Silvia Ellena Archives

EU employment and social affairs ministers have adopted a general approach on the directive to boost gender equality on corporate boards, ending a decade-long stalemate and paving the way for final negotiations between the European Parliament and the 27 member states in the Council.

Despite a downward trend in terrorism across Europe in the past decade, attacks and deaths could increase as the Ukrainian conflict intensifies, according to a report published by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) on Wednesday (2 March).

Out of every region in the word, cities in Europe engage in the largest share of participatory budgeting, a process that allows citizens to weigh in on municipal budget expenditure and propose initiatives for their cities or neighborhoods. City leaders and …

EU commissioners Thierry Breton and Didier Reynders presented the Commission's proposal for a corporate sustainability due diligence directive in Brussels on 23 February, arguing that its mix of due diligence processes, public oversight, and civil liability measures would drive more sustainable trade.

Despite persisting concerns on the rule of law in Poland, the EU executive sees the country's plan to scrap its disciplinary chamber for judges as a “positive step”, but urges to adopt the law "soon."

The EU's due diligence law aimed at making businesses accountable for human rights violations and environmental harm throughout their value chain will only cover 1% of EU companies, according to a draft of the proposal seen by EURACTIV.

While continuing negotiations and exploring all diplomatic routes, should Russia choose the path of war, the EU is prepared said the heads of the EU institutions during Wednesday's (16 February) plenary debate in European Parliament.

Several European countries are lagging behind on their strategies to tackle discrimination and inequalities faced by Roma, casting doubts they will be able to reach already “unambitious” targets, experts warn.

With EU legislation on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence to be proposed by the EU Commission in February, a cross-sectoral coalition of EU companies have called for it to adopt a risk-based approach and apply to all companies operating in Europe.

The European executive is pushing for the recognition of parenthood in one country to result in bloc-wide recognition of familial ties, but the initiative could create a rift across the bloc due to the inclusion of rainbow families.

Due to a favourable EU regulatory framework, institutional landlords, such as private equity firms and pension funds, are increasingly buying houses in European cities, sparking fears of rent increases and unfair access to housing, experts warn.

The Italian centre-right coalition has proposed their first shortlist of candidates for the presidential elections, keeping their best cards in their pocket as the political deadlock continues.

EU ministers and European Parliament members are stepping up coordinated EU action to counteract foreign interference, with most fingers pointing to Moscow and Beijing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the weakness of international organisations and the need for a stronger transatlantic partnership for a fair global recovery, the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell said during a Foundation for European Progressive Studies event.

As some European countries start returning looted art to former colonies, experts call for EU guidelines to "harmonise" and support the restitution of cultural objects to African museums.

Participatory budgeting (PB) - the shared decision between city leaders and inhabitants on spending a part of the municipal budget - is becoming an increasingly popular democratic tool in Europe.

Despite new incentives to promote “green travel”, measures to decarbonise the EU’s study away program, Erasmus+, remain weak and ignore knock-on effects, researchers warn.

Participatory budgeting, the shared decision between local government and citizens on how to spend a part of the municipal budget, is becoming increasingly popular across the bloc.

Freedom of expression and peaceful protests are in dangerous decline even in "established democracies" in Europe, according to the 2021 edition of the annual CIVICUS Monitor index published on Wednesday (December 8).

The European Commission should keep its promises and uphold corporate human rights obligations according to an open letter sent to President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday (8 December) signed by 47 civil society and trade union organisations.

The EU “should lead by example” for the recovery from COVID-19 but needs to face its own shortcomings to curb existing and new social inequalities, FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues told EURACTIV in an interview.

European anti-discrimination strategies risk being “empty policies” unless national governments step up their game, civil society representatives have warned.

Teaching colonialism is a first step to tackle structural racism in Europe, but inequality will not be eradicated unless addressed in education as a whole, according to experts.

Europe's Roma communities will be at increased risk unless European countries speed up vaccination and design targeted support as the fourth COVID-19 wave and new lockdowns take hold in Europe, experts say.