European Union

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “The largest possible participation of EU citizens is necessary to exploit the full potential of tracing apps.”   – ...

Ahead of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (17 May), leading MEPs will hold a press briefing: ‘‘What future for LGBTI people in Europe?’’
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Ahead of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (17 May), leading MEPs will hold a press briefing: ‘‘What future for LGBTI people in Europe?’’
Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Global Europe Brief, your weekly update on the EU in the global perspective from our foreign affairs news team: Georgi Gotev and Alexandra Brzozowski. You can subscribe here. /// BACK TO THE FUTURE OF TOURISM Attention, your summer might be saved!...

Citizens need data protection and privacy safeguards with regard to new smartphone apps used to manage the spread of the pandemic, say MEPs.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Citizens need data protection and privacy safeguards with regard to new smartphone apps used to manage the spread of the pandemic, say MEPs.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The land borders between Portugal and Spain will remain closed until 15 June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Portuguese Council of Ministers’ resolution published this Wednesday (13 May). The control of the land borders between the countries...

Written by Gianluca Quaglio with Sophie Millar,

© Shutterstock

The internet has received increasingly negative media coverage in recent years. Numerous articles have reported on major privacy scandals and security breaches, the proliferation of fake news, harmful behaviours such as cyber-bullying, cyber-theft, revenge porn and internet addiction, as well as the negative effects that the internet can have on social relationships and social cohesion.

Although the social and economic benefits of the internet are undeniable, the way in which the internet has developed has also been detrimental to a number of core European values such as equality, respect for human rights and democracy. Due to this, technology companies are coming under increasing pressure to mitigate the harmful effects of the internet, whilst politicians and opinion leaders are advocating drastic measures to reverse such impacts.

This paper presents a summary and an update of some key findings of the two-part STOA study entitled ‘Harmful internet use’. It does not cover all potential societal harms relating to the internet, which include – amongst others – negative impacts on privacy, harm related to cybersecurity and cybercrime, negative effects on knowledge and beliefs and negative effects on democracy and democratic citizenship.

Read this complete ‘in-depth analysis’ on ‘Potentially negative effects of internet use‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The EP President will hold a press conference Friday 15 May at 13:30.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The EP President will hold a press conference Friday 15 May at 13:30.

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

In a position paper, Germany's conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group opposed increasing the EU's climate target to 55% by 2030. While this has been the cause for much criticism from other parties, Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats do not believe this contradicts her words. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will mobilise €60 million to support European entrepreneurs and innovators. The EIT’s Crisis Pandemic Initiative, launched on Thursday (14 May), aims to support start-ups, expanding businesses, SMEs and new innovative projects based on a greener and more sustainable approach.

How EU can boost the development of a vaccine and treatments for COVID-19 will be discussed with Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and the Croatian Presidency.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

How EU can boost the development of a vaccine and treatments for COVID-19 will be discussed with Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and the Croatian Presidency.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Oxfam is urging governments and pharmaceutical companies to guarantee that vaccines, tests, and treatments will be patent-free and equitably distributed to all nations and people, ahead of the World Health Assembly next week.

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Monday (11 May) it will lift its forecast for 5G subscriptions globally to around 2.8 billion by 2025 from 2.6 billion seen previously as a consequence of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said on Thursday (14 May) that holding migrants and asylum seekers in a transit zone is detention, and challengers must have their day in court at least once. 

President Charles Michel highlighted the main topics discussed during the last video conference of the members of the European Council, including the need to reach an agreement on the recovery fund and on the next multiannual financial framework

Main agenda item, approximate timing and press opportunities.

EU ambassadors endorsed a Commission proposal to provide €279 million in disaster relief aid to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria.