Serbia and enlargement: MEPs expect real commitment to EU values 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. Serbia’s government continues to say EU membership is its strategic goal, but MEPs warn that this is often not reflected in its actions. Progress towards EU membership entails not only adopting reforms, but also implementing them thoroughly and fully, warn MEPs in a report […]

World must move faster on Ebola response for DR Congo: UN relief chief

© WFP/Arete/Seros Muyisa WFP staff and partners load vehicles at Bunia Airport with supplies to support operations assisting communities affected by the Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, DR Congo.This article is published in association with United Nations. The world must move faster to contain the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN relief chief Tom Fletcher said on Thursday. Mr. Fletcher warned that while Ituri province remains the centre of the outbreak, the virus is spreading to other provinces […]

Peak heat in Europe just broke historic 1970s records

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. This year marks the hottest June recorded for Western Europe and the second warmest globally, according to the latest report from a climate tracking service released on Thursday. “Heatwaves like this are what we expect to see in a changing climate,” said John Kennedy, head of climate […]

Diplomats go virtual to witness Gaza displacement site up close

UN News Children collect water from a truck in a displaced persons camp in Gaza. (file)This article is published in association with United Nations. Representatives from 12 countries carried out a “virtual diplomatic field visit” to a displacement site in the Gaza Strip and heard from some of the residents about their pressing needs, the United Nations said on Thursday.  The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Ramiz Alakbarov, and his […]

Aid cuts leave at least one million women and girls without vital support

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. At least one million women and girls have lost access to critical humanitarian support since January 2025 as unprecedented aid cuts push women’s organizations in crisis zones to the brink of collapse, the UN’s gender equality agency, UN Women, said on Friday.  The warning comes in a […]

South Sudan: UN acts ahead of drought to protect thousands

© WFP/Gabriela Vivacqua Women in South Sudan go in search of water.This article is published in association with United Nations. As drought risk intensifies in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state, a new UN-backed plan aims to protect thousands of people before the worst impacts take hold.  The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of South Sudan on Friday activated the country’s first-ever drought anticipatory plan targeting more than 65,000 people […]

New cholera outbreak alert for Sudan’s war-weary communities

© UNOCHA/Giles Clarke A woman stands outside her tent four months after fleeing the city of from El Fasher in Darfur following an attack.This article is published in association with United Nations. In war-torn Sudan, a deadly new cholera outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives, heightening serious concerns for vulnerable communities including in besieged El-Obeid, where daily drone attacks have continued to hamper aid access.  “Cholera is back and it’s affecting several states, mainly in the western part […]

World News in Brief: UN spotlights education aid solution, Sri Lanka prison violence, humanitarian aid to Venezuela

© UNICEF/Safidy Andrianantenain Students at a school in Taolagnaro, Madagascar, work in their new computer lab for the first time.This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) urged international lenders to expand debt-for-education swaps, warning in a Friday report that many developing countries are spending more on debt servicing than on schooling their children.  At the same time, low and middle-income countries are projected to lose […]

‘We face a new ordeal’: Gaza’s search for the dead goes on

UN News A Palestinian civil defence team searches for the remains of victims under the rubble, more than two years after a building was targeted.This article is published in association with United Nations. After thousands of buildings were destroyed in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas war, local teams and civil defense personnel continue the arduous and delicate mission to remove rubble and search for the remains of missing persons believed to still be buried under the debris of homes […]

Reviving communities home by home in Gaza

x © UNDP/PAPP Mayyada tends to the plants she’s growing outside of her housing unit.This article is published in association with United Nations. Displacement has drastically reshaped every aspect of daily life in war-ravaged Gaza for 24-year-old Mayyada, who is seven months pregnant with twins and caring for her two-year-old daughter, but now she and her family are getting settled into a temporary home of their own. “I hope my […]

From NASA to the classroom: The engineer bringing AI to those left behind

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is published in association with United Nations. Nia Jetter spent two decades building spacecraft and robots. Now she is trying to make sure the artificial intelligence revolution doesn’t leave anyone behind.  Growing up in New Jersey, Ms. Jetter saved the quarters her grandfather gave her – not for sweets, but for batteries and light bulbs, so she […]

When Heat Overwhelms the Human Body: Why Extreme Heat Has Become a Medical Emergency

a third-year medical student at Nakhchivan State University with a strong interest in public health, climate medicine, and medical research.This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by one of our passionate readers, Ms. Shovkat Alisoy a third-year medical student at Nakhchivan State University with a strong interest in public health, climate medicine, and medical research. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not necessarily The European Sting’s position on the issue. […]

When partisan interest conflicts with the public good

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by one of our passionate readers, Mr. Antonio Cristóbal Luque Ambrosiani. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not necessarily The European Sting’s position on the issue. Our European society is founded on the principle of the separation of powers, which ensures that those who […]

Commission and High Representative propose new sanctions regime to counter threats from migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of organised crime

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed a new EU sanctions regime to tackle migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, and other serious forms of organised crime, including trafficking in firearms and illicit […]

Commission refers Ireland, Spain, France and the Netherlands to the Court of Justice for failing to transpose the rules on cybersecurity

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Ireland, Spain, France and the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to notify measures transposing the NIS2 Directive on securing network and information systems (Directive (EU) 2022/2555) into national law. The […]

Europe’s innovation performance strengthens amidst global competition

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Europe’s innovation performance continues to improve, with the EU’s overall score rising by 11.6 percentage points since 2019, according to the 2026 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), just released by the European Commission. This result marks nearly a decade of steady growth, highlighting the resilience […]

Commission approves Baker Hughes’ acquisition of Chart Industries, subject to conditions

How AI, gaming and virtual worlds are reshaping Holocaust remembranceThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition by Baker Hughes Company (‘Baker Hughes’) of Chart Industries, Inc. (‘Chart‘), both headquartered in the US. The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Baker Hughes and […]

Commission preliminarily finds the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act for the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook. The investigation focuses on features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the platforms’ highly personalised recommender systems. Risk assessment The […]

UN chief urges Iran and US to ‘urgently resume negotiations’ as Gulf strikes escalate

© NASA The Strait of Hormuz which separates the United Arab Emirates and Iran is a strategically important shipping routeThis article is published in association with United Nations. Renewed strikes and counterstrikes between Iran and the United States in the Gulf region have raised fears of a return to all‑out war, with Washington denying Tehran’s claim that it had closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The US said it had struck around 140 […]

Commission opens formal investigation into possible gun jumping in XXXLutz’s acquisition of Porta

SofaThis article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether, in the context of the proposed acquisition by XXXLutz of Porta, the parties may have engaged in gun jumping, which would be in breach of the EU Merger Regulation. EU merger rules require […]

Humanitarian aid: the EU must condemn violations of international humanitarian law 

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a motion for a resolution on the recently-published joint communication on humanitarian aid. MEPs adopted the resolution on the joint communication on humanitarian aid by a show of hands. The plenary resolution follows the publication by the European […]

Combating child sexual abuse online: support for more limited ePrivacy derogation 

Second meeting of Special Panel to advise President von der Leyen on child online safetyThis article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, Parliament adopted amendments to a privacy exemption allowing electronic communication services to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse. In today’s vote on a derogation from ePrivacy rules for the purpose of detecting child sexual abuse online, MEPs adopted amendments to the Council position. […]

Digital euro: MEPs ready to start negotiations  

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Thursday, plenary backed talks with the Council on a digital euro proposal that would offer citizens a secure way to reduce reliance on non-EU providers. With 416 votes in favour, 169 against and 22 abstentions for the creation of a digital euro, and […]

July infringements package: key decisions

EU must respond decisively to any form of coercion against EU member states This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has accepted commitments from SAP to address EU competition concerns relating to its aftermarket support services for on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. These commitments are now legally binding under EU antitrust rules. More specifically, SAP will: The Commission’s preliminary concerns […]

Commission accepts binding commitments by SAP to address competition concerns about services for its popular business management software

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has accepted commitments from SAP to address EU competition concerns relating to its aftermarket support services for on-premises Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. These commitments are now legally binding under EU antitrust rules. More specifically, SAP will: The Commission’s preliminary concerns […]

Peak heat in Europe just broke historic 1970s records

This article is published in association with United Nations.This article is published in association with United Nations. This year marks the hottest June recorded for Western Europe and the second warmest globally, according to the latest report from a climate tracking service released on Thursday. “Heatwaves like this are what we expect to see in a changing climate,” said John Kennedy, head of climate […]

Diplomats go virtual to witness Gaza displacement site up close

UN News Children collect water from a truck in a displaced persons camp in Gaza. (file)This article is published in association with United Nations. Representatives from 12 countries carried out a “virtual diplomatic field visit” to a displacement site in the Gaza Strip and heard from some of the residents about their pressing needs, the United Nations said on Thursday.  The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Ramiz Alakbarov, and his […]

Srebrenica survivors warn of genocide denial while safeguarding memory of the dead

United Nations/Darko Zecevic A display at the Srebrenica Memorial Center shows cowering Bosniak Muslim men in 1995.This article is published in association with United Nations. Three survivors of a genocide which took place in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina inJuly 1995 have told UN News how they are keeping alive the memory of the more than 8,300 men and boys who were killed in the town while combating the rising current of […]

Commission decides to refer Spain to the Court of Justice over recognition of professional qualifications

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to align its rules with the Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications (Directive 2005/36/EC), which ensures that fully qualified professionals can have their […]

Commission decides to refer Greece to the Court of Justice over discriminatory employment conditions for teachers in public schools

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to bring its national legislation fully in line with the Directive on fixed-term work (Council Directive 1999/70/EC), which prohibits discrimination against fixed-term workers. Greek […]

Commission decides to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Directive on certain aspects of the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Directive as regards certain aspects of the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (Directive (EU) 2024/1174). This Directive amends certain […]

Commission refers Ireland, Spain, France and the Netherlands to the Court of Justice for failing to transpose the rules on cybersecurity

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Ireland, Spain, France and the Netherlands to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to notify measures transposing the NIS2 Directive on securing network and information systems (Directive (EU) 2022/2555) into national law. The […]

Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to pay pharmacies on time

Today, the European Commission decided to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to ensure that the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) pays pharmacy operators within the deadlines set by the Late Payment Directive (Directive 2011/7/EU). The Commission considers that late payments owed to pharmacy operators in Romania to be both systemic and persistent. Under Article 4(4)(b) of the Directive, public entities providing healthcare must settle commercial transactions within a maximum of 60 calendar days. CNAS has consistently exceeded this deadline in its payments to pharmacies supplying medicinal products to patients. By failing to ensure that CNAS pays pharmacy operators within the prescribed time limit, Romania has breached its obligations under the Directive. The Commission sent Romania a letter of formal notice in April 2024, followed by a reasoned opinion in February 2025 and an additional reasoned opinion in January 2026. The Commission considers that efforts by the authorities have, to date, been insufficient. Therefore, the Commission is referring Romania to the CJEU. Payment delays weaken supply chains, hamper the growth and competitiveness of businesses, and impede their ability to innovate and grow. As late payments constitute a major critical barrier to the Single Market's competitiveness, the decision is part of the Commission's enforcement efforts to remove barriers in the Single Market in 11 focus areas, as announced in the Communication “A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU Rulebook”. Similarly, in its Annual Single Market Competitiveness Report 2026, the Commission has announced its intention to prioritise enforcement against late payments by public authorities. The Commission's proactive stance aims at ensuring that all companies, and in particular SMEs that represent 99% of European businesses, receive timely payments, enabling them to maintain healthy cash flows and invest confidently in their future. Background In Romania, the reimbursement of medicines is part of the public healthcare system, which operates under CNAS. Romanian pharmacies play a key role in this respect. They purchase medicines from manufacturers and distributors at their own expense, then dispense them to patients under the national public health insurance scheme. CNAS later reimburses pharmacies for the medicines dispensed. In effect, pharmacies finance the supply of medicines upfront, while ensuring patients have timely access to the treatments they need. Following complaints from pharmacy associations representing over 500 independent pharmacies, the Commission decided to launch an infringement procedure against Romania in April 2024. According to the most recent information provided by the Romanian authorities, pharmacies are paid on average between 62 and 79 days later than the 60-day deadline. More information Late Payment Directive EU infringement procedure  Infringement decisions database and infringements map and graphs   July 2026 infringement package  Infringement decisions Romania (INFR(2024)4004)This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to ensure that the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) pays pharmacy operators within the deadlines set by the Late Payment Directive (Directive 2011/7/EU). The […]
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