Ahead of Spain’s EU Presidency, the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for European unity ahead of the elections next year. The socialist wants to lead Europe through crises and aims to settle the major issues by the end of this year: the European migration pact, the debt rules and reducing the bloc’s dependence on third countries, among other topics. The national snap elections in July could spoil that.
Member states reach an agreement on renewable energy consumption targets. EU finance ministers call for tough reform of EU rules on reducing government debt. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wraps up her tour of Latin America.
Social media posts have misrepresented a statement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to claim that Covid-19 vaccination could affect female fertility. This interpretation is incorrect, according to experts. There is no evidence that the vaccines have a harmful effect on fertility. Instead, it is true that coronavirus infection increases the risk of complications.
The EU’s debt and deficit rule is one of the hottest topics in Brussels this year. It could dominate discussions in the EU in the second half of 2023. The enr spoke to the German Finance Minister Christian Lindner about Germany’s position, which calls for strict rules, and what is at stake if no consensus is achieved.
An independent advisory body on climate change calls for the EU to reduce emissions by 90% to 95% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The European Commission says Google may have abused its dominant position in the market. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warns against depriving Hungary of the rotating EU presidency.