A major reform of the World Trade Organization, including global commitments on trade and climate, new rules for digital trade, reinforced rules to tackle competitive distortions, and restoring its system for binding dispute settlement, is at the core of the EU trade strategy for the coming years.

The Commission announced an investment of €121m for new integrated projects under the LIFE programme, helping Member States comply with EU legislation in areas, such as nature, water, air, waste, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

Launching HERA Incubator, the Commission is proposing on Wednesday immediate move to prepare Europe for the increased threat of coronavirus variants. This new European bio-defence preparedness plan against Covid-19 variants will provide incentives to develop new and adapted vaccines, speed up the approval process for these vaccines, and ensure scaling up of manufacturing capacities.

The EU commission has approved new contract for 300 million additional doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

With the clear idea that in this challenging times multilateralism is the most effective mean to govern global relations in a way that benefits all, the Commission and the High Representative tabled on Wednesday a new strategy to reinforce the EU's contribution to rules-based multilateralism.

A public consultation on the modernisation of EU justice systems that will support Member States to adapt their judiciary performances to the digital age and improve EU cross-border judicial cooperation, was launched by the Commission on Tuesday.

An amendment to the Slot Regulation that relieves airlines of airport slot-use requirements for the summer 2021 scheduling season was adopted by the Council on Monday. It replaces the current full slot waiver, which is no longer justified for the next season. 

We remain in the painful grip of the pandemic, its social and economic consequences all too evident, yet there is, at last, light at the end of the tunnel, said Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy, presenting the Winter 2021 Economic Forecast.

EU privacy watchdog EDPS on Wednesday backed the bloc’s push to curb the power of Apple, Amazon, Alphabet unit Google and Facebook via new tough rules and suggested more safeguards to boost users’ privacy rights.

The Commission has decided to accept commitments offered by Aspen pharmaceutical company to reduce the prices of six critical cancer medicines. The producer committed to reduce prices by 73% on average across Europe and also committed to continue supplying these medicines in all countries where they are currently sold.