27/05/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 27 May, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the future of tourism for the next decade (see EUROPE 12712/6). As the summer season approaches and while the tourism sector is among those most affected by the health crisis, the institution calls for “intelligent use of existing funding opportunities under the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework and the Next Generation EU instrument”. Member States and the European Commission are also invited to present, by the end of 2021, a jointly developed European Tourism Programme 2030/2050 to support the ecological and digital transitions of the European tourism ecosystem and strengthen its competitiveness. Tourism accounts for almost 10% of European GDP and some 11.7 million jobs. See the EU Council conclusions: https://bit.ly/2QWe9mm (TM)