This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Estonian-based Bigbank AS has signed a synthetic securitisation transaction with the European Investment Bank Group, comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). The transaction, which is the first synthetic securitisation transaction for the Bigbank, will support new lending to small and […]Bigbank and the EIB Group join forces to unlock over €250 million for Baltic businesses
March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Estonian-based Bigbank AS has signed a synthetic securitisation transaction with the European Investment Bank Group, comprising the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). The transaction, which is the first synthetic securitisation transaction for the Bigbank, will support new lending to small and […]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 […]Commission greenlights Slovenia’s fifth payment request for €266.8 million under NextGenerationEU
March 3, 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 fifth payment request for €266.8 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This is an important step in the delivery of the reforms and investments tied to this payment request, in the areas of […]World News in Brief: Gaza crossings closed, fighting in Sudan continues, Afghanistan quake victims
March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The escalating violence in the Middle East region is compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Speaking at the regular noon briefing in New York on Monday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that Israeli authorities have closed all crossings and suspended humanitarian movements. Planned rotations of […]Justice on the move: Mobile courts offer hope for communities in South Sudan
March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Travelling more than 200 kilometres (124 miles) from Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State in southwestern South Sudan, a team of justice experts escorted by United Nations peacekeepers moved slowly along rough, dusty roads, determined to reach communities that have waited years for their day in court. […]MIDDLE EAST LIVE: Strikes continue from US, Israel and Iran as UN urges restraint
March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Violent escalation in the Middle East has entered a third day as coordinated US and Israeli strikes against Iran aimed at regime change continue to cause loss of life and damage across the region, prompting Iranian missile and drone counter-strikes hitting targets in multiple countries. Explosions, airspace […]Iran crisis: Nuclear watchdog urges restraint amid ongoing strikes
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. As the violent escalation in the Middle East entered a third day on Monday sparked by the bombing of Iran by Israel and the United States, the head of the UN atomic energy agency urged a return to diplomacy, given the “increasing risk to nuclear safety” in […]New platform to boost support for EU regions most affected by the war in Ukraine
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Tomorrow, the Commission will be hosting the launch of a new initiative to provide easier access to lending support to EU Member States bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This initiative, titled ‘EastInvest Facility’, is at the core of the strategy for the EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine adopted last week […]Spain: EIB provides €60 million loan to Prosegur to boost its research, development and innovation and digital strategy
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Prosegur Compañía de Seguridad have signed a €60 million loan to finance the company’s research, development and innovation and digital strategy. Prosegur is a Madrid-based multinational providing hybrid surveillance, logistics and cash management services, crypto-assets, security systems, alarms, cybersecurity and outsourcing […]Commission proposes €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 507 dismissed Liberty Steel workers in Belgium
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 507 workers dismissed after the bankruptcy of Liberty Steel Belgium. Liberty Steel production lines in Belgium came to a halt in December 2021 […]Iran strikes ‘squandered a chance for diplomacy’: Guterres
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. “Everything must be done” to prevent wider escalation of war across the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, and retaliatory action from Tehran targeting multiple countries in the region, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Saturday. António Guterres described the day’s events as […]Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into Romania’s amended restructuring plan for CE Oltenia
March 2, 2026 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 whether Romania’s proposed amendments to power company CE Oltenia’s restructuring plan are in line with EU state aid rules. In January 2022 the Commission conditionally approved Romanian restructuring aid of €2.66 billion (RON 13.15 […]Commission approves €1.1 billion French State aid scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity, in line with Clean Industrial Deal objectives
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved a €1.1 billion French scheme to support strategic investments that add 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 […]Deadly bombing of Iran primary school ‘a grave violation of humanitarian law’: UNESCO
March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN education agency, UNESCO, says that the bombing of a primary school during the US and Israeli military attacks on Iran on Saturday constitutes a grave violation of humanitarian law. The missiles reportedly destroyed a girl’s primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing around 150 and […]Attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes ‘undermine international peace and security’
March 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the heads of UN agencies have condemned Saturday’s joint Israeli and US attacks on Iran and the Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and the Gulf Regions. The attack on Iran reportedly targeted military sites as well as the leadership of the Iranian […]Human Rights Council hears of ongoing risk of further genocidal violence in Sudan
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Nearly three years of war in Sudan have been marked by killings, rape and other violations, with risk of genocidal violence spreading, the UN Human Rights Council heard on Thursday. The brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was the focus of debate as the Geneva-based […]World News in Brief: Russian strikes on Ukraine condemned, migrant deaths update, devastating floods in southern Brazil
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN on Thursday condemned the latest attacks against civilians in Ukraine by Russian forces, reiterating that they always constitute a violation of international law “and must stop immediately.” Briefing reporters in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said any strike against civilians anywhere – or any […]ProtectEU: Commission presents new counterterrorism agenda
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission presented a new agenda to prevent and counter terrorism, setting out the way forward to reinforce Europe’s collective response to evolving terrorist and violent extremist threats. The EU has strengthened its response to terrorism and violent extremism over the past […]The EU needs to establish a clear vision for the future of its energy system
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. n opinion adopted at the EESC’s February plenary session points out that the European Union will only be able to secure a stable, low-carbon and affordable energy supply by adopting a comprehensive forward-looking approach that prioritises the security of the electricity […]Commission proposes EU-wide rules against the trafficking of illicit firearms
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has presented a proposal for a directive to combat firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences in the EU. This is the first legislative initiative to be adopted under the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU. Illicit firearms pose a serious threat to […]Global Health Priorities for 2026: A Call from the Next Generation
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Cecilia Petio, a medical student at the University of Bologna, Italy, and an active member of SISM Italy (Segretariato Italiano Studenti in Medicina), the Italian National Member Organization of IFMSA. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. […]Palestine: UN rights chief highlights suffering, atrocity crimes ‘that remain unpunished
February 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN rights chief Volker Türk on Thursday highlighted the “human-made disaster” across the Occupied Palestinian Territory stemming from Israel’s disregard for human rights norms and serious violations also committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. Citing a new report from his office (OHCHR) covering the […]Central African Republic enters ‘decisive’ phase after landmark elections
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Fresh from holding the most extensive elections in its history, the Central African Republic (CAR) is entering what the UN’s top envoy in the country describes as a “decisive period” in consolidating fragile peace gains, even as security challenges persist and disarmament efforts continue. Briefing the Security […]South Sudan: Funding gaps threaten nearly 2 million displaced people
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Funding shortfalls are putting the lives of more than 1.9 million displaced people in South Sudan at risk amid rising humanitarian needs, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. The warning comes as the world’s youngest nation remains among the top displacement crises, with nearly 10 million people in need of humanitarian assistance including returnees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan. IOM requires just over $131 million for […]Time for EU legislation to define rape based on absence of consent, say MEPs
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. The Commission should, MEPs say, propose EU legislation establishing a common definition of rape based on the concept of freely given, informed and revocable consent. The report, endorsed on Wednesday by the Committees on Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights with 75 votes for, 27 […]World News in Brief: Arab economies rise, rights experts call for police reform in India, Ukraine school closures, Myanmar airstrikes
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. A new UN report forecasts that the Arab region is seeing a gradual economic recovery despite continuing geopolitical uncertainties. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Wednesday reported that regional growth is projected to pick up from 2.9 per cent last year to 3.7 per cent […]Simplified rules for small “mid-cap” companies
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. New laws seek to boost the competitiveness of EU so-called small “mid-cap” (SMC) enterprises as they grown beyond SME status with targeted measures. On Wednesday, three EP committees voted to endorse proposals introducing the concept of small mid-cap enterprises (SMCs) and extending to them […]Commission welcomes the political agreement for a broader European Globalisation Adjustment Fund supporting workers
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and EU Member States on its proposal to strengthen the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). The EGF is an EU solidarity instrument for workers who have lost their job due to […]EU and UK agree to cooperate closely on competition matters
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission and the United Kingdom signed the EU-UK Competition Cooperation Agreement. The agreement sets a new and clear framework for cooperation on competition matters between, on the one side, the Commission and EU Member State competition authorities, and, on the other […]Not the Future, the Present: Young Voices Shaping Global Health in 2026
February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Ángela Soria Pitarch was born on March 28, 2003. She is currently a fifth-year medical student at the University of Valencia. 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 […]Commission invites comments on draft new State aid General Block Exemption Regulation
February 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on the draft of a simpler and more streamlined General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The new version will align the GBER with current social, market and technological conditions. The Commission invites Member States and all other interested parties […]Ukraine: ‘Use every diplomatic tool to end this war’, top UN official tells Security Council
February 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The international community must “use every diplomatic tool” to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Tuesday as Russia’s full-scale invasion entered a fifth year. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, delivered remarks on behalf of […]G7 leaders’ statement on the war in Ukraine
February 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On the fourth anniversary of the Russian further invasion of Ukraine in 2022, we, the leaders of the G7, reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence. We express our continued […]
