Sweden takes over rotating EU Council Presidency
“The Swedish Presidency will prioritise work on the interconnected negotiations on the new Ecodesign Regulation and Construction Products Regulation, both of which aim to ensure an efficient and effective internal market that contributes to a circular economy with reduced environmental and climate impacts”, the programme reads.
In the area of transport, the Presidency intends to advance the TEN-T negotiations and, if necessary, take forward the work on revising the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive, according to the programme.
The programme also covers matters related to the ongoing war in Ukraine. “Ukraine needs extensive economic support from the EU in both the short and the long term”, recognizes the Presidency. Short term measures include liquidity support while in the long term the focus will be on the reconstruction of Ukraine.
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Intra-EU labour mobility after the pandemic
- The proportion of EU-citizens who envisage to be mobile is quite stable over time: 18% in 2022, compared to 17% in 2009. Mobility intentions are also more even across the EU, suggesting progress in EU cohesion. While in 2009 between 4% of respondents in Italy and 51% in Denmark expressed mobility intentions, in 2022 they were between 11% in Italy and 39% in Finland.
- Labour mobility is a less divisive issue nowadays. A large majority across the EU (58%) supports labour mobility and believes it has positive effects. Only 12% think that cross-border mobility might be bad for individuals, the labour market or European integration. In particular, the effects of cross-border mobility on the labour market are seen as much less negative in 2022 than in 2009: while in 2009 21% saw mobility as bad for the labour market it was only 12% in 2022. There are homogenous positive views on labour mobility across socio-economic categories, age, or educational background, with slightly more positive views among men, the young, those more educated or in better material and labour market position.
- The positive connotation of mobility is supported by those who made the experience themselves: 40% see their skills and qualifications improved from the experience and more than 50% consider it an important experience with effects beyond professional life.
- The main channels for organising intra-EU labour mobility are personal contacts (51%) and online tools/online social media (50%). EURES remains relatively unknown by the larger public and public as well as private employment services (both 19%) are less frequently identified to find a job abroad.
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Consultation on the EU R&I Framework Programmes open until 23rd February
It will contribute to Horizon 2020’s final evaluation, Horizon Europe’s interim evaluation and lay the groundwork for the preparations of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027.
The online consultation can be accessed at the link below.
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Timmermans in Kyiv to discuss green reconstruction plans and renewable energy
The focus was on the state of play in Ukraine and the immediate needs on the ground in light of Russia’s intensified attacks against critical infrastructure. The particular concrete support to the energy sector and energy supply, as well as the government’s plan for Ukraine’s reconstruction, were also discussed.
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