Commission proposes ‘operational arm’ of European Cyber Shield

The European Commission has today (23 June) laid out its vision for a Joint Cyber Unit to tackle evolving cyber-threats and to increase European resilience.

Cohesion Policy Quiz: How much do you know about EU cohesion funds?

As we near the end of EURACTIV’s project “Let’s Meet Cohesion Policy” co-financed by DG REGIO, now is the time to test your knowledge on how the EU supports its regions. Test your knowledge here

Cohesive recovery: where do structural funds fit in?

Cohesion, the EU’s €330 billion investment package, making up about a third of the bloc’s new seven-year budget, will focus on bringing about a smarter, greener and more connected Europe, closer to its citizens by 2027.  That’s a tall order...

Lagging German regions may lose out due to rush of EU pandemic recovery money

Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Berlin on Tuesday (22 June), where she delivered the approved German recovery plan, concerns are emerging that the new pot of money may crowd out funding for weak regions and thwart their efforts to catch up with wealthy areas.

The Green Brief: Building back better?

When the European Union prepared its response to the coronavirus pandemic in May last year, it promised one thing: to “build back better”. But national recovery plans show a gap between what EU countries are willing to do and what the Commission aimed for.

Kidney disease research pins hopes on new disruptive technologies

Not many substantial breakthroughs have been experienced in the field of chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment since the mass diffusion of dialysis units in the '70s. Technological progress is growing exponentially though, opening up new possibilities for bettering patients' lives.

Half of the EU countries voice ‘grave concern’ at Hungary anti-LGBTQ law

Thirteen, or less than half of the EU's 27 member states on Tuesday (22 June) voiced their "grave concern" at a new law in Hungary they said discriminates against LGBTQ people while claiming to protect children.

Women migrants reduced to sex slaves in Libya ‘hell’

For Aisha, sexual slavery was something you only heard about happening to others in television reports, until she found herself locked in a living "hell" in Libya.

Five years on, Brexit bedevils pandemic-hit UK

Five years on from Britain's shock decision to quit the European Union, the wounds opened by Brexit have yet to heal, and analysts say its far-reaching changes are only just beginning.

Recovery plans fall short of EU green spending goals, campaigners warn

As the European Commission starts endorsing national recovery plans submitted by EU countries, campaigners are growing concerned that the EU executive may not fully enforce the fund's green spending target.

After Biden, Blinken back to Europe to shore up Western unity

Days after Joe Biden's first presidential trip abroad, Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed back to Europe Tuesday (22 June) to keep up the work of building Western unity against a rising China.

Spanish government pardons jailed Catalan separatist leaders

Spain’s socialist-led coalition government has finalised controversial pardons for nine Catalan politicians jailed for their involvement in an unauthorised referendum and declaration of independence in 2017. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.

UK will not extend settlement scheme deadline for EU nationals

EU nationals living in the UK have a week until a 30 June deadline to apply for settled status, after officials confirmed that the cut-off date would not be extended.

Lukashenko blasts ‘Nazi’ Germany after new Western sanctions

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko Tuesday (22 June) accused modern Germany of Nazism on the 80th anniversary of Hitler's invasion of the USSR and a day after coordinated Western sanctions on his country.

Workers’ groups seek to influence Green Deal

The workers’ groups of the European Economic and Social Committee have seized upon the term “just transition” in a bid to insert their aims for workers’ co-determination into the Commission’s flagship policy, the European Green Deal.

The Brief, powered by Martens Centre – Not so settled status

Whether or not the UK government and EU counterparts care to admit it, living abroad has become more complicated in the age of no more free movement.

EU lawmakers reach agreement on game changing new health innovation rules

The European Parliament and Council reached on Tuesday (22 June) a provisional agreement on the health technology assessment (HTA), in a move to help member states take more "timely and evidence-based decisions on patient access" to their healthcare systems.

A thousand tonnes of harmful counterfeit pesticides seized in EU

The EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, says it took 1,203 tonnes of illegal pesticides off the market between January and April on the back of a rise in online sales of banned substances.

EC study on new genomic techniques – What’s next?

The use of gene-editing technologies in plants has come under increased scrutiny in the EU over the past few years, following the 2018 European Court of Justice ruling that gene-edited organisms should fall, in principle, under the EU’s GMO directive....

Sven Giegold: ECB should start ‘digging into’ financial crime in Bulgaria

To join the Euro, Bulgaria needs to tidy up with financial crime, and the European Central Bank (ECB) should be doing its job and finally start “digging into this”, MEP Sven Giegold told EURACTIV in a telephone interview.