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RSSCreating an interinstitutional ethics body for the EU
The European Commission has adopted a proposal for the creation of an interinstitutional Ethics Body, which will apply to members of all EU institutions, including EU politicians. For the first time there will be common standards for ethical conduct and a formal mechanism for coordination.
EU strengthens partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean
The High Representative and the European Commission have adopted a New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. Launched ahead of the EU-CELAC Summit on 17 and 18 July in Brussels, it calls for a stronger and modernised strategic partnership between the two regions.
Commission launches new comprehensive approach to mental health
The Commission has announced a new comprehensive approach to mental health to help tackle rising mental health problems in the EU post-pandemic. The approach will focus on effective prevention, access to quality and affordable healthcare and treatment, and reintegration into society after recovery.
New labelling rules for organic pet food
The Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on labelling of organic pet food. The new rules make it easier for pet-food producers to meet the requirements for organic labelling, which will ultimately lead to a greater choice for organic pet food consumers in the EU.
Commission strengthens management of Western Mediterranean and Atlantic migration routes
The European Commission presented today an EU action plan on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic migration routes. The plan presents 18 operational measures that will support Member States in strengthening migration management along these routes, including search and rescue and return procedures.
Pact for Skills helps 2 million people up- or re-skill in Europe
The EU’s Pact for Skills significantly helped companies and workers across Europe in advancing skills training in 2022. Last year, some 2 million people benefited from up-and re-skilling activities under the Pact and 15,500 training programmes were either updated or developed
Commission and World Health Organization launch digital health partnership
The European Commission and WHO have launched a digital health partnership, which will see WHO build on the EU’s digital COVID-19 certification system to establish a global system of digital health certification. This will help protect citizens worldwide from ongoing and future health threats.
Gender perspective crucial to the fight against human trafficking
The European Commission has announced new measures to tackle human trafficking. The European Economic and Social Committee calls for a gender focus, more support for victims, accountability for companies and improved monitoring.
Foreign Interference: MEPs call for urgent protection of 2024 European elections
The European Parliament is calling for a coordinated strategy to increase the EU’s resilience to foreign interference and disinformation, to safeguard the 2024 European elections. The warning comes in a report by the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU.
Protecting jobs and workers: Commission’s SURE instrument played vital role in economic recovery
The European Commission's nearly €100 billion SURE instrument designed to protect jobs and incomes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic supported about 31.5 million employees and self-employed people and over 2.5 million businesses. SURE helped facilitate the EU’s swift economic rebound in 2021.
Combatting violence against women: EU signs up to Istanbul Convention
The EU has joined the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, following approval from the Council of the EU. The EU’s accession to the Convention is a boost for EU efforts to realise equality between women and men.
Council strikes deal on new rules to combat overfishing
The European Council has reached an agreement with the European Parliament to update the rules against overfishing. The new rules modernise the way fishing activities are controlled to ensure EU vessels and those fishing in EU waters follow the regulations set out in the Common Fisheries Policy.
Better guaranteeing the rights of adults in need of protection in cross-border situations
The European Commission is proposing new rules that aim to ensure the protection of adults is maintained in cross-border cases. The proposals cover adults who, by reason of an impairment or insufficiency of their personal faculties, are not in a position to protect their own interests.
New European Citizens’ Initiative calls for mutual recognition of final judgments with the EU
The European Commission today registered a European Citizens' Initiative calling for a new EU law on mutual recognition of final judgments within the EU. If it receives one million signatures within one year from at least seven Member States, the Commission will have to react.
Wildfires: EU doubles rescEU firefighting fleet for summer 2023
The European Commission announced today the doubling of the rescEU aerial firefighting fleet for this year's wildfire season, including 24 airplanes and 4 helicopters from 10 Member States. In addition, a new assessment tool was also announced today as part of the Wildfire Prevention Action Plan.
New rules will make seizing criminal assets across the EU faster and more efficient
MEPs voted in favour of new rules that would speed up the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets across the EU and see quicker compensation for victims. The rules also cover nuclear material trafficking and crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The European Committee of the Regions and UNICEF join forces to support inclusion of children from Ukraine
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and UNICEF signed an agreement to support regional and local authorities around the EU in their work on child protection, with a focus on children from Ukraine. They will look at programmes for these children and at their long-term integration into the EU.
EU-Korea summit: Joint statement reaffirms bilateral cooperation
Following the 10th summit between the EU and the Republic of Korea in Seoul on 22 May, EU leaders issued a joint statement with Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol calling for greater cooperation between the two sides in the areas of peace and stability, sustainable development, and mutual prosperity.
Commission approves €1 billion scheme to support farmers in Poland
Farmers in Poland who are facing liquidity shortages as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will benefit from a €1 billion EU state aid scheme. The scheme will consist in limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants.
Meta fined €1.2 billion for Facebook data transfer
Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Meta IE) has been fined 1.2 billion euro following an inquiry into its Facebook service, by the Irish Data Protection Authority (IE DPA). The fine is the largest GDPR fine ever and was imposed for Meta’s transfers of users’ personal data to the US.