EU Top News
EU, without Poland, agrees to aim for climate neutrality by 2050
EU leaders, not including Poland, endorsed Friday the objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050 in line with the Paris agreement, as they ended their two-day summit in Brussels.
EU looks to strengthen trade laws following WTO impasse
The European Commission presented a legislative proposal Thursday to allow the EU to enforce international trade rules where the WTO is no longer able to deliver binding dispute settlement decisions.
New 'Green Deal' is EU's growth strategy, says Commission
The European Commission presented its long-awaited 'Green Deal' Wednesday, a package of measures to boost efficient use of resources, to turn climate challenges into opportunities across all policy areas.
EU water law is 'fit for purpose', says Brussels
The EU Water Framework Directive is 'fit for purpose', the Commission declared Thursday in an evaluation of EU water legislation that shows improved protection for water bodies and flood risk management.
EU greenlights EUR 3.2 billion battery research project
The European Commission approved Monday under EU state aid rules a 'Common European interest' project jointly notified by seven EU Member States to support research and innovation in batteries.
Brussels probes German grants to public casinos
The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation Monday to assess whether the special tax treatment of public casinos operators in Germany is in line with EU State aid rules.
Gabon airlines taken off EU air safety blacklist
Airlines certified in Gabon were released from the EU's Air Safety List Monday following the country's improvements to aviation safety, but Armenia's Civil Aviation Committee comes under heightened scrutiny.
Switzerland to join EU emissions trading system 1 January
Switzerland will become the first country to successfully link its greenhouse gas emissions trading system with the European Union emissions trading system (EU ETS) on 1 January 2020.
75 start-ups, SMEs selected for EU innovation funding pilot
'Blended' grant and equity financing formed part of a funding package for 75 promising start-ups and smaller businesses announced Thursday, in a pilot offer from the new European Innovation Council.
Euro-MPs call for reduction in pesticides to protect bees
Further reducing use of pesticides, more funds for research and better monitoring are urgently needed to save the EU’s bees, according to the European Parliament's Environment Committee Tuesday.
EU provisionally agrees requirements for water reuse
EU institutions provisionally agreed requirements for water reuse in farming Tuesday, setting out minimum water quality requirements for the safe reuse of treated urban wastewaters in agricultural irrigation.
Unprecedented urgency of Europe's environmental challenge
A change of direction is urgently needed if Europe is to face climate challenges of 'unprecedented scale and urgency', the EU environment agency said in its 'State of the Environment' report, published Wednesday.
ECB models need to include climate change, says Lagarde
Climate change should be included in the European Central Bank's macroeconomic models, ECB chief Christine Lagarde said Monday in her first appearance at the European Parliament in her new role.
MEPs vote in von der Leyen's new EU Commission
Following conclusion of its hearings process, the EU Parliament gave its approval Wednesday to a new team of Commissioners, presented by Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen.
Health systems in Europe: vaccine hesitancy a major public health threat
Vaccine hesitancy is a major public health threat all across Europe, the European Commission finds in reports that depict the profile of health systems in 30 countries, published on Thursday.
EU Parliament declares global climate emergency
The EU must commit to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at an upcoming UN Conference, the European Parliament said Thursday as it approved a resolution declaring a climate emergency in Europe and globally.
Road opens to building world-class supercomputers in Europe
Representatives of supercomputing centres in eight EU countries marked the signature Tuesday of hosting agreements launching the procurement process for the acquisition and installation of the new supercomputers.
EU launches WTO action against Indonesia over steel
The European Union brought a dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Friday against Indonesian export restrictions for raw materials used in the production of stainless steel.
EU-Singapore trade agreement enters into force
The EU-Singapore trade agreement came into effect Thursday, offering European companies a gateway to the fast-growing South-east-Asian region, boosting trade for companies, farmers and workers.
Eight states at risk of breaching EU stability pact
High levels of debt mean eight EU Member States - including France and Italy - are at risk of non-compliance with the European Stability and Growth Pact, the European Commission said on Wednesday.