Bulgaria’s Gas Supply Measures Draw EU Concerns

The Italy Times The European Commission has raised concerns following Bulgaria’s recent gas supply measures. Cristian Gerhasim reports that the Community Executive is actively engaging with Bulgaria and other affected countries to evaluate the potential ramifications of these newly imposed regulations. Under this new legislation, Bulgaria has implemented a tax of 20 leva (€10) for…

Celebrating the Uniqueness of Achill Island Sea Salt

The Italy Times The European Commission recently made an important addition to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) by granting recognition to ‘Achill Island Sea Salt’. This extraordinary product is a testament to the pristine natural environment and meticulous craftsmanship found on Achill Island, off the West coast of County Mayo, Ireland. ‘Achill…

Empowering the European Green Transition: The Action Plan for Grids

The Italy Times Interconnected and stable energy networks are the backbone of the European Union’s internal energy market and are essential in facilitating the green transition. To support the goals of the European Green Deal, the European Commission has proposed an Action Plan to ensure the efficient operation and rapid expansion of electricity grids. As…

The EU’s Opaque Sanction Strategy on Russia Post-Invasion

The Italy Times The coordinated response of the European Union to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine marked a decisive moment in the bloc’s political history. It stood as a testament to Europe’s broader ambition of acting as a beacon of morality on the global stage. As the EU prepares its 12th package of sanctions against…

Milestones and Targets Met: Slovakia’s Payment Request for €662M Endorsed by the Commission

The Italy Times In an encouraging development, the European Commission has recently given its endorsement to Slovakia’s payment request for €662 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This positive preliminary assessment signifies an important milestone for Slovakia, as it showcases their commitment and progress in implementing transformative reforms to aid in…

Standing Against Violence: Protecting Women’s Rights as Human Rights

The Italy Times As the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women approaches, the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President have reinforced their commitment to combat all forms of violence inflicted upon women and girls. In a recent statement, they underlined the necessity of protecting women’s rights, highlighting the devastating impact of violence…

Concerns Raised Over Proposed European Forest Monitoring System

The Italy Times The Swedish Forest Industries Federation, supporting the European Commission’s aspiration to enhance the availability of forest data within the EU, has expressed its apprehensions regarding the recently presented proposal of a new monitoring system for the Union’s forests. While the intention to improve knowledge about Europe’s forests and facilitate access to comparable…