From the capitals
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.OpinionPromoted content
Transforming healthcare: do cell and gene therapies hold the key?
Cell and gene therapies (CGTs), also classified as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), have been hailed as revolutionary, but the path towards realising their potential has also seen pitfalls and disappointments along the way since the first attempts some decades ago.
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.
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....OpinionPromoted content
ECHA Report on lead ammunition near-total ban: Starting off on the wrong foot once again
After the intensely-debated ban on lead shot in wetlands, we’re now facing a much broader ban on all lead ammunition in other types of terrain: ECHA’s report scientific flaws and general inaccuracy make the outlook for future decisions rather grim.
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.
The EU’s industrial strategy needs more action on climate
A change of attitude is needed if the EU is to hit its Green Deal goals, argue Henrike Hahn, Rosa D’Amato, Damien Carême, and Ignazio Corrao, who say the European Commission must get its priorities in order and accept its climate responsibilities, rather than delegate strategic choices to industries and companies themselves.
Europe looks to recharge its automotive manufacturing supremacy
The shining jewel in the crown of European manufacturing is arguably the automotive sector. But while the continent is king of the internal combustion engine, it is not the leader in battery manufacturing. In fact, Europe lags behind China, Japan, and South Korea when it comes to electric battery output.
Cohesion and recovery funds: Friends or foes?
In this edition of our series on cohesion policy, we are joined by two very special guests European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira and EURACTIV’s Jorge Valero. We take a closer look at how Europe’s historic recovery...OpinionPromoted content
Research centres are the bridge between academia and industry
So far, 113 research organisations from 21 countries have taken part in Clean Sky’s projects. Their role within our ecosystem is vital – on top of initiating and developing their own new technical proposals, they act as incubators, taking ideas...
Trust in the Digital Decade – Making sure technology serves EU citizens
On March 9th, the European Commission presented a vision for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030. This vision for the EU’s digital decade focuses on around four key points: skills, government, infrastructures, business. A framework of digital principles will help promote...
Kazakh independent expert: Human rights NGOs enjoy more influence
A lot has change over the last years in Kazakhstan in terms of human rights, but more work is outstanding, independent expert Nazgul Yergalieva told EURACTIV in an interview, describing how the authorities in the central Asian country are now cooperating with NGOs in improving human rights protection.
Spanish government to pardon jailed Catalan separatist leaders
The Spanish government is poised to issue pardons for nine Catalan politicians jailed for their involvement in the illegal and ill-fated referendum and declaration of independence in 2017, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Britain begins negotiations to join trans-Pacific trade deal
Britain will begin negotiations on Tuesday (22 June) to join a trans-Pacific trade deal that it sees as crucial to its post-Brexit pivot away from Europe and towards geographically more distant but faster-growing economies.