While the corona pandemic continues, Germany took over the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July. We asked German MEPs for their expectations. The coronavirus represents a significant challenge for the EU and immediate management of the pandemic and recovery are at the heart of the German programme for the presidency. The aim is to reach a swift agreement on the recovery fund and the EU's budget 2021-2027. Germany intends to make progress on climate protection, through the European Green Deal, and...

Today the Commission presents the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. It sets ambitious, quantitative objectives for upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in new skills) to be achieved within the next 5 years. Its 12 actions focus on skills for jobs by partnering up with Member States, companies and social partners to work together for change, by empowering people to embark on lifelong learning, and by using the EU budget as a catalyst...

Today the European Commission is taking action to give young people all possible opportunities to develop their full potential to shape the future of the EU, and thrive in the green and digital transitions. The coronavirus pandemic has emphasised the often difficult start many young people face in the labour market. We need to act fast. Now is the time to direct our attention towards the next generation. The Commission is using this opportunity to ingrain the green and digital...

Consumers across the EU are about to be granted broader opportunities for the collective defence of their rights. Member states’ ambassadors today approved a deal concluded between the Croatian presidency of the Council and the European Parliament on a draft directive on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers. The single market is not there solely to provide enhanced business opportunities to traders. It is also meant to provide consumers across the EU with added value...

This report, for public consultation, provides an evaluation of too-big-to-fail (TBTF) reforms for systemically important banks. These reforms were endorsed by the G20 in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and have been implemented in FSB jurisdictions over the past decade. The evaluation examines the extent to which the reforms are reducing the systemic and moral hazard risks associated with systemically important banks, as well as their broader effects on the financial system. The reforms being evaluated include:...

President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new pledge of €4.9 billion by Team Europe, with the European Investment Bank, for universal access to coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments. Read the transcript of her first statements during the ‘Global Goal: Unite for our Future' Summit. The event is ongoing and can be watched here. On the world's roadmap for ending this pandemic and the needs for investments We will only end this pandemic when it has been ended everywhere. That means every person in the...

Eurosystem repo facility for central banks (EUREP) introduced as precautionary backstop to address pandemic-related euro liquidity needs outside euro area EUREP to allow broad set of central banks to borrow euro against euro-denominated debt issued by euro area central governments and supranational institutions New facility to be available until June 2021 In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to set up a new backstop facility, called the Eurosystem repo...