As part of our regular consultations on export control cooperation, the European Commission hosted a meeting with counterparts from Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States on 10 July 2024, to discuss ongoing efforts to align and enhance our export restriction measures imposed in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of [...]

30 June marks the official end of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. With summer upon us, we can look back on a successful semester with significant results and connecting events. On 1 July, Hungary will take over the presidency torch for the second half of 2024. [...]

“The European Commission absolutely must postpone the entry into force of the deforestation regulation and then use the transitional period to reduce bureaucracy in the text," demanded Dr. Peter Liese, environmental spokesperson for the largest political group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats). The aim of the regulation is [...]

The bioeconomy covers all sectors and systems that rely on biological resources (animals, plants, micro-organisms and derived biomass, including organic waste), their functions and principles. Compiling a robust information or evidence base is an essential component of better policymaking and one of the actions of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy is [...]

In April 2024, compared with March 2024, seasonally adjusted production in construction decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and increased by 0.2% in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In March 2024, production in construction fell by 0.5% in the [...]

The Commission is  inviting all interested parties to participate in a consultation process to help define the 2025-27 roadmap for the New European Bauhaus Facility. The NEB Facility is a unique EU funding tool that aims to revitalise neighbourhoods through design for sustainability and inclusion. The consultation launched today seeks [...]

Ahead of the European Council on 27-28 June, delegations will find attached a Presidency report on work towards a new European competitiveness deal. ..."Building on a debate in March 2024 by the COMPET Council on the future of the EU’s industrial policy, COMPET ministers approved on 24 May conclusions on [...]

The Council adopted its position (‘general approach’) on the green claims directive, which aims to address greenwashing and help consumers make truly greener decisions when buying a product or using a service. Consumers need reliable, comparable and verifiable environmental claims in order to make fully informed decisions. However, a 2020 study found [...]

As the formal adoption of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) did not meet the required majority in March, the Belgian Presidency decided to put the item on the agenda once again. After a round of interventions, the Council announced that the required majority had been reached to formally adopt the [...]

The Programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union can be downloaded HERE. In the spot light: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY play an important role in combating climate change and protecting biodiversity and nature, thus preserving the values of our planet. An exchange of views will [...]