In December 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code, which lays down the rules governing controls at the EU internal and external borders. While debates on the reform of Schengen have been going on for a while, recent challenges – relating to the coronavirus pandemic on the one hand, and attempts to instrumentalise migrants as a way to put pressure on the EU's external borders, on the other – have brought new momentum for reform. The Commission's proposal is designed to improve the Schengen system's resilience to serious threats and adapt it to new challenges. It introduces a new coordination mechanism to deal with health threats at the external borders and a new Schengen safeguard mechanism to provide a common response at the internal borders in situations of threats affecting Member States, including the possibility to transfer irregular migrants apprehended at the internal borders directly back to the competent authorities in the EU country from which it is assumed they just came, without undergoing an individual assessment. The co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on the proposal in February 2024. The agreed text was adopted by the European Parliament in April and by the Council in May. Published in the Official Journal on 20 June, the new regulation enters into force in July 2024. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

France's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is a subpart of 'France Relance', a larger recovery strategy France adopted in 2020 at national level, worth €100 billion in total (4.1 % of France's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019). The NRRP had an initial value of €40.9 billion (total costs), while the plan as amended in 2023 is worth €41.9 billion. Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), at the core of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) instrument, France's RRF grant allocation decreased from €39.4 billion to €37.5 billion, following the June 2022 update. In April 2023, France submitted a request to amend its NRRP – partly in order to take into account the decrease in the EU's financial contribution, but also to add a new REPowerEU chapter, which comes with an additional grant allocation of €2.3 billion. France also asked to transfer a portion of its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to its plan (€504 million). The EU contribution to the French amended plan totals €40.3 billion in grants, with the rest to be covered by national means. France has not requested loans. The RRF resources allocated to France represent 5.3 % of the entire RRF resources for the EU, and 1.6 % of the country's GDP in 2019 (the RRF representing 5.2 % of EU-27 GDP in 2019). Measures under the plan are to be completed by August 2026. So far, France has received €30.9 billion. The next payments will depend on progress in implementing the plan. The European Parliament, which was a major advocate of the creation of a common EU recovery instrument, participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on its implementation and scrutinises the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fifth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

G7 leaders gathered under the Italian presidency from 13 to 15 June 2024 in Apulia, Italy, for the 50th G7 Summit. The summit was a demonstration of the G7's unity and determination in the face of intense challenges to the rules-based multilateral order and international peace and security: Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the war in Gaza. In the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders agreed to provide US$50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine from frozen Russian sovereign assets. The leaders also backed the comprehensive deal on Gaza outlined by United States (US) President Joe Biden. The Italian presidency put special focus on energy cooperation with Africa as a priority for the G7. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Hungary is a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral parliament, the Országgyűlés (National Assembly). The structure and functioning of Hungary's political system are determined by the Fundamental Law of 25 April 2011, which has been amended 12 times since its entry into force in 2012. The National Assembly elects the President of the Republic (head of state), whose role is primarily representative but entails some complementary and controlling competences vis-à-vis the legislative, executive and judicial powers. The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, proposed by the President and elected by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister chooses the ministers, who together with him/her, compose the government. The Prime Minister also defines the government's general policy. Ministers are accountable for their actions to both the National Assembly and the Prime Minister. Only the Prime Minister can dismiss them, and the government's mandate is linked to that of the Prime Minister. This briefing is part of an EPRS series on national parliaments and EU affairs. It offers an overview of the way the EU Member States' national parliaments are structured and how they process, scrutinise and engage with EU legislation. It also refers to relevant publications by national parliaments. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev earlier reported that Kiev attacked the Raduga substation three times with drones on the morning of July 3

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin met in the Presidential Center of Kazakhstan on Wednesday evening

According to the report, Ukraine has received from the Czech Republic eight aircraft, two of which supplied this year, as well as 94,860 artillery shells from its reserves, including 10,000 pieces this year

Russia remains one of Kazakhstan’s main trade and economic partners, Vladimir Putin underlined

The aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society before being delivered to the Gaza Strip

The television presenter, 64, paid 'less than £1 million' for The Windmill, an elegant and highly-rated establishment near Burford, Oxfordshire.

Antonya Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said her lad Hamish had stage 4 cancer and was in 'a lot of pain' before his death in 1981.

Police have launched an investigation after a teenage boy drowned on a school trip to a Sussex beauty spot popular with celebrities.

The Spanish King and Queen travelled to Zaragoza in Northern Spain for today's ceremony, which saw Felipe hand out new appointments at the General Military Academy.

Linton Weirich, 36, of West London , was seen in a clip filmed on a smuggled phone appearing to have sex with prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu.

According to Andrey Nastasyin, «all the provisions that guarantee freedom of political activity, a censorship ban, the free development and use of the Russian language» have been trampled upon in Ukraine

The parties agree that delegations of the two countries will pay visits in the near time for the transition to the practical discussion of cooperation issues, the Russian deputy prime minister added

The gas supply contract with the transit via Ukraine will expire at the turn of this year

The dramatic cut of the key rate and unpredictable high inflation «are capable of destroying long-term lending,» Elvira Nabiullina noted

«We therefore need to estimate forces and understand how we work with constraints,» Elvira Nabiullina added

The Russian and Indian foreign ministers have met in Astana, noting progress in many areas since their last meeting in December Read Full Article at RT.com

The Serbian president has made a diplomatic overture to Washington to mark Independence Day Read Full Article at RT.com

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are not holding any secret negotiations about settling the Ukraine conflict, Dmitry Peskov has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Moscow and Ankara are planning to double the volume of trade between the two countries despite Western sanctions on Russia Read Full Article at RT.com

Moscow has suspended its participation in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PA over double standards and Russophobia Read Full Article at RT.com

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised that all health centres have been closed for today. Staff of these facilities are to check with their parish Emergency Operations Centres to find out whether they are to be deployed elsewhere....

The Meteorlogical Service of Jamaica says the centre of Hurricane Beryl is expected to pass near or over the southern coast of the island, moving from east to west, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. today.  Rainfall from the outer bands of the...

Newlyweds from London, Ont., are trapped in Jamaica, as Category 5 Hurricane Beryl approaches.

Live updates from the 2024 campaign trail, with the latest news on presidential candidates, polls, primaries and more.

Hemant Soren, who stepped down as chief minister of Jharkhand after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case, is likely to return to the top post. His comeback has reportedly been agreed upon by the party's allies, Congress and the RJD, according to news agency PTI. Champai Soren, who assumed office as Jharkhand’s 12th Chief Minister following Hemant Soren's arrest, is expected to resign soon to make way for Hemant's return, sources in JMM indicated.

Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has stated that the Ethiopian government has requested Turkish mediation for talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, and there is no indication that Ethiopia is withdrawing from the MoU agreement it signed with Somaliland.