In a fast-track procedure, the European Parliament and Council adopted new rules for gas storage on Monday, 27 June, only two months after the Commission’s initial proposal. The rules will foster energy security in light of the Russian war in Ukraine that is affecting the EU’s energy market.
Ukraine and Moldova are now officially candidates for joining the European Union. This is the conclusion reached by EU leaders at the European Council summit on Thursday, 23 June.
In a committee vote on Tuesday, 14 June, Members of the European Parliament objected to the Commission’s proposed classification of some nuclear and gas energy activities as sustainable economic activities in the EU Taxonomy.
Laws as envisioned by the European Parliament, no more Hungary blocking sanctions against Russia because of their de facto veto power. This is what Members of the European Parliament want for the future of the EU.
On Tuesday, 7 June, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on a Directive to improve gender balance in large EU companies.
On Monday night, the Parliament and Council came to an agreement on the Commission’s proposal for a legal text on adequate minimum wages in the EU. The Directive aims to ensure that adequate minimum wages that allow for a decent standard of living exist in all Member States.
European leaders finally reached a consensus on the Commission’s proposed sixth sanctions package in the late evening of Monday, 30 May. The new sanctions include a phase-out of Russian oil by the end of this year, which has been the main point of contention in the negotiations over the past weeks.
In light of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russian oligarchs, the Commission proposed new rules on freezing and confiscating assets on 25 May.
The European Commission is allocating close to 1 billion euros to the 2022 European Defence Fund (EDF) work programme. Together with a number of new tools, the fund is meant to improve European defence capabilities.
The European Commission and the High Representative Josep Borrell presented their plans to improve the EU’s defence standing on Wednesday, 18 May, in light of the war waging in Ukraine. Their plans focus on Member States making joint investments to procure military equipment, on supporting the industry through more money to be put into the European Defence Fund (EDF), and on strategic defence programming.
