Today, the Commission adopted its 2021 work programme, designed to make Europe healthier, fairer and more prosperous, while accelerating its long-term transformation into a greener economy, fit for the digital age. It contains new legislative initiatives across all six headline ambitions of President von der Leyen's Political Guidelines and follows her first State of the Union Speech. While delivering on the priorities set out in this work programme, the Commission will continue to put all its efforts into managing the crisis, and into making Europe's...

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Several senior EU representatives are participating to the 2020 edition of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (October 5-23), which are held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis speaks at two high-level climate and sustainable finance events. On October 12, he joined the Fourth Ministerial-Level Meeting Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. He will also speak alongside IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and other counterparts at the event...

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When paying for coffee, we swipe, tap, wave, and soon may wink—a quick and painless exchange of coffee for money. But when paying for imports or sending remittances, we often fill-out forms, wait for days, and pay—too much. Progress to improve cross-border payments has been slow, but is just about to take off. That is how history evolves—one small step at a time, until it suddenly leaps forward. The confluence of new technologies and renewed determination among policymakers are making significant...

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I. COVID-19 1. The European Council assessed the current epidemiological situation, which is unprecedented and gives rise to very serious concern. 2. It welcomed the progress achieved so far on overall coordination at EU level against COVID‑19, including the recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement. It calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to continue the overall coordination effort based on the best available science, notably regarding quarantine regulations, cross-border contact tracing, testing...

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