Sixtieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome

President Juncker is in Rome until tomorrow (25 March) to participate in events marking the 60thanniversary of the Treaties of Rome – behind the creation of the EU as we know it today. This evening, President Juncker, along with EU Heads of State or Government, will meet with His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City. On Saturday, the 27 Heads of State or Government and the Presidents of the EU institutions will sign the Rome Declaration – in the room where exactly 60 years ago the Rome Treaties were signed. The Rome Declaration will feature the Union's past achievements, and present the challenges it faces. All this follows the publication on 1 March of the Commission's White Paper on the Future of Europe, which seeks to kick-start discussions on what kind of future Europeans want for the EU.

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Digital EU: from super computers to cross-border consumer loans

Two different initiatives outlined this week the EU's ambition to make its economy fit for the digital age. Seven member states – France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain – committed to support the next generation of computing and data infrastructure, the so-called high-performance computers. Separately, the European Commission is looking into how technology and online services can give consumers new cross-border opportunities to open bank accounts, take out loans and cut the cost of other financial transactions for example car rental.

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Commission proposal to make national competition authorities even more effective

On 22 March, the European Commission proposed new rules to enable member states' competition authorities to be more effective enforcers of EU antitrust rules. By ensuring that national competition authorities can act effectively, the Commission's proposal aims to contribute to a more complete Single Market, promoting the overall goal of competitive markets, jobs and growth, while still respecting national specificities.

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First Vice-President Timmermans' speech on better regulation

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans delivered a speech on the Commission's Better Regulation Agenda on 20 March. Underlining the importance of evidence-based policy making in the context of political attacks on evidence and facts, the First Vice-President told the participants: "This is about changing incentives and attitudes. This is about ensuring that the system itself has changed, and doesn't need constant policing. That is why, over the past two years we have worked hard to embed better regulation into the DNA of the European Commission, installing a priority driven, evidence-based, disciplined, transparent and above all inclusive policy process. The aim is to make sure we deliver high quality policy proposals that remove obstacles to growth and foster innovation, proposals that minimise regulatory costs while promoting social and environmental sustainability."

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All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here

Statement on the London attack

In a statement about the Westminster attack, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "My thoughts are with London. […] The United Kingdom will always remain a partner and a friend and one we will continue to work hand in hand with in the fight against terror. Together, Europeans will never cease to prove that love will always triumph over hate and that tolerance will always triumph over fear." Michel Barnier, the Commission's Chief negotiator for the Article 50 negotiations with the UK also expressed solidarity with the people of London. European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted "My thoughts are with the victims of the Westminster attack. Europe stands firm with the UK against terror and ready to help."

Commission's Chief negotiator for the Article 50 negotiations with the UK, Michel Barnier's speech

Michel Barnier, spoke to the Committee of the Regions on 22 March, where he outlined three necessary conditions for reaching an agreement with the UK:

1. Unity of the remaining 27 EU member states;
2. Removing uncertainty, especially  for EU citizens living in the UK, British  citizens living in the EU and regional and local authorities benefitting from EU programmes;
3. Doing things in the right order.

He also explained that there will be no "exit bill", no punishment, and that Brits won't be asked to pay a single euro they have not agreed to as an EU member. He quoted Winston Churchill saying "the price of greatness is responsibility" and added "that is true for Britain and also for us". He warned of serious consequences in the event of no deal between the EU and the UK following the two years of negotiations. He agreed with Theresa May about "a bold and ambitious free trade agreement" and said the EU and the UK can be ambitious together. He made clear nevertheless that the best relationship with the EU is to be a member of it.

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EU funding for London-based business developing a portable food scanner

The London branch of Canadian company Tellspec will receive EU funding for developing a food scanner: an affordable and non-invasive mobile food sensor that enables users to measure and analyse their food intake in real-time.

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For upcoming events, please have a look at our newsletter

Every week, we pick out one or several of the week's most interesting stories or comment pieces….which does not mean we agree with everything they say:

How Brexit will send flight prices soaring higher by Katherine Fidler in the New Statesman

The EU is 60 – and it helped my generation fall in love with Europe by Mark Rice-Oxley in the Guardian

Clearer energy efficiency labelling rules to empower consumers

The current A+++ to G energy labels for household appliances will be replaced by clear and easier to use A to G labels. This will make energy labels more understandable for consumers and help them make better informed purchasing choices. There will also be a new public database making it easier for citizens to compare the energy efficiency of household appliances. Consumer surveys show that about 85% of European citizens look at energy efficiency labels when they purchase products. Having the best performing ones in the A+ to A+++ categories hid potential substantial differences in energy performance.

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"I will be sad as I was sad when the vote in the referendum took place in Britain. For me it's a tragedy. I am everything but in a hostile mood when it comes to Britain. We will negotiate in a friendly way, in a fair way and we are not naive."

This was President Jean-Claude Juncker's answer when he was asked – in a BBC interview today (24 March) – how he will feel when the letter triggering Article 50 comes in.

"An act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy. But today we meet as normal – as generations have done before us, and as future generations will continue to do – to deliver a simple message: we are not afraid. And our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism," Prime Minister Theresa May on what she called a "sick and depraved" terrorist attack

"These loathsome terrorist attacks struck at the very heart of Europe here in Belgium, in our capital, Brussels – a multilingual and multinational city where we enjoy living together in harmony. Faced with this unprecedented and incomprehensible violence, those of us living in Brussels and Belgium, with the support of all the peoples of Europe, chose to stand firm and not lose hope. During this terrible ordeal, Europeans stood together in the fight against terrorism that threatens our safety and peace throughout the world. We showed our determination to defend our values and our freedoms no matter what," President Juncker on the first anniversary of the Brussels attacks on 22 March 2016