Notices by European Commission (eucommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu)

Meet Europa – the EU's mascot at #EXPO2025 Osaka, welcoming visitors for the next 6 months!

The EU's pavilion showcases European design & innovation through a range of activities.

Come and discover how we collaborate with Japan and global partners for future generations.

More: https://europa.eu/!hpQHrT

We welcome a historic deal to cut emissions from global shipping - one of the biggest polluting sectors.

This is a key step on the way to net zero emissions by 2050.

The plan:
✔️ Cleaner marine fuels
✔️ Global standards for fuel emissions
✔️ A first-ever carbon pricing system for ships

Revenues will support clean tech and a fair transition.

77% of Europeans believe we should have a common defence and security policy.

We are confronted today with extraordinary security and defence challenges. To meet them, we aim to:

🔹 Build a European defence union
🔹 Enhance the EU's preparedness and crisis management
🔹 Ensure a safer and more secure Europe

We stand firm in our commitment to ensure Europe remains safe, secure, together!

Find out more: https://europa.eu/!DDQdk7

A strong Europe rolls on at high speed.

Efficient EU train services offer clean and smart alternatives to travel.

This is why we want to bridge gaps in the EU's rail network with a new high-speed rail plan.

Tomorrow, we'll kick-start new discussions with stakeholders to improve infrastructure, passenger services, and the rail industry.

We're also working on single digital booking and ticketing rules to make travelling easier.

Ready to hop on?

More: https://europa.eu/!nvqbGc

#EU

🚆 Are you 18 and ready to explore Europe? 

You could get a FREE travel pass with #DiscoverEU to explore Europe’s culture, history and diversity.
 
Applications close soon — don’t miss out! 👇
 
https://europa.eu/!9dCdNV

2024 was a record year for renewables.

Renewable generation reached 47% of the EU power mix, helping to bring down average wholesale electricity prices since 2021.

Here are some key figures:

🔼 Solar generation increased by 19%
🔼 Hydropower output improved by 13%
🔽 Demand for gas was 20% lower than 2021 levels, and renewables played a big role

Every watt counts when it comes to cutting energy emissions and costs.

Europe is on the right side of the equation.

ℹ️ https://europa.eu/!f7hGcQ

#EU

What if the next big AI breakthrough came from Europe? 🇪🇺

We’ve got a plan to make this happen:

🏭 13 AI Factories to bring together top talent, high-quality data, and powerful computing.

🚀 AI Gigafactories with 100,000 state-of-the-art AI chips.

📊 Data Labs to curate large, high-quality data volumes.

🎯 An Apply AI Strategy to boost industrial use in EU sectors.

💪 Attracting global talent.

Safe, transparent, sustainable AI.

Let's get it there.

ℹ️ https://europa.eu/!xPDyVf

Equality is non-negotiable 🔵🔴🟢

Today is #InternationalRomaDay. We stand together to protect and promote the human rights of Roma. 

Diversity is our strength. Let’s end antigypsyism for good.

In the EU, national borders won’t limit your opportunities.

Free movement allows every citizen to travel, work, and live anywhere in the EU without special formalities.

More than 10 million of us have already built careers across borders.

In 2024:

📈 3.8% of EU working age population are movers
👥 10.1 million working-age EU citizens lived in another member state
🔄 The number of cross-border workers reached 1.83 million

More: https://europa.eu/!gwXwKd

Equality is non-negotiable. ❤️️🧡💛💚💙💜

Too many LGBTIQ+ people still face discrimination, harassment, and violence.

We’re stepping up efforts with a new LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy to:

✅ Strengthen protections against hate-motivated violence
✅ Ban harmful conversion practices
✅ Foster inclusion & equal rights across the EU

Promoting equality is not just a moral duty. It helps build a fairer, safer, and more competitive society for all.

More → https://europa.eu/!KdH4Xh

Applications for the next DiscoverEU round are now open 🚆

You could win a free 30-day train pass to explore Europe if you are...

✅ Born between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007
✅ Live in the EU or a third country associated to Erasmus+

⏰ Deadline: 16 April

Apply now: https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu_en

Bologna 🇮🇹, Braga 🇵🇹 and Leipzig 🇩🇪: Champions of Sustainable Mobility!

These cities are leading the way in green, people-friendly transport as part of this year’s European Mobility Week Awards. 🌱🚶♂️

From car-free days to community-led initiatives, they’re proving that sustainable mobility is already a reality.

More cities are rethinking urban transport

More → https://mobilityweek.eu/home/

🚦 We welcome the green light of the European Parliament and the Council to modernise EU driving licence rules, including:

🚗 EU driving licences on digital devices.
🚗 A minimum two-year probation period for novice drivers.
🚗 An EU-wide accompanied driving scheme from age 17.
🚗 Better training and testing to help drivers navigate safely around vulnerable road users.
🚗 Easier licence exchanges for citizens from non-EU countries.

President von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament this week.

She presented REARM Europe — the plan to strengthen Europe's security, supported by unprecedented consensus among EU leaders.

This is the moment for peace through strength and a unified European defence.

Big decisions are coming soon in the European Parliament and the Council to ensure Europe’s future is safe.

Read the speech: https://europa.eu/!BW9C8Q

Europeans benefit from some of the strongest consumer protections in the world!

Whether that’s when:

🔹 Shopping – Right to safe, high-quality products that can be repaired, replaced, or returned if needed.
🔹 Travelling – Compensation for delays or cancellations.
🔹 Banking – Secure payments and fair contracts.
🔹 Surfing – Protection of personal data and safeguards against scams.

For over 50 years, the EU has been working hard to keep consumers safe – both in stores and online.

Say hello to Europe's six new AI Factories:

🇦🇹 AI:AT
🇧🇬 BRAIN++
🇫🇷 AI2F
🇩🇪 JAIF
🇵🇱 PIAST
🇸🇮 SLAIF

They will empower startup, small and medium companies to develop AI models using Europe's supercomputing power, data, and talent.

With €485 million in investments, they are part of the EU's AI leadership strategy.

Europe is investing €200 billion for AI development – to empower your talent.

Read more: https://europa.eu/!F6KGPG

#EU

Tariffs are bad for business, and worse for consumers.

We regret the unjustified 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports imposed by the United States worth $28 billion.

We are responding with countermeasures worth up to €26 billion.

Nobody needs that – on both sides, neither the European Union nor the United States.

In a world fraught with uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs.

More: https://europa.eu/!rcMqWy

Today is the European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism.

We reaffirm our commitment to stand firm against all who seek to hurt our societies.

We are at work to protect against any threats and provide essential support to survivors and affected communities.

The European Union aims to be an area of freedom, security, and justice.

There is no room for fear and hate.

Gender equality does not ‘just happen.’

Women’s rights do not advance on their own. They are won through persistence and can easily be lost without vigilance.

We must lead by example and create a world where opportunities are fair for all – not just for International Women’s Day, but every single day.

#InternationalWomensDay

A pivotal moment for Europe is here.

And we are ready to step up and mobilise up to €800 billion for European defence by:

🛡️ Allowing EU countries to increase defence spending within budgetary rules

🇪🇺 Offering €150 billion in loans for defence investments

🏗️ Using cohesion funds for defence

📈 Boosting private investment

We will present these proposals to EU leaders at today's European Council meeting.

Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities.