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MEPs want COVID-19 restrictions standardised across Europe
European lawmakers have called on the EU to build upon the digital vaccination certificate as a major step forward in facilitating movement within the bloc during the pandemic by harmonising criteria for the imposition of coronavirus restrictions across member states.
Diplomat: Portuguese presidency unblocked EU legislative dossiers
The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU has moved forward many legislative dossiers forward, even some that had been blocked for years, according to the the deputy permanent representative of Portugal to the EU, Pedro Lourtie.
Portugal: Improve EU single market for post-pandemic recovery
Portuguese Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira has said that the European Union's single market is still an "incomplete construction" with "barriers to be eliminated" but that steps to make it function better should be a foundation of the post-pandemic economic recovery.
Portuguese FM: EU enlargement could be ‘great achievement’ for Slovenia
Portugal's foreign minister, Augusto Santos Silva, said on Thursday (24 June) that the launch of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania would be "a major achievement" of Slovenia's upcoming EU Presidency.
Schinas: Erasmus generation has a duty to defend Europe
European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas has said that "the time has come" for the Erasmus generation to help Europe defend itself from the enemies who would have us believe that the European Union has no future.
Creative Europe programme to provide €2.5bn funding for culture sector
European Commissioner for Innovation and Research, Mariya Gabriel, has said that the Creative Europe 2021-2027 programme will focus on the "economic sustainability" and the "digital inclusion" of the cultural and creative sectors by funding projects for specific challenges.
EU Council reaches agreement on road charging
The Council of the European Union (EU), chaired by Portugal, has reached an agreement with the European Parliament to revise the rules on road charging, the so-called Eurovignette, to reduce emissions of polluting gases and infrastructure congestion.
Parliament still hopeful for CAP deal during Portugal’s EU presidency
The European Parliament still hopes to reach an agreement on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform during Portugal's presidency of the Council of the EU, the chair of the assembly's agriculture committee announced on Tuesday (15 June).
EU health ministers back stronger pandemic role for EMA
EU health ministers have met for the last time under Portugal’s presidency of the Council of the EU to agree on that body’s postition for negotiations with the European Parliament on new rules to strengthen the role of the European...
Portugal investors demand bank bond money back or will boycott European fund
A group of international institutional investors coordinated by the Attestor Capital fund, on the hook for €2 billion in the Banco Espírito Santo case, want the European Commission to settle the case, warning that otherwise, they will not fund the post-pandemic economic recovery.
EU ministers approve strategy on climate change adaptation
European Union environment ministers on Thursday (10 June) approved the EU’s new climate change adaptation strategy, which sets out a vision up to 2050 to make Europe resilient and "fully adapted to its inevitable impacts".
EU-US summit hailed as ‘milestone’ in transatlantic relationship
The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU has highlighted the "symbolic importance" of next week's summit between the European Union and the United States, which it believes has "the potential to be a key milestone" in renewing the transatlantic partnership.
EU in talks with US, UK on mutual recognition of COVID-19 travel certificates
The European Commission is discussing with the United States and the United Kingdom the recognition of the COVID-19 travel certificate that will come into force in July in the EU, the European Commissioner for Justice has announced.
EU justice ministers call for close monitoring of high-risk fans at Euro2020
European Union justice ministers meeting under the Portuguese presidency have called for close monitoring of risk supporters during the European football championships, stressing that the format of the competition already poses "a unique security challenge".
Europe only strong if citizens’ lot improves – Portugal president
Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has in the run-up to the European Council of 24 and 25 June described the country’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union as a “difficult” stint that involved much work, warning...
Brussels optimistic migration pact will be approved during Portugal’s EU presidency
The European Commission is optimistic that the Pact for Migration and Asylum will be approved during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) by the end of June, Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said on Wednesday.
Commission: EU future debate should focus on ‘genuine people’ not ‘Brussels bubble’
Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, has underlined that the Future of Europe conference should focus on the "genuine people" and not the "Brussels bubble".
Council adopts changes to visa system in a bid to boost security
EU member states have approved changes to the European visa system aimed at increasing security in the Schengen area by providing for greater monitoring of short-stay and residence permits.
Comissioner: Criminalise those who use service of victims of human trafficking
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs has said that ending the "culture of impunity" surrounding trafficking in human beings requires criminalising those who use the services of victims of this crime.
Budget rules to apply from 2023 to avoid ‘fiscal risks’ – Commission
The European Commission's executive vice-president has said that the provision of liquidity to the debt markets for "too long" in the EU could result in "fiscal risks".
Conclusion of CAP reform a ‘priority’, Portuguese agriculture minister says
Portuguese Agriculture Minister Maria do Céu Antunes has reiterated that the goal of completing the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU to "ensure a greener and more resilient agriculture".
Europe stands out among global players in sharing vaccines
The EU is ready to discuss concrete proposals on the suspension of patents on vaccines against COVID-19, but until then has been acting like no other global actor, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva has said.
Portugal ‘will fight to last minute’ to seal migration pact
Portugal's EU Presidency "will fight until the last minute of its term of office" for an agreement on the Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the European Commission, the foreign minister said in the European Parliament on Tuesday.