European Union

After weeks of wrangling, EU ambassadors on Wednesday (21 June) agreed to an 11th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, designed to prevent third countries and companies from circumventing the bloc's existing measures.

European media face an increasingly challenging environment and while there have been positive efforts, a holistic approach is needed to ensure they can continue to play their vital democratic role, according to a new report. 

Prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to €1m for Italians who use foreign surrogate mothers in draft new Italian law.

Budapest needs to explain its role in the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russia, said the European Commission.

The EU is trying to catch up in the green tech space, while Africa is trying to catch up in its industrialisation. Can green industry partnerships kill two birds with one stone? Poorva Karkare and Alfonso Medinilla say yes. 

Grants for the Erasmus student exchange programme are not keeping pace with inflation, pricing out many poorer students - that needs to change, write Nicu Stefanuta and Juan Rayon Gonzalez.

Amid broad consensus in the European Parliament on the new regulation for short-term rental platforms, political discussion amongst EU lawmakers has focused on the extent of compliance by design and interactions between authorisation and registration schemes.

Upon concluding their visit to Edinburgh on 21 June, MEPs expressed they hope for the UK to revise its decisions to opt out of EU culture, education and youth programmes.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Upon concluding their visit to Edinburgh on 21 June, MEPs expressed they hope for the UK to revise its decisions to opt out of EU culture, education and youth programmes.
Committee on Culture and Education

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Repasi v Commission
Taxonomy: the General Court dismisses as inadmissible the action of a Member of the European Parliament challenging the Commission's regulation on the sustainability of certain economic activities relating to fossil gas and nuclear energy

While it is becoming clear that the EU's approach to China is that of limiting potential risks over fully cutting ties, the bloc will still struggle to achieve a coherent strategy if it does not get its communication right.

Over 50 world leaders are meeting in Paris to tackle one of the biggest problems of the age: how to raise enough money for the global south to catch up in climate investments.

Amid Brussels' China recalibration and unveiling of economic security strategy, businesses stress vital role of nurturing mutual trust in fostering global trade and investment.

The EU's new 'STEP' funding platform is unambitious and runs the risk of internal market fragmentation, French centrist Renew MEP Valérie Hayer, who co-leads the Parliament’s work on the EU budget and own resources, told EURACTIV in an interview.

After armed men killed nine Chinese nationals at a gold mine in Central African Republic, a video circulated on the internet saying France had secretly ordered the attack and planned to discredit Russian mercenary group Wagner in the country.

France's exclusion from a meeting of pro-renewable countries organised by Austria on Monday (19 June) "does not set a precedent" as Paris will be invited to the next meetings, a European diplomat close to the file told EURACTIV.

China hit back on 21 June after US President Joe Biden referred to President Xi Jinping as a "dictator", saying the remarks were absurd and a provocation, in an unexpected spat immediately following efforts by both sides to lower tensions.

Ireland’s recent decision to systematically display preventive health messages on bottles of alcohol has crystallised tensions, with European doctors and wine lobbies pitted against each other. By May 22, 2026, wines and spirits sold in Ireland will be required to...

Espionage, illegitimate influence peddling, disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks increased in Germany in 2022, with activities mainly linked to Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey, the report on the protection of the constitution published Tuesday (20 June) reads.

On 29 June, SEDE Members will participate in the workshop on 'The role of cyber in the Russian war against Ukraine: its impact and the consequences for the future of armed conflict'. The discussion will focus on the cyber dimension of the Russian war in Ukraine, assessing how cyber warfare can fit into conventional high-violence conflict.
The workshop will also provide an occasion to identify areas where the European Union needs to make further progress in countering malicious actions of authoritarian regimes across the whole spectrum of hybrid warfare.
Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has been accompanied by massive cyberattacks aimed at destroying strategic data, paralyzing critical infrastructure, inflicting maximum civilian and military damage and destabilizing the population. Russian cyberattacks have been targeting first Ukraine's infrastructure and public institutions, but increasingly also countries that support Ukraine. Sustained military efforts of the Ukrainian armed forces aimed at countering Russian cyberwar have been supported by a large number of volunteers planning and executing strikes on Russian cyber infrastructure, without direct involvement of the government.
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP