Latest news from EU institutions and bodies

Escobar v EUIPO (Pablo Escobar) Intellectual and industrial property The name Pablo Escobar may not be registered as an EU trade mark

Escobar v EUIPO (Pablo Escobar) Intellectual and industrial property The name Pablo Escobar may not be registered as an EU trade mark

News To better support unaccompanied children seeking protection, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have released their latest Practical Tool for Guardians. The tool will support guardians in assisting unaccompanied children with their asylum applications when there are different countries involved, such as in family reunification or relocation procedures.

The European Parliament’s last Eurobarometer survey before the elections in June reveals awareness among citizens and concern for the current geopolitical context. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Mental health disorders affect around 84 million Europeans (at a cost of 600 billion euros), with significant regional, social, gender, race and age inequalities. At the April Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), local and regional authorities adopted an opinion on mental health, led by Mieczyslaw Struk (PL/EPP), acknowledging their important role in shaping the mental health landscape through the design and implementation of community-focused initiatives and recalling on their support to the ‘mental health in all policies’ approach.

Regional and local leaders welcome the recent proposal by the European Commission, which, after years of political deadlock, designs new instruments to make life of citizens, workers and industries in border regions easier. The proposed regulation takes on board a large majority of recommendations made by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in an opinion drafted by Magali Altounian (FR/Renew E.), member of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Council.

More widespread bicycle use requires more investment in safety and more efficient infrastructure, including separate cycle lanes, strict speed limits and better enforcement of traffic rules. This is the key recommendation of regions and cities, as set out in the opinion prepared by Arianna Censi (IT/PES), Deputy Mayor for Mobility in Milan City Council, adopted at the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 17 April.

The European Committee of the Regions has called on the European Union to be ready to provide additional long-term funding to support Ukraine's recovery from the war, in an opinion that backs the start of membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.