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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13611
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 24
NEWS BRIEFS / Digital

European Commission provides ‘toolbox’ for ‘Web 4.0’

31/03/25 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 31 March, the European Commission announced the launch of an online ‘Virtual Worlds Toolbox’ to help European citizens navigate in virtual environments, known as ‘Web 4.0’. This ‘toolbox’ covers areas such as working, learning and playing in virtual spaces, and offers advice on security, cybersecurity and protection against disinformation. It is part of the 2023 ‘EU strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds’. The launch coincides with the global multi-stakeholder High Level Conference on the governance of ‘Web 4.0’ and virtual worlds, co-organised by the Commission and the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, which is taking place on 31 March and 1 April in Brussels. See the ‘toolbox’: https://aeur.eu/f/g6b (IS)

Contents

INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: EPP, S&D and Greens/EFA coordinators split over amendments tabled by EPP on EU 2026 budget guidelines
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEPs take sober note of French court’s decision on embezzlement of European funds by Rassemblement national
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: EU must turn to other partners in light of Washington trade tensions, say several players
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: Kaja Kallas says that to replace US aid for Ukraine, EU must double its annual support
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: smuggling networks - European Parliament rapporteur clearly excludes humanitarian assistance from criminal offences covered by new directive
SEA: Emmanuel Macron presents eight objectives for United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice
FISHERIES: EU tuna industry concerned about trade negotiations with Thailand
AGRICULTURE: EU organisations welcome wine package
REGIONS: European Commission pays an advance of €100 million to Spain following Dana storm
COHESION: Kata Tüttő opposes any renationalisation of European cohesion policy
ENERGY: ACER adapts rules for intraday coupling to make electricity market more flexible
CLIMATE: CAN Europe and WWF denounce Member States’ failure to consult on national energy and climate plans
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
BANKS: European Commission proposes maintaining liquidity requirements for certain short-term securities financing transactions
ECONOMY: European Technical Support Instrument for Reforms focuses on economic competitiveness
FINANCE: Polish Presidency of EU Council calls for simplification of draft ‘FiDA’ regulation on use of financial data
FINANCE/CLIMATE: Insurance Europe asks for key performance indicator relating to insurance underwriting to be removed from taxonomy
TAXATION: taxing sugary drinks likely insufficient to achieve positive health outcomes, says Tax Foundation
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
YOUTH: ‘European Solidarity Corps’ satisfies participants, but is still ill-suited to young people in difficulty
NEWS BRIEFS
COMPANIES: business climate down for SMEs in early 2025
ENVIRONMENT: more needed in effort to combat food waste, according to European Environment Agency
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: European Commission opens public consultation on future EU Bioeconomy Strategy
DIGITAL: European Commission provides ‘toolbox’ for ‘Web 4.0’
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Poland’s Grzegorz Braun and Spain’s Alvise Pérez penalised
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: European Commission soon to present amendment to regulation on CO2 standards for vehicles