How EU citizens help shape EU laws and policy
25 Jul 2024 03:51In June 2024, Europeans voted and elected their representatives in the European Parliament. This was democracy in action, but it is not the only way EU citizens can influence EU policy making. Read about other ways to get involved, from helping initiate new proposals to debating existing policies.
EU better equipped to face rule of law challenges
24 Jul 2024 03:00The Commission has published its fifth annual Rule of Law Report which monitors significant developments and takes stock of the rule of law situation in all EU countries. It shows that the EU is better equipped to face rule of law challenges than it was 5 years ago.
Urban heat islands: managing extreme heat to keep cities cool
23 Jul 2024 03:41Record-breaking temperatures are becoming ever more frequent and intense, and cities and urban areas are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. The Joint Research Centre has identified strategies and best practices that local authorities can take to manage extreme heat in EU cities.
Commission publishes new guidelines for more clarity on air passenger rights
22 Jul 2024 06:05A recent survey showed many Europeans still feel that they lack sufficient information on their passenger rights. The Commission has published revised guidelines on air passenger rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.
New law to make products on the EU market more sustainable
22 Jul 2024 05:57An EU law has come into force that will enable the setting of eco-design requirements and information for almost all categories of physical goods that come onto the EU market. It aims to significantly improve circularity, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects.
Parliament re-elects Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President
18 Jul 2024 03:23With 401 votes in favour, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission in a secret ballot on 18 July.
EU to invest record €7 billion into sustainable, safe and smart transport infrastructure
17 Jul 2024 04:33The Commission has selected 134 transport projects to receive over €7 billion in EU grants. Around 83% of the funding will support projects that deliver on the EU's climate objectives, improving and modernising the EU's network of railways, inland waterways and maritime routes.
Travelling by train is making a comeback
17 Jul 2024 12:22Travelling by train in Europe is becoming more convenient and sustainable thanks to recent EU initiatives. New regulations for the trans-European transport network to improve rail connectivity and make travel greener have recently entered into force. Find out what else the EU is doing in this area.
Roberta Metsola re-elected as President of the European Parliament
16 Jul 2024 02:21Members of the European Parliament have re-elected Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament until 2027, in the first round of voting. She will continue to lead Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.
Stronger EU rules to fight human trafficking
12 Jul 2024 06:01Stronger EU rules to fight human trafficking enter into force on 14 July that introduce stricter criminalisation and provide stronger tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those online. This ensures better assistance and and support to victims
Trainees in the EU should be paid, says the European Economic and Social Committee
12 Jul 2024 04:59The EESC is calling for the Commission's proposal on making EU traineeships fairer and more inclusive to be reinforced, stressing the importance of fair compensation for trainees. Nearly half of the EU’s more than 3 million trainees are unpaid and almost a third have no access to social protection.
European Health Insurance Card: keeping you safe while travelling abroad
12 Jul 2024 10:47You can use the European Health Insurance Card for necessary or urgent medical care when travelling abroad, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. It’s valid in any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Read more.
Transforming how we think about water in Europe
11 Jul 2024 04:43The European Commission has launched the #WaterWiseEU campaign, an initiative to raise awareness of the increasing stress placed on Europe’s water systems and the many solutions available. We want to build a water-resilient Europe by 2050.
Sexual and reproductive health rights: women with disabilities face high discrimination
10 Jul 2024 05:59Women with disabilities face high discrimination. Only 9 EU countries criminalise forced sterilisation, while 13 allow it to be performed on persons with disabilities. EU legislation needs to continue to strengthen rules to ensure sexual and reproductive rights are safeguarded for all.
Tropical forest degradation worse than previously thought, study finds
10 Jul 2024 03:48A recent study shows that forest degradation can span up to 1.5km inside tropical forest interiors, cutting canopy heights by 40-90%. The findings are alarming as decreasing tropical deforestation is key to safeguarding biodiversity and enabling climate change mitigation solutions.
Know your EU passenger rights before you travel
09 Jul 2024 10:51If you’re heading off on a summer break soon, rest assured that the EU has you covered if your travel plans run into trouble. Whether your flight is cancelled, your train delayed or your luggage lost aboard your cruise ship, you have the right to make a claim under EU-wide passenger rights.
Europeans over 30 understand climate change better than younger generations, survey finds
08 Jul 2024 04:06Europeans over 30 understand climate change better than younger generations, according to a new survey. Some 30 000 respondents across 35 countries were asked about about climate change. Knowledge varied with age, and respondents scored lower on their awareness of climate change solutions.
New vehicle safety rules expected to save up to 25,000 lives by 2038
05 Jul 2024 02:48New rules apply to all new motor vehicles sold in the EU as of 7 July. The rules introduce advanced driver assistant systems for all new vehicles, such as attention warnings in case of driver drowsiness. They should help save over 25,000 lives and avoid at least 140,000 serious injuries by 2038.
Europe-wide drug trafficking network dismantled
03 Jul 2024 05:20A drug trafficking network active across Europe has been dismantled, following an operation in five countries supported by Eurojust and Europol. 13 people were arrested in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Ukraine. Drug trafficking remains one of the most serious security threats in Europe.
Canada joins Horizon Europe Programme
03 Jul 2024 04:44Canada has become the latest non-EU country to join the EU's research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe. This means Canadian researchers and organisations can now work jointly with EU counterparts on large-scale projects tackling our biggest challenges.
New €1.2 billion investment package for infrastructure and entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans
03 Jul 2024 09:50The Commission announced the sixth investment package under the EU's Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans that is expected to mobilise €1.2 billion. It will support investments in water supply, wastewater treatment, rail transport, innovation and SME's green transformation.
EU citizens may still face difficulties having professional qualifications recognised by other EU countries
02 Jul 2024 05:16A new report says EU citizens still have problems to have their professional qualifications recognised in other EU countries. Different procedures can cause obstacles in working or setting up a business in other countries.
Hungary takes over Council Presidency
01 Jul 2024 02:17Hungary will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2024. The Hungarian presidency's programme is structured around seven priorities, including enhancing the EU's competitiveness and reinforcing the EU's defence policy.
How leaders of the EU institutions are elected and appointed
28 Jun 2024 05:24Find out how the leaders of the EU's main decision-making institutions are appointed and elected.
New funding will boost cooperation in higher education
28 Jun 2024 05:17Some 14 university alliances are to join the European University Alliances and will receive up to €14.4 million each over a 4-year period under the European Universities initiative. There are now 64 European Universities alliances encompassing more than 560 higher education institutions in Europe.
EU leaders agree on top jobs and priorities for next five years
28 Jun 2024 05:11EU leaders have elected António Costa as President of the European Council, proposed Ursula von der Leyen as candidate for President of the European Commission and chosen Kaja Kallas as candidate for high representative. They also adopted the EU’s strategic priorities for the next five years.
European SMEs rewarded for innovation in artificial intelligence
26 Jun 2024 06:29The winners of the Large AI Grand Challenge, a competition to foster European innovation and excellence in large-scale AI models, have been announced. Four innovative AI start-ups will share a prize of €1 million and 8 million computational hours, which will go towards developing their models.
Moldova and EU have first official talks to join the EU
26 Jun 2024 03:20The EU has held its first intergovernmental conference to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova. Preparations for talks on specific topics are ongoing. The EU stands by Moldova to address the challenges relating to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
EU opens accession negotiations with Ukraine
26 Jun 2024 03:16The talks for Ukraine to join the EU have officially started. Work is now underway to prepare negotiations in specific areas. The EU will continue to support the people of Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing war for as long as it takes.
EU concerned about violations of children's rights in armed conflicts
24 Jun 2024 04:05The EU has adopted updated EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict to strengthen the EU’s contribution to the respect, protection, and fulfilment of children’s rights in armed conflict. The guidelines take new developments into account, such as greater threats from the use of new technologies.