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RSSThe EU has imposed a 12th package of economic and individual sanctions on Russia in view of the country’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine. These sanctions, which include a ban on the purchase and import of diamonds from Russia, deliver a further blow to Putin’s ability to wage war.
At the EU summit in Brussels, leaders decided to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. They also agreed to start negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary conditions are met and granted Georgia candidate status.
Two new reports have been published showing that the EU is being successful in creating more forward-looking, resilient, robust and equitable health systems. At the same time, they also identify areas where further progress needs to be made, including on mental health.
The Commission has put forward new measures to ensure transparency of foreign interest representation, strengthen electoral processes and ensure citizens and civil society organisations can participate in policymaking.
The Commission has put forward solutions to ensure that 150 million European citizens who live in border regions in the European Union can access the services that they need in their daily lives.
The European Parliament has awarded the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. It serves as a tribute to all the brave and defiant women, men and young people in Iran who are fighting for their rights and pushing for change.
The Artificial Intelligence Act will ensure that artificial intelligence systems on the European market and used in the EU are safe, and respect fundamental rights and EU values. The law will also stimulate investment and innovation in Europe.
The Council and Parliament have reached a new agreement on strengthening the energy performance of buildings. Phasing out fossil fuel boilers, renovating the worst-performing buildings and making new ones solar-ready will lower energy bills, cut emissions and boost Europe's energy independence.
The European Commission has today proposed new rules to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in the EU, and the conditions for animals during transport. It has also responded to a citizens' initiative 'Fur Free Europe' to ban fur farming in the EU.
To mark the 30th anniversary of EU citizenship, the Commission has presented a set of measures to strengthen the rights of EU citizens. They reinforce the right to freedom of movement, effective participation in democratic processes, and consular protection when travelling outside the EU.
According to a European Parliament survey, citizens continue to support the EU and have a high interest in the June 2024 European elections. Some 72% citizens believe their country has benefited from being an EU member and 57% are already interested in the 2024 elections.
In the wake of alarming increases in hate speech and hate crime, as a result of the crisis in the Middle East, the Commission has put forward a proposal to step up efforts to tackle hatred in all its forms in the EU. It will do this through various policies, including culture, digital and sport.
At COP28 in Dubai, the EU has launched the Global Pledge to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity and double the rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The pledge was taken together with the COP28 Presidency and 118 countries.
The Spanish city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna has received the 2024 Access City Award, for advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities. More specifically, the award recognised its work in prioritising accessibility across urban spaces, transportation systems, and social activities.
The EU has struck a deal on a law that would better protect journalists and human rights defenders against strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. These are increasingly being used to silence people who speak out on public interest issues.
Judicial and law enforcement authorities from seven countries joined forces with Europol and Eurojust to dismantle a criminal network responsible for significant ransomware attacks against large corporations in 71 countries. They arrested the ringleader and detained 4 suspects in Ukraine.
Passenger rights will be reinforced, thanks to new Commission proposals. The updates to existing travel legislation would reaffirm the right of passengers to get refunded within 14 days; give them more clarity on who will reimburse their airline tickets and access to better information.
The European Solidarity Corps will get new funding worth €145 million in 2024. Thanks to this money, young people across the EU and beyond will be able to volunteer in projects on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, democratic participation and health.
Every year, thousands of lives are lost because of migrant smuggling. To fight this deadly criminal activity, the Commission has launched the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and proposed updating EU rules to prevent and fight migrant smuggling.
In 2022, the European Union detained around 86 million counterfeit items. The estimated value of these items exceeded €2 billion, reflecting a 3% increase from the previous year. The top five detained products included games, packaging material, toys, cigarettes, and recorded CDs/DVDs.