin America is no […]

Poverty and infectious disease come together far too often — the solution could be data-driven

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Dr. Philippe Guerin, Director, Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), University of Oxford, Ruma Bhargava, Country Lead, Healthcare, World Economic Forum Infectious diseases are a problem everywhere — but more so in the world’s poorer countries. Every year, malaria, HIV […]

As digital currencies become more popular, could we be seeing the end of cash?

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Marion Laboure, Director – Macro Strategist, Thematic Research, Deutsche Bank Sweden, Brazil and China are among a handful of countries seeing an increasingly cashless society with the digitalization of money.Analysis suggests a general correlation between high-interest rates and less […]

Impact investors are now looking at India as a compelling opportunity. Here’s why

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Ramraj Pai, CEO, Impact Investors Council, Devansh Pathak, Strategy and Community Engagement, World Economic Forum As the United Nations Decade of Action has come into its third year, seeking to accelerate sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest problems, the […]

Minimum Income Schemes: Increasing support, accessibility and inclusion

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs want to address the current cost of living crisis with a new law to modernise and strengthen national minimum income schemes in EU countries. On Wednesday, plenary adopted a resolution noting that an EU directive on an adequate minimum income would make minimum […]

Parliament slams repression and show trials in Belarus

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. MEPs are alarmed about the ongoing crackdown in Belarus, including the jailing of Nobel laureates and journalists, and call for further sanctions against the country. On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the Belarusian regime’s continued systematic repression of the country’s people and dissenting […]

International Women’s Day: an invitation for societies to do better

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. n a ceremony marking International Women’s Day, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti addressed MEPs in Strasbourg. Political group speakers paid tribute to the women heroes who are an inspiration to young girls – to working mothers taking care of […]

A Power Play in Medical Education

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Maria Clara Marinho de Novaes, a fourth- year medical student from Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador-BA, Brazil. She is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the […]

MEPs demand the EU boosts clean tech industry and fights human trafficking

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. In a debate with Presidents Michel and von der Leyen, MEPs reviewed the outcomes of the 9 February EU summit and outlined their expectations for the 23-24 March European Council. President of the European Council Charles Michel acknowledged Ukraine’s urgent need for more weapons […]

EU and Thailand relaunch trade negotiations

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU and Thailand announced the relaunch of negotiations for an ambitious, modern and balanced free trade agreement (FTA), with sustainability at its core. This announcement confirms the key importance of the Indo-Pacific region for the EU trade agenda, paving the way for […]

Global Gateway: EU, Latin America and Caribbean partners launch in Colombia the EU-LAC Digital Alliance

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today in Bogotá, Colombia, the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Digital Alliance was launched, a joint initiative to champion a human-centric approach to digital transformation. It is supported by an initial contribution of €145 million from Team Europe, including €50 million from the EU […]

Managing migration: new initiatives to strengthen European integrated border management and expedite returns

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission adopted a Communication which presents the strategic framework for European integrated border management (EIBM) for 5 years and a Recommendation* to Member States on the mutual recognition of return decisions and expedite returns. In its extraordinary meeting on 9 February 2023, […]

Challenges of medical education and the role of medical students

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Leonne Del Vecchio, a final-year medical student at the Universidade of Taubaté, Brazil. He is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writers and do not necessarily reflect […]

How Africa’s new Free Trade Area will turbocharge the continent’s agriculture industry

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Landry Signé, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution, Chido Munyati, Head of Regional Agenda, Africa, World Economic Forum Agriculture accounts for roughly one-third of the African continent’s GDP, provides a livelihood for 50% of the population […]

Climate change: Parliament votes to reduce member states’ emissions by 40%

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The new Effort Sharing Regulation reduces the allowed maximum level of greenhouse gas emissions in member states from transport, buildings and agriculture until 2030. Parliament today adopted with 486 votes to 132 and 10 abstentions the revision of the so-called Effort Sharing Regulation. It […]

Safety Gate: chemical substances top the annual list of health hazards for non-food products

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission published its annual report on the Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. The report covers alerts notified during 2022, and the responses given by national authorities. Health risks linked to chemical substances was the most […]

Indonesia encourages oil and gas companies to develop carbon storage: Here’s what you need to know about the global energy transition this week

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Roberto Bocca, Head of Shaping the Future of Energy and Materials; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum 1. Indonesia looks to carbon storage to help reduce emissions Oil and gas companies operating in Indonesia are being urged […]

Statement by President von der Leyen following her meeting with US President Biden

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Good evening, I am just coming from a bilateral meeting with President Biden. It was a very good meeting, very constructive. We discussed a lot of topics. I want to emphasise four different topics here. The first topic we discussed is the Inflation Reduction […]

Europe experiences one of its warmest ever winters, and the other climate crisis stories you need to read this week

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Stefan Ellerbeck, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda 1. Europe experiences its joint second-warmest winter Europe is emerging from its joint second-warmest winter on record, as the climate crisis continues to intensify. The average temperature in Europe from December to February […]

Maritime Security: EU updates Strategy to safeguard maritime domain against new threats

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication on an enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy to ensure a peaceful use of the seas and safeguard the maritime domain against new threats. They have also adopted an updated Action Plan through […]

Redrawing the solar power global map with regional supply chains

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Erica Brinker, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of ESG, Array Technologies The demand for solar power is rising globally. The supply of key components for it, however, is mostly concentrated in one region, leading to potential shortages or political […]

We need a new Bretton Woods moment, says António Guterres. What was the original Bretton Woods and what did it achieve?

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Ian Shine, Senior Writer, Forum Agenda “It is time for a new Bretton Woods moment,” according to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres in his briefing to the UN’s General Assembly on Priorities for 2023 last month. Why? Because […]