European Union

Several EU member states called on Tuesday (21 May) for the bloc to start membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of June, but several technical and political obstacles remain for the decision to be taken.

The INITIATE project proposes an innovative process to produce urea from residual gases of steel making and demonstrates the importance of industrial symbiosis between different industrial sectors (steel sector, chemical sector, agriculture).

Climate-related disasters cost Europe more than €77 billion last year, according to a new report. But costs can be lowered with better data and financing strategies.

French President Emmanuel Macron should arrive in troubled New Caledonia on Tuesday night (21 May) to set up "a mission", a government spokesperson said, as the situation in the French overseas territory in the South Pacific remains tense following a week of protests, with blockades in certain areas of the capital city Nouméa.

Written by Marketa Pape and Balazs Szechy with Mislav Grbesa.

Europe is experiencing a significant demographic shift, which greatly influences daily life and requires comprehensive, integrated responses. As EU citizens enjoy longer, healthier lifespans, it is imperative for all Union policies to be proactive and facilitate the transition from an ageing society to one that embraces longevity.

The demography toolbox, devised by the European Commission, incorporates insights from across the EU and presents a holistic strategy to address demographic transformation through four key areas: supporting parents, empowering younger generations, enhancing the well-being of older generations, and managing migration effectively. The toolbox acknowledges the importance of considering the geographical aspects of demographic trends, particularly in areas facing population decline and notable emigration of young workers.

This briefing delves into the initiatives implemented following the release of two pivotal Commission communications: the green paper on ageing and the long-term vision for rural areas. It outlines the EU legislative instruments and programmes that bolster the four central components of the toolbox. Furthermore, the paper examines the demographic trends at regional and local level, focusing on the implementation of the Commission’s Talent Booster Mechanism. The briefing also provides a synopsis of the EU cohesion funding mechanisms designed to mitigate the adverse impacts of demographic change.

This briefing has been drafted at the request of a member of the European Economic and Social Committee, in the framework of the agreement between the European Parliament and the Committee.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Demographic change in Europe: A toolbox for action‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

While operating a heat pump is quite expensive in large parts of Europe, three EU countries stand out with their cheap electricity compared to gas prices, finds a report by the EU research body.

Genetic diagnostic technology advances for rare diseases offer hope, but gene-tech comes wrapped in complex ethical concerns. Will Europe accelerate modern diagnostics, or will ethical concerns slow and limit innovation?

The agriculture ministers from Nordic-Baltic countries urge the EU to strongly support Ukraine’s ability to export its agricultural products to the EU and to world markets.

With Narendra Modi on his way to a third consecutive term as prime minister of India and the reshuffling of the European Parliament after the June elections, 2024 looks set to be a year for recalibrating EU-India relations.

In an interview with Euractiv, Eva Poptcheva also stressed that public investments should aim to “take the edge” of private investments that might otherwise be too risky to undertake.

Returning to Europe after a five-year hiatus, Chinese President Xi Jinping discovered the local tribes were not united in diversity. Mapping the land, Xi found divergent political climates, and cavernous terrain between Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

CEMBUREAU’s net zero roadmap update highlights the key role of policy to scale up our net zero ambitions, writes Emmanuel Brutin, Public Affairs Director at CEMBUREAU.

An infected blood scandal in Britain was no accident but the fault of doctors and a succession of governments that led to 3,000 deaths and thousands more contracting hepatitis or HIV, a public inquiry reported on Monday (20 May).

A European travel tech industry group filed two separate complaints to French and Belgian data protection authorities over Ryanair's use of biometric data, according to a press release shared with Euractiv.

A Russian-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution that called on all countries to prevent "for all time" the placement, threat or use of any weapons in outer space failed on Monday (20 May) with the 15-member body split over the move.

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Sanchez saying he will announce the date for Palestinian recognition on Wednesday, Poland's Tusk backing the proposal for an Iron Dome-like system in Europe, and so much more.  

Poland has arrested nine people in connection with acts of sabotage committed in the country on the orders of Russian services, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said late on Monday (20 May).

The ICC request to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister and foreign minister and two Hamas officials for a rap sheet of war crimes pitted once again the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell against some member states.

Iran proclaimed five days of mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi, though the muted atmosphere revealed little of the spectacular public grief that has accompanied the deaths of other senior figures in the Islamic Republic's 45-year history.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was given permission on Monday (20 May) to appeal against extradition to the United States after arguing at London's High Court that he might not be able to rely on his right to free speech in a US court.