The European Commission’s proposal to reform the Union Customs Code (UCC), published in May 2023, set out an ambitious vision: to build a modern, data-centric customs framework capable of managing growing volumes of international trade, while enhancing the EU’s capacity to detect risk, provide product compliance, and protect fiscal revenue.

In seeking to address the European defence sector’s current inability to face rising geopolitical threats, the European Commission presented its Defence Readiness Omnibus. This package of proposals touches defence and civilian policies alike, with the aim of streamlining procurement, removing regulatory bottlenecks, and improving access to funding.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a key advisory body within the European Union composed of three groups: Employers (Group I), Workers (Group II) and Civil Society Organisations (Group III). Its primary role is to provide informed opinions on EU policies and legislation to the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. In doing so, the EESC facilitates dialogue between EU institutions and organised civil society ensuring that citizens’ perspectives are reflected in decision-making.

On May 27, 2025, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tokyo hosted the conference “Polish-Japanese Cooperation in the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” organized as part of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event brought together representatives from the business sector, public administration, and international organizations from Poland, Japan, and Ukraine […]

The undersigned associations represent companies of all sizes operating in Europe and beyond across the entire AI value chain: from AI model developers to downstream providers and deployers of AI systems and models. Our members are driving transformative advances in AI technologies which will bring enormous benefits to the EU’s economy and society.

On Tuesday, 13 May 2025, SME Connect co-organised together with the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) a working breakfast titled “Growing the Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Europe”, hosted by Herbert Dorfmann MEP, in the European Parliament, in Brussels.