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When the clock struck midnight, on the 1 May 2004, a whole continent burst into celebration. The flames of bonfires lit up the night in the Baltic states. A thousand fireworks coloured the sea around Malta and Cyprus, and the lakes of Slovenia, and the Ode to Joy resonated in the cities...

The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), working with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, have today launched the Critical Medicines Alliance at the margins of the informal EPSCO Council meeting of health...

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi visited Beirut on 22 April 2024 following the meeting of the European Council on 17-18 April, where the European leaders recalled the European Union's strong support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people in the difficult circumstances the

Starting this summer, thousands of young people will once again travel around Europe by train for free thanks to the latest call of the DiscoverEU programme. Today at 12:00 CET during the European Youth Week buzzing with activities, the Commission launched the latest DiscoverEU application round.

Launched in 2022, the European Union-funded Western Balkans EDIF Guarantee for SME Resilience Initiative will increase access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their ability to cope with challenging economic circumstances.

Today, the Commission announced 20 laureates of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes 2024, for the fourth year in a row, organised with funding from the Cohesion Policy. These prizes reward outstanding projects and initiatives that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, demonstrating how

The European Commission has today adopted a proposal for a new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) operation to Jordan worth up to €500 million. This financial support is an important demonstration of the EU's partnership and solidarity with Jordan. The proposed financial assistance aims to help Jordan

Ahead of the International Roma Day on 8 April, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vĕra Jourová, Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Olivér Várhelyi, issued...

The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the €6 billion Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, underpinning the Reform and Growth Plan proposed by the Commission in November 2023.

Let me start with Ukraine and the consequences of Russia's war of aggression. We continue very clearly to stand by Ukraine, as we have pledged. Our EUR 4.5 billion payment this week is the first from the Ukraine Fund and further proof of this resolve.

The Commission has today adopted a Communication on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews. This document contributes to the ongoing discussion process about the internal reforms the EU will need to make to prepare for an enlarged Union.

Dear Gert-Jan, dear colleagues, I am really glad that this year, you decided to bring together the whole DG NEAR family, including colleagues in headquarters and in our 23 Delegations across the region. Because today, more than ever before, DG NEAR stands at the heart of the European Commission

The Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union have mutually agreed to elevate their relationship to the level of a strategic and comprehensive partnership, based on the values of equity and on mutual respect and trust.

Thank you very much, Mr President, for your warm welcome and hospitality. I am very glad to be back in Cairo. The partnership between the European Union and Egypt is of critical importance. The presence of six European Leaders today shows how deeply we value our relationship.

La présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, se rendra dimanche au Caire, accompagnée du Premier ministre belge, Alexander de Croo, du Premier ministre grec, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, et de la Premier ministre italienne, Georgia Meloni. La présidente et les trois premiers ministres

Thank you very much Madam President, dear Roberta, Minister, dear Hadja, Honourable Members, Indeed, we are heading towards a packed European Council, with topics, as you said, ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East, from defence to enlargement. I want to focus on two topics today...

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic necessities.

The Commission has now contracted €81 million out of the overall humanitarian aid allocation of €125 million and is working on its disbursement to humanitarian partner organisations.

To mark International Women's Day, the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President make the following statement: “Today, the percentage of women in politics is still far from being representative of our diverse societies. The overall proportion of female members in single or low