Commission evaluates HERAs work to enhance EU health security
Today, the Commission published a report reviewing the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) since its inception over three years ago. The report highlights HERAs successes in bolstering EU preparedness and response capabilities, addressing critical medicine shortages, and indicates areas for improvement.
HERAs central role in the EUs health security framework is acknowledged, ensuring the EU can develop and deploy medical products to counter health threats. The report calls for better coordination with Member States and greater flexibility in HERAs operations.
Established in October 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, HERA was quickly set up, and todays report reviews its functioning and suggests improvements for future crises.
For more details, see our press release.
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
The Commission endorses EU-wide driving disqualification recognition
The Commission welcomes an agreement on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications across the EU, enhancing road safety.
This new Directive ensures that serious driving offenses result in disqualifications recognized EU-wide, closing legal gaps that allowed offenders to avoid penalties by crossing borders.
Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, emphasized the directives importance in achieving the EUs goal of halving road fatalities by 2030.
Details of the agreement can be found in the full announcement.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen - Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 298 20 54)
EU citizen panel discusses new budget
The first session of the EU citizen panel on the new budget will be held in Brussels this weekend, gathering 150 randomly selected citizens to discuss EU budget priorities.
The panel aims to align the budget with EU priorities and streamline processes, with sessions broadcasted live for public viewing.
Further details are available on the dedicated website.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
EU supports laid-off Belgian workers
The Commission proposes mobilizing 8 million euros from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 2,400 workers laid off following the bankruptcy of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool.
The support package includes counseling, job search assistance, and skills training.
More information is available in todays press release.
(For more information: Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès - Tel.: +32 2 291 32 83)
EPH gains full control over SE
The European Commission approves the acquisition of Slovenské elektrárne by Energetický a průmyslový holding, ensuring no competition concerns arise.
Details are available in the case register.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)