European Commission

Latest news and information from the European Commission.

EU Commission to target 55 pct emissions reductions — 16 September 2020, 18:31 CET

EU Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen in her first state of the union speech announced an increase to the 2030 climate target, to 'at least 55%' emissions reductions, up from the previous 40% target.

EU aims for resilience with new foresight strategy — 10 September 2020, 18:42 CET

Resilience is the keyword of a new strategic policy direction outlined by the EU Commission Wednesday, pointing to more evidence-based strategic choices that are aimed at strong and lasting recovery.

First annual Strategic Foresight Report — 09 September 2020, 21:54 CET

The European Commission adopted on 9 September its first-ever Strategic Foresight Report, aiming to identify emerging challenges and opportunities to better steer the European Union's strategic choices.

Strategic Foresight — 09 September 2020, 16:43 CET

Foresight is the discipline of exploring, anticipating and shaping the future to help building and using collective intelligence in a structured, systematic and systemic way to anticipate developments. Strategic foresight, on the other hand, seeks to embed foresight into European Union policy-making. Strategic Foresight will: anticipate trends, emerging issues, and their potential implications and opportunities in order to draw useful insights for strategic planning, policy-making and preparedness; inform the design of new initiatives and the review of existing ones in line with the revamped Commission Better Regulation toolbox; build collective intelligence in a structured and systematic way to better develop possible transition pathways, prepare the EU to withstand shocks and shape the future we want.

Brussels proposes EUR 750 bn Covid recovery package — 02 June 2020, 18:43 CET

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen presented Wednesday a EUR 750 bn plan for economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis involving pooling of debt and unprecedented financial transfers.

Brussels takes legal action against Poland over judges' independence — 05 May 2020, 00:12 CET

The EU Commission launched legal action again Poland Wednesday over a new law which it says undermines the judicial independence of Polish judges and is incompatible with the primacy of EU law.

EU offers Italy "heartfelt apology" over coronavirus — 16 April 2020, 22:40 CET

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday expressed "a heartfelt apology" to Italy on behalf of Europe for not being at the country's side from the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

Brussels outlines roadmap for COVID exit plans — 20 April 2020, 23:29 CET

The EU Commission, in cooperation with the Council, put forward a European roadmap Wednesday for a coordinated strategy for phasing-out the containment measures due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Brussels plans EUR 100 billion coronavirus solidarity fund — 03 April 2020, 00:32 CET

The EU Commission proposed Thursday to set up a EUR 100 bn coronavirus solidarity fund to help businesses stay afloat and workers keep incomes, and to redirect structural funds to coronavirus response.

Country reports put sustainability at heart of EU economic policy — 27 February 2020, 21:33 CET

Environmental sustainability is at the heart of the 'winter package' of EU country reports analysing Member States' key socio-economic challenges, published on Wednesday by the European Commission.

Western Balkans next target for EU enlargement — 06 February 2020, 22:25 CET

The European Commission put forward a proposal Wednesday to strengthen and make the EU accession process more predictable, targeting enlargement to the Western Balkans as a top EU priority.

EU offers zero-tariff trade deal if UK keeps to commitment on 'level playing field' — 03 February 2020, 23:31 CET

The EU offered the UK a tariff-free trade deal Monday, so long as it kept to commitments it made in the Political Declaration to a 'level playing field' and preventing unfair competitive advantages.

Green deal at centre of EU Commission's 2020 work plan — 01 February 2020, 00:36 CET

The EU's key challenge in 2020 is to grasp opportunities offered by the ecological and digital transitions, its chief Ursula von der Leyen said as she set out her Commission's new Work Programme Wednesday.

New EU growth strategy to be based on 'competitive sustainability' — 18 December 2019, 18:27 CET

The new von der Leyen Commission presented a rebooted growth strategy Tuesday focused on promoting competitive sustainability and building a European economy 'that works for people and the planet'.

New 'Green Deal' is EU's growth strategy, says Commission — 13 December 2019, 00:25 CET

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.

MEPs vote in von der Leyen's new EU Commission — 28 November 2019, 21:11 CET

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.

Eight states at risk of breaching EU stability pact — 23 November 2019, 18:15 CET

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.

EU acts against UK for not nominating Commissioner — 14 November 2019, 23:08 CET

The European Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom Thursday for breaching its EU Treaty obligations by not suggesting a candidate for the post of EU Commissioner.

EU staff budget savings come at a cost to workforce — 26 September 2019, 13:05 CET

A 2014 EU staff reforms package has achieved significant savings, says a new report from the European Court of Auditors, but also had some negative consequences for human resources.

Von der Leyen's new Commission affirms green credentials — 12 September 2019, 00:10 CET

EU Member States accepted Tuesday the list of Commissioners until 31 October 2024 proposed by European Commission president-elect Ursula Von der Leyen, with climate policy put forward as a top priority.

EU states' VAT collection gap at EUR 137 bn in 2017 — 10 September 2019, 23:48 CET

Thorough reform of the VAT system is needed to make it more fraud-proof, the EU Commission said Thursday as it released a study showing Member States lost EUR 137 billion in VAT revenues in 2017.

MEPs confirm Ursula Von der Leyen as first female Commission President — 17 July 2019, 23:55 CET

Members of the European Parliament confirmed in a secret ballot Tuesday Ursula von der Leyen as President of the next European Commission, voted in with a narrow majority by 383 MEPs.

Ursula von der Leyen nominated as next EU Commission chief — 08 July 2019, 12:05 CET

The EU at a special summit Tuesday proposed Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's German defence minister and a member of the centre-right CDU, as candidate for the next president of the European Commission.

European Semester 2019 Spring Package — 05 June 2019, 21:12 CET

The European Commission has taken the next steps in the 2019 cycle of the European Semester of economic policy coordination.

March 2019 infringements package: key decisions — 07 March 2019, 13:49 CET

In its March 2019 monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is pursuing legal action against EU Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law.