Uncategorized

Commission approves prolongation and €200 million budget increase of German scheme to support research and development
By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, the modification of a German scheme to support research and development (‘R&D’), the ‘European Recovery Programme – mezzanine innovation’. The scheme provides senior and sub-ordinated loans under favourable conditions for the long-term financing of R&D projects. The current version of the […]

Commission approves Greek public funding for construction and operation of North section of E65 motorway
By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, Greek public funding of €442 million for the construction of the North section of the Central Greece Motorway (E65). The Commission also approved support estimated at €38 million to cover the operating and maintenance expenses of the section, in case the […]

Coronavirus response: €45 million to support Opolskie region in Poland in fighting the pandemic
By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission has adopted the modification of the operational programme for the Opolskie region in Poland allowing for the reallocation of €45 million to tackle the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira said: “Opolskie is joining the other Polish regions in making the best use […]

EU Cohesion policy: €60 million for Portugal in clean and efficient public transport in Coimbra
By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission has approved an investment of €60 million from the Cohesion Fund to convert an old railway line into a route for electric buses connecting Coimbra with the municipalities of Lousã and Miranda do Corvo and the village of Serpins, in Portugal. The new line will also make it […]

Russia withdraws from the Open Skies Treaty
By Alex Ivanov. Moscow Correspondent Russia has started the procedure for withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty (OST) due to what it believes is the unacceptable situation around the agreement after the US withdrawal, writes Moscow Correspondent Alexi Ivanov. This is stated in the comments of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria […]

Samskip launches direct container services between Amsterdam and Ireland
By EU Reporter Correspondent Samskip has ramped up its shortsea container connections between Ireland and North Continental Europe by introducing a new dedicated service link into Amsterdam. The weekly connection will mean Irish imports can avoid post-Brexit hassles applying to goods received via UK-based distributors, while exports will benefit from greater reach into EU markets […]

European Commission launches New European Bauhaus
By EU Reporter Correspondent The European Commission launched the design phase of the New European Bauhaus initiative (21 January). The New European Bauhaus aims to combine design, sustainability, accessibility, affordability and investment in order to help deliver the European Green Deal. The goal of the design phase is to use a co-creation process to shape […]

EU needs masterplan to move financial business away from London
By EU Reporter Correspondent “We need a clear step-by-step masterplan that helps key financial sector businesses move from the United Kingdom to the European Union. A mere ‘wait and see’ approach will not do to bolster European financial markets. One of the key strategic priorities in the years to come has to be strengthening the […]

Russia targets Belarus’s crumbling companies to grow its influence in the country
By EU Reporter Correspondent Europe’s oldest dictatorship could be living its last moments. Since the contested election in August, unprecedented mass protests have been taking place across the country. Brussels and Washington, who no longer recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president, have imposed sanctions against Lukashenko and his allies, and more could be on the […]

Tensions in Central Africa: Forcible recruitment, killings and looting among rebels’ confessions
By Candice Musungayi Rebels who attacked the capital of the Central African Republic do not understand what they are fighting for. Central African Republic television showed footage of an interrogation of one of the rebels captured during the attack on Bangui, who said that opponents of the current CAR authorities keep rank-and-file fighters in the […]