€3 billion of EIB Group financing announced for farmers and bioeconomy

Parliament endorses simpler rules and more support for farmers 

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. European Investment Bank (EIB) Group President Nadia Calviño has announced a €3 billion financing package for agriculture, forestry and fisheries across Europe along with moves to bolster farm insurance. The EIB Group loans will be matched by other participating financial institutions, unlocking close to €8.4 billion […]

Gaps in HIV/AIDS Treatment from 1981 to Today

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Emad Mohamed, a 21-year-old third-year medical student at the University of Kordofan in Sudan. He 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 do not necessarily reflect […]

Human Rights Day: 5 key things to know

This article is published in association with United Nations.

This article is published in association with United Nations. As Human Rights Day dawns on 10 December, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing importance of equality, justice, and dignity for all people worldwide.  The theme for Human Rights Day 2024, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now”, highlights the continued relevance of human rights in addressing global challenges. […]

Danish biotech SNIPR Biome receives up to €20 million European backing to advance therapies against microbial resistance

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. Danish biotech SNIPR Biome will get up to €20 million venture debt from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to step up Europe’s fight against antimicrobial resistance to medicines. The company will use the EIB credit to develop new medicines for infections where existing antibiotics are no […]

Commission report confirms partner countries’ compliance with visa-free travel requirements and recommends further improvements

Commission reports on partner countries' compliance with visa-free travel requirements

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. On 6 December, the Commission adopted the seventh report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism – monitoring the EU’s visa-free regimes with its Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership partners, the Eastern Caribbean countries operating investor citizenship schemes, and Latin American countries. Visa-free travel facilitates mobility […]

A good day for Europe’s competitiveness: op-ed by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Europe has always been a trading continent, but we are now facing a world where trade barriers are on the rise. Our companies and farmers are encountering growing restrictions, unfair competition and geopolitical uncertainties – all of which threaten their competitiveness. The new partnership […]

Parliament to review the safety of women online

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. From 9 to 15 December, EP committees and delegations will discuss how to enhance women’s empowerment in the digital world as part of the fifth European Gender Equality Week. The fifth European Gender Equality Week will include several debates and events under the common […]

EU and Mercosur reach political agreement on groundbreaking partnership

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and her counterparts from four Mercosur countries (Brazilian President Lula, Argentinian President Milei, Paraguayan President Peña, and Uruguayan President Lacalle Pou) finalised negotiations for a groundbreaking EU-Mercosur partnership agreement. President of the European […]

Commission approves Novo Holdings’ acquisition of Catalent

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Catalent by Novo Holdings. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns in the European Economic Area (‘EEA’). Novo Holdings is the ultimate owner of Novo […]

EBRD loan to AKLease supports green financing

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €50 million loan to Türkiye’s AKLease, a longstanding partner in the country, for on-lending to sub-borrowers implementing green investments such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resilience measures. With this loan, AKLease (a fully […]

$1.4 billion needed for sexual and reproductive health services in crisis-hit countries

This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, appealed on Thursday for $1.4 billion to safeguard the rights and well-being of women, girls and youth in 57 crisis-affected countries in the coming year.  The funding will be used to deliver life-saving reproductive health services and vital gender-based […]

EBRD helps to consolidate Kazakhstan’s power system

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is contributing to greater energy security in Kazakhstan and helping to improve the reliability of its power supply system by arranging €267 million in financing for the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC). The financial package consists of […]

Commission closes State aid investigations into Fiat, Amazon and Starbucks tax rulings

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has closed three in-depth State aid investigations into transfer pricing tax rulings granted by Luxembourg to Fiat and Amazon, and by the Netherlands to Starbucks. Following judgments by the EU Courts, the Commission found that the tax rulings did not grant […]

Commission fines Pierre Cardin and its licensee Ahlers €5.7 million for restricting cross-border sales of clothing

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has fined Pierre Cardin and its largest licensee Ahlers a total of €5.7 million for breaching EU antitrust rules by restricting cross-border sales of Pierre Cardin-branded clothing, as well as sales of such products to specific customers. The infringement Pierre Cardinis […]

Protecting healthcare workers in the frontlines of war: how to ensure their safety

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Katerina Patrikou, a medical student at University of Crete, Greece. 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 do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the […]

EBRD loan to improve water services in earthquake-affected Gaziantep

This article is published in association with European Investment Bank.

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a sovereign loan of up to €110 million to Türkiye, through the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Iller Bankasi, the authorised body responsible for disbursing all critical municipal infrastructure financing by international financial institutions in the […]

General Assembly President urges collective action on Sudan as crisis deepens

Addressing the General Assembly on Tuesday, President Philémon Yang called for urgent collective action to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and stressed the shared responsibility of UN bodies to safeguard global peace and security. He was speaking at an Assembly meeting convened following the use of veto by Russia at the Security Council earlier […]

EBRD and Palestinian Ministry of National Economy partner on insolvency law reform

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is partnering with the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy to develop a comprehensive insolvency law for businesses and citizens in the West Bank and Gaza. The new insolvency law will enhance the competitiveness of the Palestinian economy and […]

‘The UN is not leaving Haiti,’ spokesperson afffirms

This article is published in association with United Nations. As the security situation in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince rapidly worsens due to ongoing gang violence, the United Nations is adjusting its operations to ensure the continued delivery of critical humanitarian assistance.   In a briefing on Tuesday, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq highlighted the deepening insecurity, noting that […]

Respecting and Protecting Health Care in Armed Conflicts

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Shanzay Naveed, a 3rd year MBBS student at Allama Iqbal Medical College, an affiliated member and Assistant Director of PUBSSD at IFMSA. 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 […]

No end in sight to ‘horror’ in Gaza, UN official tells Security Council

This article is published in association with United Nations. As Gaza teeters on the brink of collapse, a senior UN official on Monday renewed urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and action to address the humanitarian crisis. Briefing Ambassadors on the Security Council, Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, outlined the […]

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system risks nuclear disaster: rights experts

This article is published in association with United Nations. Independent UN human rights experts have warned of an escalating risk of nuclear disaster in Ukraine following Russia’s continued attacks on the country’s electrical infrastructure, with the most recent strike occurring on 17 November.    Their warning comes amid growing international concern about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s nuclear […]

EU aid worth €700,000 to support 632 dismissed workers in Belgium

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. 632 employees of the machinery and paper enterprises Purmo and Sappi who lost their jobs should receive €700,000 in EU aid. On Thursday, the Committee on Budgets approved Belgium’s request for €704,135 in EU aid through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers […]

Europe’s best days must lie ahead of us

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. At the 6th Trilateral Business Forum in Paris, EP President Metsola said that improving the productivity of the economy is the starting point for boosting Europe’s competitiveness. 6th Trilateral Business Forum Address by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola Paris, 21st November […]

Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

This article is published in association with United Nations. The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday.  The biannual report, which focuses on […]

Commission paves the way for release of the second regular payment to Ukraine of close to €4.1 billion under the Ukraine Facility

Commission adds Russia to list of high-risk jurisdictions to strengthen international fight against financial crime

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the Commission has given a positive assessment for the second regular payment of close to €4.1 billion under the EU’s Ukraine Facility, to support Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and the functioning of its public administration. Once adopted by the Council, this decision will bring […]

Commission fines Meta €797.72 million over abusive practices benefitting Facebook Marketplace

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has fined Meta €797.72 million for breaching EU antitrust rules by tying its online classified ads service Facebook Marketplace to its personal social network Facebook and by imposing unfair trading conditions on other online classified ads service providers. The infringement Meta […]

Ensuring safety of Medical Workers in Armed Conflicts

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Sotiris Christoforou, a medical student at the University of Cyprus. He 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 do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the […]

EBRD invests €15 million in Cogito Fund II

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the development of the venture capital market in central and eastern Europe (CEE) by investing €15 million in Cogito Fund II, managed by Cogito Capital Partners (Cogito), a leading venture capital firm in the region. Cogito is […]

Public execution in Afghanistan condemned as ‘clear human rights violation’

This article is published in association with United Nations. A public execution carried out in a sports stadium in Afghanistan drew condemnation from senior UN officials on Wednesday, who demanded an immediate end to such practices by the ruling Taliban. The latest incident comes amid growing international concern over the use of capital punishment in the […]

DPR Korea’s latest missile launch a ‘grave threat’ to regional stability

This article is published in association with United Nations. The launch of “yet another” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a “grave threat” to regional stability, a senior UN political affairs official warned on Monday, as the Security Council discussed the rising tensions in the region and beyond. The […]

Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million over collusion to exclude common competitor

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission has fined České dráhy (‘ČD‘) and Österreichische Bundesbahnen (‘ÖBB‘), the Czech and Austrian rail incumbents, a total of €48.7 million for breaching EU antitrust rules. ČD and ÖBB colluded to prevent a new entrant, RegioJet, from accessing used wagons, thus restricting […]

Unlocking Prosperity: How Access to Contraception Fuels Economic Growth and Gender Equality in Low-Income Nations

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Samaa Tarek Hassan, an MBBS student at Mansoura University, Egypt. 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 do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the […]

Go back up