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RSS![Environment 2000](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-006395/00-9.jpg?itok=7UihtgwB)
A newly agreed EU law will help investigate and prosecute environmental crime in the EU. It defines environmental crime more precisely, adds new offences and harmonises penalties across the EU.
![Waste sorting centre in France](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-042304/00-73.jpg?itok=H3Uooq7h)
A new agreement on waste shipments will ensure that the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste. Export of plastic waste to third countries will be prohibited while shipping waste for recycling within the EU will be easier.
![Chile - Lithium production](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-060942/00-24.jpg?itok=Yc5w94VT)
The EU has revised the limit values for workers’ exposure to lead, and for the first time ever introduced limit values for the dangerous chemical, diisocyanates. The update will help prevent health issues like asthma.
![Photos illustrating greenhouse gas emissions in Brussels](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-036244/00-10.jpg?itok=bhKAc5Rl)
Less methane will be emitted by the energy sector in Europe and globally, thanks a new EU law. It will oblige the fossil gas, oil and coal industry to properly measure, monitor and report their methane emissions, and take action to reduce them. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.
![Students Working On Computer Assignment During Seminar Group](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2811%29.png?itok=BVW1Lnm4)
Amidst an ageing EU population and more and more green and digital jobs that need new skills, European employers are struggling to find the workers they need. That is why the Commission has put forward three actions that will make it easier for EU countries to attract the best talent from abroad.
![EU Aid Volunteers in the Philippines](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-041847/00-05.jpg?itok=YD--1R40)
Share your views on the European Solidarity Corps – the EU programme helping young people take part in projects that benefit communities, either abroad or in their own country - in an EU public consultation which launched today. The consultation will stay open until February 5, 2024.
![Visit of Christos Stylianides, Member of the EC, to Croatia](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-040004/00-15.jpg?itok=ua3BftF0)
EU home affairs ministers have agreed to let Member States continue to benefit from EU funding for firefighting planes and helicopters until end 2027. This transitional measure will be in place until the permanent EU firefighting fleet becomes operational.
![Visit of Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner, to a nature reserve in Belgium](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-058429/00-43.jpg?itok=eyoKhyUi)
The European Parliament and the Council have agreed on the Nature Restoration Law, which once finally adopted, will be a key contribution to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. It will also set in motion a process for the sustained recovery of nature across the EU's land and sea.
![An example of innovative SMEs in the management of biometric data at Lisbon Airport..](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-025190/00-20.jpg?itok=W7s-vvH7)
The Council and the European Parliament have agreed on the framework for the new European digital identity wallet. It will let citizens prove their identity and share e-documents with a click of a button on their mobile phone, as well as access online services with their national eID across Europe.
![Woman in red jacket raising her hand at her desk in the plenary voting session at the European Parliament - 9 November 2023](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/Plenary%20voting%20session%20-%20European%20Parliament%209%20Nov%202023.jpg?itok=AZS8thHm)
MEPs have voted in favour of introducing new sources of income for the EU budget: revenue from emissions trading, the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, and on corporate profits. The new funds would repay debts from EU recovery fund borrowing. The Member States now have to endorse this proposal.
![4 arrows against a blue background showing images of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/Ukraine_Moldova_Georgia_Bosnia_small%20%281%29.png?itok=eLznBB3D)
The Commission has adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, where it recommends that the EU opens accession negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, and on certain conditions, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Georgia should also be granted the status of a candidate country to join the EU.
![Electronic payments](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-059743/00-25.jpg?itok=J0MK1iCu)
Instant payments in euro look set to become more widely available in EU and EEA countries, after agreement was reached on the instant payments proposal. Instant payments allow people to transfer money within 10 seconds at any time of the day, within the same country but also to another EU country.
![The end of roaming charges in the EU in June 2017](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-034393/00-51.jpg?itok=zHmpWkdd)
EU co-legislators have agreed on new rules on political advertising transparency and targeting, which will make it easier for citizens to recognise political adverts and understand who is behind them. The rules come amid concerns about information manipulation and foreign interference in elections.
![Haul of money and a gun on a table - confiscated by police in Belgium](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/Gun%20on%20money%20-%20Belgium.png?itok=7uSJbQXi)
A new report exploring links between drug markets and gun violence in the EU has found that on average in Europe, 28% of firearms are seized in the context of drug trafficking. It is even close to 44% in some EU Member States.
![A Palestinian child who fled her home due to Israeli strikes, shows off her painted cheek with the word 'Gaza'](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/A-Palestinian-girl.png?itok=bmOJwdRf)
As part of the EU's continued support to people in Gaza, the Commission will provide a further €25 million in humanitarian aid. This quadruples EU humanitarian assistance to over €100 million for Gaza this year. The new assistance will provide life-saving assistance to civilians in Gaza.
![A driver moving a bus donated by Luxembourg](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%286%29.png?itok=WRKhclE9)
Over 370 buses have been delivered to Ukrainian communities to help children make the journey to schools not damaged by Russian missiles. The buses were handed over to representatives of local authorities from the Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Chernihiv regions, during a ceremony.
![Four EU leaders stand talking at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 27 October](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-10/EU%20summit%20picture%20-%20Brussels%2C%20October%2027.jpg?itok=BqQdmrH_)
EU leaders condemned Hamas' attack and recognised Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law. They called for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need. They also reiterated their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.
![Asepop Velventos agricultural cooperative, Greece](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-034997/00-37.jpg?itok=wr5CMJGB)
The EU Gender Equality Institute’s latest Gender Equality Index reveals the biggest annual jump in the overall score in the Index’s history: the EU is at 70.2 points out of 100. Sweden, The Netherlands, and Denmark still lead the way, but Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Malta also made progress.
![Demography in the EU, ages 30-60 - Spain](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-051735/00-44.jpg?itok=an0nk8rp)
The Commission has launched a set of actions to prevent and reduce the risk of critical medicine shortages in the EU. They will also help ensure the long-term security of supply of medicines. EU measures have already been put in place to ensure the availability of key antibiotics this winter.
![Offshore energy - Portugal](https://european-union.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-051360/00-45.jpg?itok=iJSzzud9)
The Commission has set out immediate actions to be taken to maintain a healthy and competitive wind energy supply chain. Speeding up the installation of wind power projects is just one action that is included in the plan that will help keep the EU on track for achieving climate neutrality by 2050.