Living and Working in the EU

Living and working in the European Union.

New EU rules on work-life balance enter into force — 03 August 2022, 23:23 CET

New EU-wide rules to improve work-life balance for parents entered into force on Tuesday, setting minimum standards for paternity, parental leave and offering the right to request flexible working.

New rules to better protect children caught in cross-border parental disputes - guide — 02 August 2022, 22:39 CET

New EU rules on cooperation between judicial authorities on cross-border disputes, such as custody, parental rights and child abduction ('Brussels IIb Regulation') came into force on 1 August 2022. The Regulation updates the existing rules on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial and parental responsibility matters to better protect the needs of the child.

EU, MEPs agree one-year extension for COVID Certificate — 14 June 2022, 21:52 CET

Negotiating teams from the European Parliament and EU Council agreed Monday to keep the EU Digital COVID Certificate framework in place for another year, until June 2023.

EU targets late 2024 for common charger for mobile phones — 08 June 2022, 23:47 CET

By autumn 2024, USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the EU, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU Council agreed Tuesday.

EU reaches political agreement on adequate minimum wage — 07 June 2022, 21:33 CET

The European Parliament and EU Member States reached political agreement Tuesday on EU rules to set adequate minimum wages, as provided by national law and/or collective agreements.

EU's Schengen visa process set to go digital — 27 April 2022, 23:27 CET

The Schengen visa process is set to be replaced by a visa sticker, following an EU proposal Wednesday which introduces the possibility to submit visa applications online through the European online visa platform.

Digitalisation of Schengen Visa process — 27 April 2022, 23:04 CET

The European Commission proposed on 27 April the digitalisation of the Schengen visa process, replacing the visa sticker, and introducing the possibility to submit visa applications online through the European online visa platform.

EU looks to legal migration to help meet skills needs — 27 April 2022, 22:52 CET

The EU Commission proposed Wednesday a set of legal, operational and policy initiatives to improve migration management to the benefit of the EU economy and strengthen cooperation with non-EU countries.

EU strategy to combat rising antisemitism in Europe — 06 October 2021, 22:47 CET

With antisemitism on the rise in Europe and beyond, the European Commission presented Tuesday the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.

EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life — 05 October 2021, 17:46 CET

The European Commission presented on 5 October the first-ever EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.

Combating antisemitism — 05 October 2021, 17:41 CET

EU activities to combat antisemitism including remembrance, education, and legislation

70 pct of EU adult population now fully vaccinated — 07 September 2021, 15:56 CET

The European Union reached an important milestone Tuesday when it announced that 70 per cent of its adult population - over 256 million adults - have now received a full vaccine course against COVID-19.

EU outlines vision for blended education — 09 August 2021, 19:34 CET

The EU Commission outlined measures Thursday to address gaps in education brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, and also longer-term to 'blend' learning environments in primary and secondary education.

Employers can ban hijab at work, rules EU Court — 20 July 2021, 22:18 CET

An employer may ban the wearing of the Muslim hijab at work, the EU Court of Justice ruled Thursday, there is a need to present a neutral image towards customers or to prevent social disputes.

EU plans upgrade for occupational health and safety — 28 June 2021, 19:18 CET

A new strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027, adopted Monday by the European Commission, sets out key actions needed to improve workers' health and safety over the coming years.

EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027 — 28 June 2021, 19:21 CET

The European Commission moved to update occupational safety and health rules on 28 June by adopting the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027. This sets out the key actions needed to improve workers' health and safety over the coming years.

EU Digital COVID Certificate — 29 March 2022, 22:20 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation entered into application on 01 July 2021. EU citizens and residents are able to have their Digital COVID Certificates issued and verified across the EU.

EU Parliament gives go-ahead to Covid certificate — 14 June 2021, 19:17 CET

EU states are set to accept the Digital COVID Certificate - proving vaccination, negative test result or recovery from a COVID infection - from 1 July, following Wednesday's green light from MEPs.

EU agrees new draft rules for highly skilled migrant workers — 18 May 2021, 18:48 CET

The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional deal Tuesday on new rules for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU under the revised Blue Card Directive.

Road death rate in Europe falls to all-time low — 21 April 2021, 00:11 CET

An estimated 18,800 people were killed in a road crash last year, an unprecedented annual fall of 17% on 2019, preliminary figures from the EU Commission on road fatalities for 2020 showed Tuesday.

Lift-off for EU's EUR 28 bn Erasmus educational programme — 31 March 2021, 18:25 CET

The EU Commission adopted Thursday the first work programme of its Erasmus+ education programme, to fund learning mobility and cross-border cooperation projects for 10 million Europeans of all ages.

Brussels sets out plan for EU coronavirus passport — 22 March 2021, 22:07 CET

The European Commission put forward a plan for a coronavirus passport Wednesday, a 'digital green certificate' to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU Digital COVID Certificate — 01 July 2021, 17:54 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate (formerly called Digital Green Certificate) will facilitate safe free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic within the EU. It will serve as proof that a person was vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. The certificate can be used across all EU Member States as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Contacts are also ongoing to enable its use with Switzerland. The Commission is working to make sure that the certificates can be compatible with systems in other countries outside the EU.

Euro-Parliament declares EU an 'LGBTIQ Freedom Zone' — 11 March 2021, 22:00 CET

Responding to increased discrimination and attacks on the LGBTIQ community and backsliding on gay and lesbian rights in Poland and Hungary, MEPs on Thursday declared the EU an 'LGBTIQ Freedom Zone'.

Equal pay: pay transparency measures to ensure equal pay for equal work — 04 March 2021, 17:51 CET

The European Commission presented on 4 March a proposal on pay transparency to ensure that women and men in the EU get equal pay for equal work.