The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has released a comprehensive study evaluating the progress of the European Green Deal five years after its launch. The report identifies 154 binding and non-binding targets across seven thematic areas, revealing mixed results. While 32 targets are on track, 64 require acceleration, 15 are not progressing or regressing, and 43 lack sufficient data for assessment. Notable progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the energy and industry sectors. However, the study emphasises the need for accelerated action in various areas to meet the 2030 and 2050 targets. The JRC highlights that many recent legislative initiatives, such as the Nature Restoration Law, have yet to be implemented. The report underscores the importance of full implementation at the Member State level and calls for systemic changes across all sectors to achieve the Green Deal's ambitious objectives.

In continental European jurisdictions, a commissionaire is a person who acts in their own name for a principal’s account.

A creditor or their representative elected by the creditors in a sequestration or trust deed to represent the general body of creditors and to supervise the trustee on its behalf

European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection McGrath outlined key consumer protection initiatives to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on 8 April 2025:

The Commissioner for Health and Food Safety is set to reach an agreement on the Council of the EU's Recommendation on vaccine preventable cancer and on the Future of the European Health Union at the meeting of the EU Health Ministers on 21 June 2024. This follows the European Commission's Communication of May 2024 which emphasised the importance of public health and global health leadership.

The testing of systems prior to handover to the employer to check that everything works correctly, particularly where there are complex mechanical, electrical and/or other technical installations in a project. Checks will also be to ensure that such systems meet any performance specifications in the contract.

This Practice Note summarises: • what commissioning is in the context of local authority duties to provide health and social care • the legal requirements in respect of commissioning • integrated and joint commissioning, and • the risk of challenges to commissioning decisions What is commissioning? The term ‘commissioning’ has not been defined in legislation or case law and does not have an exact technical meaning. ‘Commissioning’ is an umbrella term used by local authorities and NHS bodies to refer to the process by which arrangements are made with third parties: • to deliver services, facilities or resources • to exercise certain functions on the authority’s or NHS body’s behalf. This includes: • identifying and selecting a third party provider • agreeing the terms on which such services are provided and measured It will often include a competitive tendering or procurement process. As such, local authorities do not have a legal duty to commission particular services, or to be involved in commissioning at all. However,

The European Commission has announced an evaluation of Regulation (EU) 2018/302 (the Geo-blocking Regulation), which has been in force since December 2018. The assessment aims to determine whether the Regulation has achieved its objectives of ensuring better access to goods and services across the EU by addressing unjustified geo-blocking and discrimination based on nationality, residence, or place of establishment. The Commission has opened a call for evidence, seeking input from stakeholders to inform the evaluation process. This feedback period will run from 11 February 2025 to 11 March 2025.

The European Commission has adopted a draft Delegated Regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/567 to align it with amendments made to Regulation (EU) No 600/2014  (MiFIR) introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/791 (MiFIR review).

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence to gather feedback on a possible update of the Shareholder Rights Directive. The Commission seeks views from companies, shareholders and investors on obstacles to cross-border investment stemming from the exercise of shareholder rights and how revised rules could help unify EU capital markets. Responses to the public consultation and the call for evidence are sought by 6 May 2026.

The European Ombudsman has published a recommendation as part of its inquiry into the European Commission’s risk management of dangerous chemical substances under Regulation (EU) 1907/2006 (EU REACH). It was found that the Commission’s continuous failure to meet the legal deadlines for preparing authorisation decisions concerning dangerous chemical substances amounts to maladministration as it takes, on average, 14.5 months to prepare draft decisions, instead of the prescribed deadline of three months. The Ombudsman stated this represents a threat to human health and the environment and, as such, asked the Commission to review its internal procedures for preparing authorisation decisions under EU REACH. In addition, the Ombudsman called on the Commission to ensure companies submit full applications, prioritise the rejection of applications that do not include required information, and publish timely and more substantial summaries of the EU REACH Committee’s meetings to ensure delays can be properly scrutinised.

The amount of money which a bank agrees to lend under a committed loan facility