Coronavirus: Extra EU funding for research and innovation

The Commission has mobilised another €122 million from its research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, for urgently needed research into the coronavirus.

Creating resilient cities for a more secure future

Nine European cities enter the final stage of the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards as they show continued commitment to sustainability.

Health aid in remote mountain areas between Italy and France

‘MisMi’ -Interreg France-Italy- project is linking people in need with caregivers and the community. It is even more valuable because of COVID-19 spread as citizens can benefit from tele-medicine and nurses helping in hospitals and patients’ home.

Humanitarian Air Bridge: New delivery and repatriation

The EU Humanitarian Air Bridge helps transport of humanitarian workers and emergency supplies to some of the most vulnerable areas in the world.

Commission supports Member States in their transition to a climate-neutral economy

The European Commission has approved all requests made by 18 Member States for support with the preparation of their territorial just transition plans, which each Member State will have to draw up to get access to funding from the Just Transition Mechanism.

European Citizens' Initiative

Learn about the latest European citizens’ initiatives, connect with organisers and experts on the new European Citizens’ Initiative Forum, register now!

Two new European Citizens' Initiatives to support

The European Commission decided to register two European Citizens' Initiatives entitled ‘Start Unconditional Basic Incomes throughout the EU' and ‘Freedom to share'.

Rebooting travel in Europe: Contact tracing apps

A common approach for safe and efficient coronavirus mobile tracing apps is key to gradually restore travel within the EU.

Influencez davantage les politiques qui vous concernent. L’initiative citoyenne européenne vous donne l’occasion unique de participer à la construction de l’Union européenne en demandant à la Commission européenne de proposer de nouvelles législations.

European Innovators: Here is your chance!

The EIT Governing Board has decided to mobilise €60 million of additional funding to innovators powering high-impact solutions that tackle this unprecedented social and economic challenge.

Coronavirus: le soutien de la politique de cohésion de l’UE

La pandémie globale du coronavirus requiert une réponse globale. Les nations et les organisations partout dans le monde unissent leurs forces pour s'assurer que ces moyens soient non seulement développés mais qu'ils soient également diponibles partout et bon marché.

Italian-Swiss hiking trails step up their digital presence

An ERDF-funded project is continuing to promote cross-border hiking in Italy and Switzerland during the COVID-19 crisis. The Municipality of Lecco, the lead partner, has launched activities on digital communication and training to help keep the project alive until tourists return.

FISABIO: increasing research capacity for infectious disease laboratory in Spain

FISABIO, non-profit scientific and healthcare entity, promotes and develops scientific and biomedical research in Valencia Region. In the current coronavirus crisis, University of Valencia and FISABIO have obtained the first complete genomes of the SARS-CoV2 virus in Spain.

There is enough food available in the EU during the crisis

One of the benefits of the European Union is that we do not have to worry about flows of goods being cut off.

Coronavirus: European Commission to support small businesses dependent on tourism

Millions of small and family-run businesses working in accommodation, restaurants, passenger transport and travel agencies risk bankruptcies and job losses.

Länder und Organisationen in der ganzen Welt bündeln ihre Kräfte, um sicherzustellen, dass wir nicht nur diese lebenserhaltenden Mittel entwickeln, sondern dass sie auch für jeden verfügbar sind und jeder sie sich leisten kann.

Coronavirus: €117 million granted for treatments and diagnostics

Eight large-scale research projects were selected for funding by the Innovative Medicines Initiative, a public-private partnership, to fight the coronavirus.

Tourism: Commission's guidance on safely resuming travel & rebooting EU tourism

European tourism has also been one of the most affected by the heavy restrictions on movement and travel imposed in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak.

Face masks are complementary to other preventive measures, and they should be used and disposed of properly

If you are infected but do not experience symptoms, a face mask could protect others when you’re in busy, confined spaces like shops or public transport.

In 2019, CO2 emissions from energy use in the EU estimated to have decreased

Eurostat estimates that in 2019, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion significantly decreased by 4.3% in the EU, compared with the previous year.

Martino Roberto Chiappa: EU Aid Volunteer helping the coronavirus response in Mozambique

By the beginning of this year, coronavirus had started spreading in Europe. As soon as the pandemic started affecting Italy, my home country, I thought about going back home, to be closer to my family and friends.

Zoals vele andere projecten die steun van het EU-cohesiebeleid hebben ontvangen, ontwikkelt ook het zogenaamde “FabLab” van TRAKK, het Innovative City Lab in Namen, België, oplossingen om het coronavirus te bestrijden.

Polityka spójności UE przyczynia się do zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa i zdrowia ludności poprzez zakup wyposażenia ochrony osobistej dla 5 podmiotów leczniczych oraz mieszkańców województwa łódzkiego w Polsce.

‘European Youth Together' call for proposals

The initiative will help Europe-wide networks of youth organisations respond to the coronavirus crisis.

Covid-19: EU funds help better equip emergency healthcare services in Bulgaria

237 emergency medical centres have been modernised throughout the country, 400 medical vehicles have been purchased and 182 ambulances already delivered are equipped with modern equipment.

Coopérer pour préserver le patrimoine végétal des Pyrénées

Le projet Floralab, financé par le FEDER Interreg, entend permettre aux territoires limitrophes de la Catalogne, de l’Andorre et de l’Ariège de protéger les espèces uniques et endémiques de la région.

Schengen has been a central part of our response to coronavirus

Special measures, such as the introduction of ‘green lanes’, will allow all freight vehicles to cross internal Schengen borders within 15 minutes.

Un proyecto de Francia, España y Andorra protege la flora de los Pirineos

El proyecto Floralab, financiado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, es una colaboración entre reservas naturales, botánicos, ecologistas y voluntarios. Su objetivo consiste en mejorar el estudio y la protección de la flora de la zona, así como concienciar al público al respecto.

Winners of the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2020

Europe’s top honour in the heritage field goes to 21 inspiring projects from 15 European countries.

French-Spanish-Andorran project protects Pyrenees plants

A cross-border project dedicated to the conservation of heritage plants has been launched in the eastern Pyrenees. The programme, financed by ERDF, hopes to enable neighbouring Catalan, Andorran and Ariège areas to protect the region’s native and unique species.

EU granted protection to almost 300 000 asylum seekers in 2019

In 2019, the European Union of 27 Member States granted protection status to 295 800 asylum seekers. Compared to 2018 (316 200), total number of persons granted protection status was down by 6%.

The EU is pooling money to get the things we need to respond to the crisis

Companies need to know that when they pour resources into this, the products will be bought. To help them be confident in this, the Commission launched several joint procurement procedures – and it’s working. Companies now propose to make more masks and goggles: in fact, more than we requested in the beginning. The equipment will be available to doctors, nurses and other people who need them soon after the contracts are signed by Member States.

Galileo Green Lane – easing pressure at the EU’s internal borders

The European GNSS Agency in collaboration with the European Commission has developed a mobile solution, the “Galileo Green Lane” App, to facilitate the free movement of freight, reduce waiting times at EU borders, and prioritize essential goods during the current COVID-19 pandemic response.

Europe Day 2020

On the occasion of Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May, Eurostat invites you to explore a set of infographics giving a picture of the EU and each Member State.

EU countries remain the best partners for each other – and are stepping up their solidarity

European institutions and its partners are doing more for Europeans than any other part of the world.

9th May - 70 years later, concrete achievements and EU solidarity

On the 9th May it’s worth remembering, particularly in times of crisis, how 70 years ago, Robert Schuman — one of the spiritual fathers of the EU — advocated that a strong Europe would be “built through concrete achievements creating a de facto solidarity". It is the right moment to remember his words and continue his work together.

This Europe Day, and each day

On 9 May 1950, the Schuman Declaration was presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and steel production.

Spring 2020 Economic Forecast: A deep and uneven recession, an uncertain recovery

Despite the swift and comprehensive policy response at both EU and national level, the EU economy will experience a recession this year.

Eurostat’s new COVID-19 dedicated section

In order to respond to the demands for information arising from the current crisis, we have launched a new dedicated section on our website, bringing together in one place a wide range of statistics and data published by Eurostat related to COVID-19.

Stories from the Regions: From Agro-Food to Protective Equipment

The FILA project (Italy-Albania-Montenegro) aims to enhance SMEs competitiveness and cross border cooperation. In the face of the pandemic, one of the partners - TECHNOPOLIS - quickly adapted and started using its 3D printer to produce protective equipment – visors – for essential medical and economic staff.

“Your health matters”: cross-border solidarity against coronavirus in Romania and Bulgaria

The Zimnicea City Hospital in Romania has received EU support to modernise and improve the health service in the Romanian and Bulgarian border area. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, the Zimnicea City Hospital has decided to lend Caritas Rosiorii de Vede medical equipment purchased through the EU cohesion policy project "Your health matters!”.

Coronavirus Global Response: EU sets up a Humanitarian Air Bridge

The European Commission has set up an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge to transport humanitarian workers and emergency supplies for the coronavirus response to some of most critical areas around the world.

EU countries remain the best partners for each other – and are stepping up their solidarity

The European institutions and its partners are doing more for Europeans than any other part of the world.

Almost 14000 unaccompanied minors among asylum seekers registered in the EU in 2019

In 2019, 13800 asylum seekers applying for international protection in the 27 Member States of the European Union were considered to be unaccompanied minors, nearly 20% fewer than in 2018 (16800).

Coronavirus: EU will be delivering masks to support healthcare workers

A first batch of 1.5 million masks, from the 10 million purchased, will be distributed in the coming days to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

The EU has some of the strongest data protection and privacy rules in the world

Tracing apps can play a key role in all phases of the crisis, and in particular when the time is ripe to lift confinement measures gradually – complementing other measures like increased testing capacities.

The source of COVID-19 is of animal origin and the coronavirus outbreak is not an engineered event

In times of crisis it is more important than ever to work together in solidarity with countries across the globe to fight the coronavirus.

In focus: Energy security in the EU

Securing energy supply is vital. It ensures our homes are heated – or air-conditioned – that we can phone, use lights and computers and that our hospitals, public transport and other essential services, like water distribution, function.

Coronavirus: Commission helps EU countries speed up the recognition of health workers' professional qualifications

The EU wants to help address the shortages of health workers created by the coronavirus emergency.

Highlights of the Global Response pledging event

The EU and its global partners have raised €7.4 billion to help develop diagnostics, treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus.

We are all at risk of being infected by the coronavirus

Both the youth and the elderly are at risk when ignoring official advice.

United against Coronavirus

CORONAVIRUS: This short video highlights the unique role EU research and innovation has played in connecting researchers, innovators and healthcare providers over the last few months, providing concrete examples of some of the most important R&I initiatives to date.

Fighting COVID-19 isolation and increasing social inclusion: matching needs and competences in Turin’s neighbourhood

At time of COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, loneliness and social injustices are increasing. The cohesion policy project “The community concierge” in Turin (Italy) aims at fighting these issues by matching people’s competences with the needs of families and people living in the same neighbourhood.

75 years since the end of the Second World War

The goals of the European Union include promoting peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens.

Uz sprječavanje širenja korona virusa, negativne posljedice zaključavanja i mjere socijalnog distanciranja u državama članicama EU također bi se trebale spriječiti ili barem ublažiti u najvećoj mogućoj mjeri.