The EU is providing additional funding and flexibility in the use of the structural funds to help member states' recovery efforts following the COVID-19 outbreak. EU ambassadors, meeting within the Committee of Permanent Representatives, today endorsed the Council's partial position on REACT-EU, the EU initiative with the biggest impact in the short to medium term, as well as on a series of amendments to long-term legislative proposals. We must ensure that European regions not only survive the crisis but emerge stronger...

Opening remarks by European Commission President von der Leyen | Brussels | July, 21 2020 Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank the President of the European Council – Charles Michel – for his enormous efforts and perseverance. This European Council's success is also his success. And I would like to thank Angela Merkel for her exceptional guidance. We negotiated for four long days and nights – more than 90 hours – but it was...

Following the first review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted. This list will continue to be reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks. Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 16 July member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents...

When the Group of Twenty industrialized and emerging market economies (G-20) finance ministers and central bank governors last met in April, the world was in the midst of the Great Lockdown forced by the outbreak of COVID-19. As they meet virtually this week, many countries are gradually reopening, even as the pandemic remains with us. Clearly, we have entered a new phase of the crisis—one that will require further policy agility and action to secure a durable and shared recovery. I believe...